GONCALVES (Joachim Alphonso).

Han yang he zi hui - Diccionario Portuguez-China, no estilo vulgar Mandarim e Classico geral. & Diccionario China – Portuguez.

First and only edition. 2 vols. 4to. Contemporary calf (minor water-staining), occasional marginal water-staining to both volumes, but overall a very good copy printed on Chinese paper. Ownership inscriptions of E. Blancheton, Shanghai, to preliminary blanks of both volumes dated: "Changhai, le 1 Sept. 1860" [iv], iv, 872; [iv], 1028, 126(Diccionario tonico)pp. Macao, Real Collegio de S. José, 1831-, 1833.

£12,500
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GONCALVES (Joachim Alphonso).
Han yang he zi hui - Diccionario Portuguez-China, no estilo vulgar Mandarim e Classico geral. & Diccionario China – Portuguez.

Goncalves (1781-1841) was a Catholic missionary at St. Josephs Seminary in Macao. "He was no longer a young man when he reached Macao [in 1813], but by dint of careful attention to the subject and very hard work he made steady progress and gained considerable proficiency." (Braga: The beginnings of printing at Macao. Lisbon 1963, p. 90).

Gonzalves entered the Royal College of St. Josephs which was an institution that was intended for Chinese students only. He found that levels of education were at an all-time low, and so he offered to teach Portuguese to the Chinese, and Chinese to the Portuguese in return for food and lodging. The Diccionario was part of this effort and his largest work.

Provenance: Emile Blancheton (dates unknown) was interpreter at the French Consulate in Canton in 1864. He moved to Shanghai where he worked for the Chinese Maritime Customs from 1868-1872, and later became acting French Consul at Hankow.

See also: Braga 21. Cordier 1595.

Stock No.
260997
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