Shopping and Sightseeing in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong: Cathay Limited,, 1952. First edition, first printing, of this scarce, chatty handbook affirming Hong Kong's reputation as a Mecca for travellers in the post-war tourism boom. Of particular interest are the large number of advertisements offering a feel for life in the territory during the early 1950s. Copies of the first edition are seldom encountered in commerce, and WorldCat notes just two institutionally (British Library and Toronto Public Library). In her guide, Helen Eva Yates (1900-1993) purposefully adopts a relaxed tone perhaps better suited to the emerging middle-class travel market than some other contemporary guides. "Perhaps you hope to have a brocade evening coat made to order? Or a summer Shantung suit? A handsome camphorwood chest is just what you want to store your treasures in. Dad has long wanted a carved ivory chess set. Or you may be plotting to take home a heavenly trousseau set of silk lingerie for your sister's wedding. And you have always longed to own a dinner ring and earrings of cool apple-green jade. We'll tell you where to find them all" (p. 9). Yates wrote this guide partly at the urging of the American President Line, and copies were sold on board the APL's cruise ships and at its ticket offices in California and New York. Octavo. Original illustrated wrappers, front cover lettered in red. With folding map of Hong Kong showing major hotels and businesses, verso with similar map of Kowloon, illustrations and advertisements throughout, a few leaves printed on coloured paper. Spine sunned, small chip at lower corner of front wrapper, internally clean. A well-preserved copy.