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[Photograph Album Compiled by a French Missionary in China.]

[Shanghai and Vicinity, circa 1890–1932]. Oblong folio, morocco spine. 67 mounted and loose photographs on 7 leaves, albumen prints, bromide prints, silver prints, and other mediums, ranging from 8 cm x 5 cm to 22 cm x 30 cm; average size approx. 12 cm x 9 cm; 3 postcards. CONDITION: Album covers and spine good, photos generally good, a few loose, others nearly so, a few creased at corners and/or edges, most photos trimmed at corners to fit in photo mounts.

A fascinating photo album assembled by a French Jesuit missionary in China during the first quarter of the 20th century.

This album tells the story of Jesuit priest Père Crochet who began working as a missionary in China in the 1890s, remaining there until at least the 1930s. Two larger photographs document his earliest activities. One is a group portrait showing him dressed in traditional Chinese garb and surrounded by his students, circa 1891. The other depicts a family Crochet baptised in Shanghai on the day of Pentecost, 1891, with the backstamp of Tien Yen’s Photographic Studio, Foochow Road. The other photographs in the album, some of which are mounted and some of which are loose, show orphans and other children of the mission school, Père Crochet’s residence, church and other buildings, numerous “incurables” under Crochet’s care in the mission hospice, and various scenes from daily life. Most images are captioned both on the verso and on the album page. Also included in the album are three postcards, one of them depicting a Chinese subject, and—somewhat incongruously—two of them depicting Greek subjects.

An engaging and poignant album documenting the interactions of a French missionary and the Chinese people.

Item #3644

Price: $4,750.00