Ethnography

Little, Archibald John (1838–1908)

Mount Omi and Beyond [First Edition] [Tibet Mountaineering] [Sacred Mountains]

London: William Heinemann, 1901. First Edition, First Printing.

An outstanding primary resource documenting the sacred landscapes of Szechuan and the Tibetan border before the encroachment of Western modernization. 

Little’s 1899 expedition provides a rare, 'medieval' glimpse into the mountain monasteries of Mount Omi (Emei Shan), a region then defined by precipitous ranges and a total absence of Western technology. This volume is a cornerstone of late-Victorian travel literature, capturing a world the author believed was nearing its end.

KEY FEATURES:
+++ Visuals: Illustrated with fifteen black-and-white photographic plates and a large 'Sketch Map of Northern and Central Szechuan'.
+++ Binding: Original light blue cloth; front cover featuring a gilt-stamped decorative motif and gilt spine titles. +++ Content: A comprehensive 1899 tour focusing on the life of mountain monasteries, flora, fauna, opium customs, and the influence of Christian Missions on the Tibetan border.
+++ Imprint: London: William Heinemann, 1901. First Edition.
+++ Specs: Octavo (9 inches tall) / vi, 272 pages with an index.

CONDITION: Very Good. The bindings are tight and square. The light blue cloth shows characteristic sun-fading to the spine and moderate shelf handling, including bumped upper corners. Internally, the text is clean with light, even age-toning. There is an erased inscription on the front free endpaper and a gift inscription on the half-title page. The tissue guard for the frontispiece is present but age-toned. A solid, honest example of a scarce mountaineering title.

SCHOLARLY FEATURES
+++ Mountaineering History: Cited in Neate (L43), the work is prized for its technical descriptions of the high peaks within sight of the snowy Tibetan ranges. 
+++ Ethnographic Value: Little compares the isolation of Szechuan to the European Middle Ages, documenting the colorful dress and traditional customs of native peoples far removed from treaty ports. 
+++ Contextual Analysis: Written by a pioneer of Yangtze navigation, the book serves as a primary document for the 'Great Game' era of exploration, blending geographical survey with social commentary on the dawn of the 20th century.

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE ----
Archibald John Little was one of the most intrepid British travelers in China, famous for being the first to pilot a steamer through the Yangtze Gorges. Mount Omi and Beyond represents his more contemplative work—a journey into the spiritual and physical verticality of the Tibetan border.

This 1901 Heinemann first edition matters because it captures the 'Szechuan-Tibetan' corridor at a moment of total cultural purity. Little’s observations on the opium trade and the rigidity of monastic life provide a level of detail that would become impossible to replicate after the political upheavals of the following decades. It remains a vital reference for historians of Chinese religion and Central Asian exploration.

SUBJECTS: Mount Omi, Emei Shan, Tibet, Szechuan Province, Chinese Monasteries, Central Asian Exploration, Mountaineering, 19th Century China, Missionary History. Travelogue, Mountaineering Literature, First Edition, Ethnography.

BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCE: Neate L43; Badenoch p. 203; CLC.

Item #21688

Price: $225.00