Le Tonkin: Vues Photographiques (Tokin: Photographic Views) (2 vols.) [CONTAINING 113 ORIGINAL PHOTOGRAPHS]

Paris: Henry Cremenitz, 1886. First edition. Hardcover. g- to near fine condition. Folios. Red cloth over grey paper portfolios, with black lettering on the front covers. String-tied. 97 loose plates. This remarkable and historically important collection is comprised of 113 original b/w photographs taken between 1883-1886 in the area of Northern Vietnam by French medical doctor, explorer and award-winning photographer Charles-Édouard Hocquard (1853 -1911). Hocquard first volunteered in 1883, as a military medical doctor for the Tonkin Campaign. While there he used his position to extensively photograph the country.

These images are significant in that they serve as invaluable visual documentation of and offer insight into the daily lives the people, the culture and landscape in the area of the Red River Delta and its surroundings, in Northern Vietnam (then known as Tonkin), as it was in the second half of the 19th century. Most notably, many of these images were taken during the period of France's "Tonkin Campaign" (1883-1886), and the Sino-French War (1884-1885). The French victory during these conflicts ultimately resulted in the beginning of the French colonial period in Vietnam, and the formation of the unified French Indochina. The wide range of images here include portraits, war images, street scenes, landscapes, architecture, still lifes, artisans and craftsmen, musicians and performers, governmental officials, diplomats, soldiers (French, Vietnamese and Chinese), and a number of gruesome images of beheadings and executions. Cities, towns and areas shown include: Hanoi (w/ the citadel), Son Tay, Ninh Bình, Lang Son, Bac Ninh, Nam Dinh, Phu Xa (Dong Dan), Hong Hoa and Dong Son.

Although Hocquard's photographs of Tonkin during this period are known to number at least 250 images (and likely many more), publisher Henry Cremenitz offered a total of 240 images* to the public, starting sometime around 1886-1887. It is likely that these images were purchased at the discretion of the buyer. Those who bought a significant amount could have them housed in a custom portfolio. It is known that 117 of Hocquard's images of Tonkin were exhibited at the 1885 Antwerp International Exposition, and won him the gold medal. Although it is not known which images were shown, it can be assumed that many of the exhibited photographs are present in this collection.

Some plates contain a single larger image measuring 9 1/2 x 7", while others contain two smaller plates each measuring 6 1/4 x 4". All images are numbered and include a text caption in French, at the bottom, set within each image. All plates are printed with a decorative Chinese-style border and publisher's credits in red.

Portfolios with some scratches and stains as well as light rubbing to extremities. The front covers of all one portfolio has a few period notes in ink at the top. Plates throughout with occasional stains, age toning and/or rubbing and minor chipping to extremities, almost entirely confined to the margins. Most images throughout are still clean and vibrant. Portfolios in good- to very good condition. Plates in good+ to near fine condition overall. * A published catalog of images was issued by publisher Henry Cremenitz, naming all available plates in order. A copy of this list accompanies one of the collections held at the Biblioteque Nationale du France, and has been digitally scanned. It can be viewed on their online database.

Large images: 81
Small images: 32 (on 16 plates, 2 per plate)
Total plate count: 97
Total image count: 113

There are only 5 collections of these extremely scarce images held worldwide as recorded on OCLC none of which contain the full 240 images:
- 3 collections at the Bibliteque Nationale du France (2 of which are scanned)
- A small collection at the Bibliothèque centrale du service de santé des Armées (Army Health Service, Central Library)
- The largest collection is held at the Getty (200 images).