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Rare Complete Boxed Set of 100 Chinese Art Postcards — Bao Yun Lou
Offered here is acomplete boxed set of 100 Chinese art postcards / collotype-style reproductions of historic Chinese paintings from the Bao Yun Lou (Hall of Embodied Treasures) collection in Beijing/Peking, China.
The original fabric-covered presentation box bears the Chinese title:
Approximately translated as:
“One Hundred Picture Postcards of Famous Paintings from Bao Yun Lou”
or
“Picture Postcards of the Painting Collection in the Hall of Embodied Treasures.”
The set contains:
- All 100 original art cards
- Original fabric-covered fitted presentation box
- Separate handwritten provenance/history note
This exact title is documented in institutional and sale records as a100-card boxed set. A complete example was offered by AVA sales in Hong Kong in March 2024 as Lot 761, described as“Picture Postcards of the Painting Collection in the Hall of Embodied Treasures”and retaining its original box. That sale example was described as unused and in superb condition; this set differs because all cards have handwritten English annotations on their reverses.
The precise publication year and publisher of this particular set havenot been independently established. Based on available catalog and historical information, it appears to be aRepublican-era Chinese publication, likely dating from the late 1920s–1930s. Dating should therefore be considered approximate.
HANDWRITTEN ENGLISH ANNOTATIONS
A particularly unusual feature of this set is thatall 100 cards have extensive handwritten English information on the reverse.
The handwriting appears consistent throughout the set and also appears similar to the handwriting on the accompanying loose note.
The annotations identify or discuss subjects including:
- Artists
- Chinese dynasties
- Painting subjects
- Historical figures
- Individual scenes
- Artist dates
- Art-historical information
The writer uses older transliterations and terminology, including Wade-Giles-style spellings such as:
Su Tung Po / Su Shih
Tung Ch'i-ch'ang
Chang Jo-ai
Sung
Yüan
Ch'ing
These annotations appear to have been added by a previous collector or owner rather than being part of the original printing.
The identity of the writer and the date the annotations were made are unknown.
ACCOMPANYING PROVENANCE NOTE
Also included is a separate handwritten note that appears to be in the same hand as the annotations on the cards.
The note reads:
“From the Peking Palace Collection before its dispersal.”
The note is included exactly as found.
This statement hasnot been independently authenticatedand is presented solely as historical collector provenance/context. No representation is being made that these physical postcards themselves were removed from the Imperial Palace or that the handwritten statement constitutes documented museum provenance.
Potential buyers should evaluate the note and its significance for themselves.
CONDITION DETAILS
The set iscomplete with all 100 cards present.
Cards
Overall, the cards appear to be in very good vintage condition considering their age.
They show normal signs of age and storage that may include:
- Age toning
- Light handling wear
- Minor edge wear
- Occasional spotting or discoloration
- Handwritten English annotations on every card reverse
No attempt has been made to erase or remove the handwritten annotations.
Box
The original fabric-covered presentation box shows age-related wear including:
- Surface rubbing
- Light dust or soiling
- Edge and corner wear
- Minor wear around the closure areas
- General storage wear consistent with age
The original Chinese title label寶蘊樓名畫影片百種remains present on the cover.
Handwritten Note
The separate provenance note shows expected age toning and handling wear.
Please examine all listing photographs carefully. The photographs form an important part of the condition description.
No attempt has been made to clean, restore, erase, retouch, or otherwise alter the cards, box, or handwritten material.
WHAT IS INCLUDED
1 — Original fabric-covered presentation box
100 — Chinese art reproduction / postcard cards
1 — Separate handwritten provenance note
The postcard set itself is complete at100 of 100 cards.
Everything shown in the listing photographs that pertains to this set is included.
HISTORICAL / COLLECTING INTEREST
This set may appeal to collectors and researchers interested in:
- Chinese art
- Traditional Chinese painting
- Republican-era China
- Prewar China
- Peking / Peiping / Beiping
- Beijing history
- Bao Yun Lou / Hall of Embodied Treasures
- Chinese imperial art collections
- Forofferden City history
- Chinese art reproduction
- Collotype printing
- Vintage postcards
- Chinese printed ephemera
- Art-history reference material
- Early Western study of Chinese art
The combination of acomplete 100-card set, original fitted presentation box, and extensive historic English annotationsmakes this an unusual surviving example.
SHIPPING
The cards will remain together in their original presentation box.
The set will be carefully protected to prevent movement, bending, abrasion, or crushing during shipment.
SELLER DISCLAIMER
I am not an expert in Chinese art or early Chinese printed material.
The title and identification of this set are supported by published catalog and sale records. Theprecise publication year, publisher, and history of this particular example have not been independently established, and any dating is therefore approximate.
Unless specifically stated otherwise, no claim of museum, imperial, or palace provenance is being independently guaranteed.
The handwritten provenance note and annotations are included exactly as found and should be considered part of the historical character of the collection.
Please review the photographs and description carefully and ask any questions before purchasing.
Thank you for looking.
