PHOTO ALBUM OF CHINESE EXECUTION, BEHEADING AND PUNISHMENT: A GROUP OF 38 ORIGIN

[China 1900-1912, Various Publishers]. Brown cloth album, ribbon tied, spine, 23.1 x 13 cm., gold stamped cover title, brown deckle-edge pages, very good, clean condition, 38 various photos & photo postcards, color and black & white. . *** **** *** . . PUBLIC BEHEADING IN CHINA . . KOWLOONG [sic for Kowloon, Hong Kong], CANTON, MANCHURIA, . . . NANKING, HANKOW, TIELING & TIENTSIN-PEKING . . * A stunning collection of bizarre and unusual images, seldom found. There were probably thousands of images of all walks of life of China done from about 1890-1945. While we have been an antiquarian Asian specialist dealers for 50 years, we have seen very few images of this subject, and never had an album with such a rounded and cohesive group on the subject of punishment, beheading and torture. . The Chinese legal system demanded severe punishment for heinous crimes, crimes against Confucianism and the state. The government exacted retribution in the most severe form of social and legal justice. . The most serious crimes such as harming one's parents or family members meant certain death, even dismembering called "LINCHI," where the criminal is cut into small pieces. This would mean his soul would never come to rest. . Beheading was the usual punishment for pirates, thieves and major crimes. The "cage" was for less severe crimes but often meant slow death by being suspended in the "cage" by one's neck until dead. The "cage" was used mostly on women for severe crimes, it could mean death or a very uncomfortable time. The "cangue" was for minor crimes and was used commonly for both men and women. . *** TECHNIQUE OF THE IMAGES: The album consists of some 38 individual original photographs in silver gelatin type images, standard photographs, hand-colored photographs, colored collotype photos and printed color collotypes. We have indicated the graphic technique with each description of the individual images. . *** SIZE: By and large most images are "postcard" size, give or take a few millimeters. Most are postcard format, that is on stiff card, with blank mailing address on the verso. . *** CONDITION: Each item is in very good or better condition. Where there is a condition issue, we point that out. If nothing is stated then it is in "very good or better condition." . *** DATES: A few of the cards are dated. We believe the earliest is from about 1900-1912. Some have postal dates, or written dates, others for example when Chinese wear the long braid queue, that indicates an image from just before or no later than 1912. . *** A LIST OF EACH CARD, ITS CAPTION AND TITLE: Not all cards have a title. Where there is not title we have attempted to put an appropriate title to indicate the subject. Most cards that have captions are in English, then followed by French, German and Russian. . *** TITLE/CONTENTS OF EACH CARD: . 1. English caption: "CHINESE COURT OF JUSTICE." This shows two criminals performing "Kow-Tow" by humbling themselves on their knees bowing down to the seated Magistrate, who is a Mandarin. He wears his official robe, sports sunglasses, wears the typical black hat, and review the charges at his desk. His deputy stands to his left, along with four other Imperial guards. Two of which each hold a long paddle to whip the criminals should they get out of hand. A scribe is seated to the Magistrate's right, brush in hand. The Imperial banner is in the background. The card is printed in collotype color. The verso states: "M. Sternberg & Co., Hong Kong. There is a penned Chinese greeting on the verso and a signature, else clean. Color collotype. . 2. English caption at the bottom: "EXECUTION OF 'NAMOA' PIRATES AT KOWLOONG [sic] for Kowloon." Eight British officials have witnessed the beheading of 12 Chinese Pirates on the beach in Hong Kong. Original silver gelatin photograph. . 3. Another b.w. photograph of the same as #2 above, in post card format. Original b.w. photograph. . 4. Another per above #2, 3 above, right, left corners broken away, lesser quality, same photograph. Published by M. Sternberg, Hong Kong. Black & white collotype photograph. . 5. English caption at the bottom: "THE HIGH EXECUTIONER. NOTE HIS HAPPY SMILE." Shows the High Executioner standing by his desk of justice'. He holds a very long beheading sword in his left hand [toward the camera] other officials look on. Original b.w. photograph. . 6. The High Executioner [same man as above] readies his next victim, he forces the convicted man into position. Several officials and onlookers observe. Original b.w. photograph. . 7. The Chinese peasant executioner stands behind two bound and kneeling convicted men in the dirt street. A mob of people are present, on the right are a number of foreigners in summer straw hats, as well as 2 groups of 5-6 U.S. Navy sailors in white uniforms looking on. This indicates the location to be a "Port of Call" for the American navy, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Tientsin and other "Treaty Ports." Most likely this is a scene in Hong Kong or Canton by the looks of the light clothing on the Chinese. Adjacent to the U.S. sailors are a group of Chinese onlookers on both sides of the street. Some wear a long queue of braided hair. This indicates a date of before 1912. Original b.w. photograph, a bit faded & grainy. . 8. English caption at the bottom: "BEHEADED IN MANCHURIA." This shows a scene of many Chinese soldiers, many of which hold rifles or swords. The Executioner is about to swing his very long sword and behead the convicted who is on his knees, blindfolded and has his shirt pulled off his shoulders. With a semi-circle of military onlookers. B.w. collotype. . 9. English caption: "IN CHINA." This early photo shows four Imperial Guards holding down the convicted man; one pulls his long queue of hair two others hold his arms while the fourth holds the sword just above the man’s neck. There are two other Imperial Guards looking on. A large mob has gathered in the dirt covered street looking on curiously. There are a number of foreign men and women standing behind the first rank of Chinese slightly in the Background, including what appears to be foreign military men. This card is old, ca. 1900-1905, with rounded corners. Original b.w. photograph, a bit faded. . 10. English caption: "EXECUTION IN CHINA." This is a matching card to item #8. It shows a muddy dirt road with water and tire tracks, and the torso of the above beheaded man lying in the middle of the road. A very large number of Chinese and one foreigner stands to the immediate left foreground with a bow tie and white suit and straw hat. Many of the Chinese hold round fans, its hot, most likely Canton or Hong Kong. One Chinese in the immediate foreground faces away from the camera with a very long braided queue. Circa 1900-1905. Original b.w. photograph, same series and fading as item #9. . THE RAREST OF ALL PHOTOS IN THIS ALBUM: 11. A beheaded person, with many deep large gashes cut into his hip, legs arms. He is bound on two pieces of board with bamboo strips like a hog going to market. There is a thick and long pole at the uppermost part, so that two Chinese may carry him like any other baggage. His legs and arms are folded to make this parcel as small as possible. There is no head whatsoever. This is a special kind of torture and punishment, called "LINCHI," where the criminal is cut into pieces. A grizzly original b.w. photograph, about the same bit of fading per #9, 10, similar series.. . 12. The Chinese army with rifles drawn and pointing at blind-folded prisoners. There are four convicted sitting on the weeds. Three foreigners wearing sport jackets, white pants and straw hats look on, while other several soldiers including one officer with a very long sword looks on. Original b.w. photograph, a touch of fading at both margin sides with a small amount encroaching into the image, about .2mm on each side, else excellent sharp clean image. . 13. English caption: "A PAIR WHO PAID" 2.1 [February 1901]. This grizzly photograph shows two beheaded heads resting on rocks looking at the camera. They are bloody. There is a monogram reading "cp' at the lower right corner. Original b.w. photograph, a bit of very minor fading else sharp image. . 14. A Chinese pirate is captured and being held by Imperial Guards. In the immediate left background can be seen a Mandarin official wearing the typical conical hat. In the foreground is a guard holding the convicted. The convicted has no shirt and has what appears to be a large breast with a long nipple, and a beard. It looks like a man, he has no shirt on, and is being held fast. Original b.w. photograph. This is the smallest of the group, 7 x 11.4 cm., it is too small to fit into the slits and was mounted with the usual antique photo 'corners.' . 15. English caption: "NANKING CHINA 1911." This shows a group of Chinese soldiers look at four decapitated bodies on the ground. The closest Chinese soldier has a large white cloth, and he is wiping the blood from a very long sword. Ten other Chinese army men look on, one has three medals on his left chest, and he wears long leather boots, and is most likely an officer as his hat is different from all others. The convicted are bound in ropes and blindfolded. Original b.w. photograph. . 16. A close-up photograph of two beheaded torsos and the grizzly detached heads. The convicted is tied with a heavy rope around his neck and arms. Original b.w. photograph, likely from the same series as #15 above. . 17. English caption: "AGGRESSION STOPS THIEVING IN CHINA." This shows a tripod of bamboo holding a head, below which is a decapitated body in the street. Many Chinese onlookers observe the scene. Original b.w. photograph, grainy quality, slight discoloration to right one-half.. . 18. "REVOLUTIONARIES AND HANKOW." Shows five men bound and tied to a large post. Published by Ta Fung & Co., made in Japan. Collotype b.w. photograph. . 19. English caption: "REVOLUTIONIST KILLED BY MANCHURIAN HANKOW. This shows a young man decapitated, his head is laying on his crotch. Collotype photograph. . 20. English caption: "REVOLUTION AND HANKOW." Shows a wide field with six beheaded bodies scattered. Published by the Ta Fung & Co., made in Japan. Collotype b.w. photograph. . 21. English caption: "LOOTERS SHOT AT HANKOW." This shows four looters on their knees tied to posts with baskets over their faces, each has a poster stuck to their posts stating the nature of their crime. Several Chinese onlookers look on. Collotype b.w. photograph. . 22. French caption: "EXECUTION D'UN PIRATE CHINOIS." "EXECUTION OF A CHINESE PIRATE." This shows an ethnic minority clothed man holding a very long sword. In front of him is the beheaded torso of a man who has his arms tied behind him. There are several other Chinese women and children in the background. Collotype b.w. photograph. . 23. English caption: "READY TO BE BEHEADED." "Photo by Denniston & Sullivan." This shows a Chinese man with another pulling his braided queue. The convicted is on his knees, and another Chinese is pulling his rope-bound hands as the convicted man faces the ground. Many Chinese onlookers observe the scene. A Chinese official seems to defer to a higher officer off to the side as many people look to him for the signal to behead the criminal. In the background is one foreign man wearing a suite and had smoking a cigar. Published by Denniston & Sullivan, Series 2, No 92 on the back. Blue [blue ink used rather than the standard black] collotype photograph. . 24. English caption: "ROBBERS BEING BEHEADED AT TIELING." This shows a circle of eight beheaded robbers. Each has no shirt and is face down in the dirt. A large circle of Chinese on lookers take in the grizzly scene. The executioner seems to be standing in the center left in front of all others, he holds a white fan. Two other young men sit on their haunches close to the dead. Collotype b.w. photograph. . 25. English caption: "HEADS AND BODIES OF CHINESE CRIMINALS AFTER DECEPTION." This shows a grizzly scene in what appears to be a public park with refreshment tents in the background. In the foreground are twelve decapitated bodies and their heads detached and strewn about. On the verso is: "Published by M. Sterngerg, Wholesale and Retail Postcard Dealer at No. 51 Queen's Road Central and at No. 34 Queen's Road Central, Hong Kong." Collotype b.w. photograph. . 26. English caption: "CHINESE EXECUTION OF A PIRATE." This shows a large gathering of Chinese. The executioner holds a large sword over his head in readiness to lop off the head of the pirate. Another Chinese pulls on the queue of convicted while the convicted is on his knees and looks down. His hands are tied behind his back. There is a penned note on the front in the lower margin with a date of Oct.22/06 [1906]. On the verso is: "Published by M. Sternberg, Hong Kong." There is a Hong Kong 4 cent postage stamp on this card and it is cancelled, with "06" date on it. Collotype b.w. photograph. . 27. The same as 26 but in color collotype. . 28. French & Russian captions: "A LA TORTURE." "THE TORTURE." This shows a prisoner man held fast a by Chinese guard who holds a rifle and has a belt of ammunition around his waist. Behind him is a large contingent of army or war-lord soldiers as they have no standard uniform on. The verso is in Russian, with a date of 27 October 1903. Collotype b.w. photograph. . 29. English caption: "ONE OF THE MANY MODES OF CHINESE TORTURE." This shows four Chinese male criminals all in large wooden "cangue" around their necks. two on the outside are standing, two on the inside are seated. The center left seated man has a paper attached to his "cangue" stating: "600." We presume it means that amount of days he is sentenced for. Three others have a tag of some sort, but the writing is illegible. The card is a color collotype, with purple, blue, red, white and yellow color. The verso states: "The Hong Kong Pictorial Postcard Co., P.O. Box, No. 4." Followed by: "1072:06," meaning no. 1972, printed 1096. At the far right corner is "170389." Color printed collotype photograph . 30. French, English & German captions: "VOEUR CHINOIS DANS LA CAGE." "[THE MAN IN THE CAGE]." "CHINESISCHER RAUBER IM KAFIG." This shows a man in the background being held in a wooden cage, his neck is clamped so he is suspended by his head. He stands on a cross board. If the Magistrate orders no cross board is allowed and the man hangs to death by the head bone and jaw. In this case he is just caged. There is a Chinese board with his crime attached to the left side of the cage. In the foreground is a pony with his master and two young men looking on. There is a Chinese text at the top stating this example is near the Great Wall of China. Collotype b.w. photograph. . 31. English caption: "CHINESE IN DEATH CAGES." This shows six wooden cages with six men suspended by their head, feet dangling. They appear to be dead or near dead, Each has a haunting look on his face. There is a penned caption on two margins, from Shanghai, dated August 18,1905, with a postal stamp on the verso also stamped Shanghai and '06 date. It is addressed to France. 18.8.05. There is the Imperial Dragon flag at the far right, with yellow background, indicating sanctioned by the Emperor. Collotype b.w. photograph. . NOTE: From here onward, all images are in color, hand-colored, or color collotype photographs. . 32. The same as image as #31 above but with English caption: "CHINESE DEATH CAGES, printed in collotype color. Verso states: "Chrom. Edit Kingshill. No. 10013." Color collotype photograph. . 33. English caption: "CHINESE PIRATES ON THE EXECUTION GROUND." This shows five Chinese pirates on their knees, very well bound with rope, awaiting the executioner's sword. They convicted on a beach, with the water in the background, along with several Imperial troops and a few other onlookers. One Chinese man onlooker wears the typical bamboo hat that men wear in Hong Kong and Canton area. All of the convicted look at the ground except one who watches intently to his right [off camera] where the likely executioner is doing his executions. The card was published by M. Sternberg, Hong Kong. Printed in color collotype photograph. . 34. English caption: "THE MOST HORRIBLE WAY OF EXECUTING [sic] CRIMINALS IS THE 'LINCHI' CUTTING INTO PIECES. WHEN ONE MURDERING THEIR PARENTS AN OTHER CAPITAL CRIMES, WOULD BE UNDER PENALTY OF SUCH TORTURE. No. 377." This shows a street scene with a single beheaded man with both legs, arms, hands and elbows cut off, he lays on the dirt street. A grizzly scene. The verso states: "Published by M. Sternberg, Wholesale and Retail Postcard Dealer at No. 51 Queen's Road central and at No. 34 t Queen's Road central, Hong Kong." Hand-colored red and blue tint collotype photograph. . 35. English caption: "HEADS AND BODIES OF CHINESE CRIMINALS AFTER DECEPTION." This very grizzly scene shows about 10 or more headless bodies in what appears to be a park or place with refreshments. The bodies are strewn about with heads entirely separated and distant. Verso states: "Published by M. Sternberg, Wholesale and Retail Postcard Dealer at No. 51 Queen's Road central and at No. 34 t Queen's Road central, Hong Kong." The card is hand-colored with tints of red, green, blue and tan, collotype photograph. . 36. English & German captions: "TIENTSIN 1912 HEAD OF EXECUTED LOOTER" & "TIENTSIN-PEKING 1912 KOPL EINES HINGERICHTETEN RAUBERS." This shows a robber's head suspended from his queue on an iron electric post. Printed in color collotype photograph. . 37. English & German captions: "TIENTSIN-PEKING 1912 BEHEADED LOOTER" & "TIENTSIN-PEKING 1912 GEKOPFTER RAUBER." This shows a beheaded man lying face down in the street along the tram tracks, his hands are bound behind his back, his head is separated with lots of blood. The blood on the street is hand-tinted, otherwise printed in blue, yellow, red collotype photograph. No.156 is printed on the verso. . 38. English caption: "PRISONERS OF KIA-TING, CHINA." This shows a group five Chinese in the very large wooden "cangue." There are also three others in the foreground mostly looking down or laying down on the street. There is a crowd of Chinese onlookers on the right and in the distant background. The verso of the card states: "PRISONERS OF KIA-TING, CHINA prisoners have a square board [cangue] through which their heads protrude, and fastened with a chain to their neck. The women are placed in cages with a hole on top large enough for their heads to come through when they stand up. this is only one of the mild forms of punishment inflicted by the Chinese for petty larceny offences." Color printed, but hand-tinted collotype, glossy type, red in the convicted garments and on the neck of the left cangue held-person. . *** THE ALBUM: The album is brown cloth with gold lettering on the front. The back cover matches the front, and has: "Ideas Specialty Company Chicago New York" on a small pink label with "No.601" stamped on it. There is a brown shoestring tied at the left spine. I goes through two brass grommets. . The album leaves are dark brown, each page has four pair of slits to insert the photos and postcards, without damage to the images. Each page is a 'deckle-edge' at the right side, three other sides neatly cut. Each item is easily removed for inspecting the verso. One item per page. Thirty-eight pages, 38 items in all. . *** Color scans are posted to our website. . *** CONDITION: The album covers are in very good plus condition, no rubbing or wear. There are a few old silverfish spots to the front and back covers, else exceptionally clean, fresh and solid. * .