1946 · Peiping, China
Peiping, China: War Area Service Corps of the National MilitaryCouncil, 1946. 2nd Edition stated. Very good. 7¼” x 5”. Paper wrappers. Pp. 28 + fold-out 9” x 7” map. Very good minus: wrappers lightly soiled, moderately split at head and lightly at foot of spine; small closed tear to edge of front and corner chip to rear; age-toned and fragile with light scattered spotting.
This is a rare and illustrated guide to Beijing issued after the conclusion of World War II by the War Area Service Corps (WASC), a military branch of the Chinese government tasked with catering to foreign troops.
An introduction to this small book read, “Allied Friends – Welcome! Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek sincerely desires and has, therefore, ordered the WASC . . . to make your visit in Peiping a happy and pleasant occasion. The WASC has been entrusted with this task because it has been taking care of United States Forces personnel in Free China ever since 1942 . . .” It promised to help “you get to know the Peiping all of us love.”
The book includes a “brief historical sketch” of the city, complete with a chronology of the dynasties of China, as well as descriptions and small illustrations of favored tourist destinations. There is a great fold-out “Skeleton Map,” identifying temples, hostels, directions to airfields and points of interest such as the Palace Museum, Bell Tower, Central Park and Library, numbered to correspond with their descriptions in the book. Six pages were dedicated to a directory, with addresses in both English and Chinese, of WASC headquarters and hostels, churches and missions, clubs and associations, movie houses, dance halls and restaurants, including one menu.
Rare. OCLC shows only one holding, at the National Library of Australia. (Inventory #: 6754)
This is a rare and illustrated guide to Beijing issued after the conclusion of World War II by the War Area Service Corps (WASC), a military branch of the Chinese government tasked with catering to foreign troops.
An introduction to this small book read, “Allied Friends – Welcome! Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek sincerely desires and has, therefore, ordered the WASC . . . to make your visit in Peiping a happy and pleasant occasion. The WASC has been entrusted with this task because it has been taking care of United States Forces personnel in Free China ever since 1942 . . .” It promised to help “you get to know the Peiping all of us love.”
The book includes a “brief historical sketch” of the city, complete with a chronology of the dynasties of China, as well as descriptions and small illustrations of favored tourist destinations. There is a great fold-out “Skeleton Map,” identifying temples, hostels, directions to airfields and points of interest such as the Palace Museum, Bell Tower, Central Park and Library, numbered to correspond with their descriptions in the book. Six pages were dedicated to a directory, with addresses in both English and Chinese, of WASC headquarters and hostels, churches and missions, clubs and associations, movie houses, dance halls and restaurants, including one menu.
Rare. OCLC shows only one holding, at the National Library of Australia. (Inventory #: 6754)
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