Rare, 1929, Maximilian Esterer, China’s Natürliche Ordnung und die Maschine, Sun Yat-sen, Dust Jacket by Frans Masereel

Very Scarce First Edition with Original DJ by Frans Masereel – Only Known Copy Available Online

Title: China’s natürliche Ordnung und die Maschine (China’s Natural Order and the Machine)                        Author: Maximilian Esterer
Series: Wege der Technik
Publisher: J.G. Cotta’sche Buchhandlung Nachfolger
Year: 1929
Edition: First Edition
Dust Jacket Design: Frans Masereel (1889-1972, renowned Belgian expressionist artist)
Binding: Original softcover with dust jacket
Pages: 175
Condition: Very Good

Description

Offered here is an exceptionally rare first edition of China’s natürliche Ordnung und die Maschine (1929), part of the prestigious series “Wege der Technik.” This is currently the only known copy for sale online, making it a highly desirable item for collectors of rare historical, philosophical, and political works relating to China and early 20th-century industrial thought.

The book features a dust jacket designed by Frans Masereel, one of the most celebrated woodcut artists and a pioneer of the wordless novel. His involvement adds significant artistic and collectible value.

About the Book

Maximilian Esterer—an engineer and keen observer of global industrial development—examines China at a pivotal moment in its transformation. The work offers a fascinating analysis of China’s cultural and philosophical foundations, its encounter with Western industrialization, and the potential path toward modernization.

Esterer emphasizes the relevance of Sun Yat-sen’s “Three People’s Principles” (nationalism, democracy, and welfare) and argues that China’s openness to Western technological knowledge could create a crucial bridge between its deep-rooted traditions and an industrialized future. His reflections, written in 1929, read today as strikingly prophetic, anticipating many developments that shaped modern China.

A remarkable piece of intellectual and political history, and a must-have for collectors of:

• Chinese history

• Early industrial and technological theory

• Political philosophy

• Works related to Sun Yat-sen

• Frans Masereel illustrated books

• Scarce interwar European publications

Condition

Very good vintage condition for its age, please consult the photos for details.