Rare 1944 Foreign Relations of the United States, Vol. VI (China) Ma Yeh-Shiang

eBay Listing: Rare 1944 Foreign Relations of the United States, Vol. VI (China)

This is a significant historical volume from the Foreign Relations of the United States (FRUS) series, specifically 1944, Volume VI, focusing on China. Published by the Department of State in 1967, this cloth-bound hardback contains primary source diplomatic papers detailing the complex relationship between the U.S. and China during a pivotal year of World War II.

Provenance & Unique Collection

What makes this specific copy remarkable is its documented provenance. The interior features a unique hand-written Chinese inscription and a red ink seal (hanko/chop) that anchors it to a specific moment in history.

• Inscription Translation: "Purchased at Bamboo Bridge, Washington, D.C., U.S.A., on June 13, 1968."

• Collection Stamp: The title page bears an official "Collection of Ma Yeh-Shiang" stamp dated July 1970.

• Historical Context: This volume belonged to the private collection of Ma Yeh-Shiang, with the Chinese calligraphy and collector's seal highlighting its journey from a D.C. bookseller to a prominent personal or scholarly library just a year after its publication. This is not a standard ex-library copy; it is a piece of diplomatic history with a personal story.

Condition Summary

• Exterior: The maroon cloth boards are sturdy with a crisp embossed Great Seal of the United States on the front cover. The spine remains tight with bright gold lettering.

• Interior: Pages are clean, crisp, and free of highlighting or marginalia.

• Edges: Light foxing (age spotting) is present on the top and side text block edges, typical for a volume of this age (see photos).

• Overall: A very well-preserved, "collectible-grade" copy.

Item Specifics

• Title: Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1944, Volume VI, China

• Publisher: U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington

• Publication Year: 1967

• Format: Hardcover 

• Language: English (with Chinese provenance inscriptions)

• Subject: History, Military & Wartime Diplomacy

• Special Attributes: 1st Edition thus, Unique Collection Stamps (Ma Yeh-Shiang), Hand-written Provenance.