1941 1st edition; Alfred A. Knopf publishers, New York; large hardbound in red boards with black illustration on cover and gilt lettering on spine; book inside very good condition with unmarked pages; boards have minor moisture on one edge (see pic) and very minor soiling; wonderful drawings and images throughout.
 
Description -
 Anthology of poems translated from the Chinese by English sinologist Arthur David Waley (1889 - 1966), with illustrations by Cyrus Le Roy Baldridge. A reprint of translations of verse "as they stood in 1918 and 1919" with minor revisions. Presented in two parts.
 
The first part contains songs from the Shih Ching (The Book of Songs) dating from c. 700 B.C., through the verse of Li P'o (AD 701 - 762) of the T'ang Dynasty.
 
The second part preceded by a biographical sketch, is devoted to works of Po Chü-i (also of the T'ang Dynasty), whose work is notably distinguished by verbal simplicity in a genre claimed by the literati.