China Yearbook Collection 1960–1970 (RARE, 9-Volume Set) 🇨🇳📜🏛️

1. Introduction 📜🔍🏛️

This listing presents an exceptionally rare and historically significant nine-volume set of the China Yearbook, spanning the pivotal years from 1960 to 1970. Published in Taipei, Taiwan, this collection is a foundational primary source on the Republic of China (ROC), providing an official and comprehensive record of its political, economic, and cultural landscape during the Cold War. The set's value is anchored in its status as a tangible historical document, offering an unparalleled look into a government fighting for its political and diplomatic survival.

The books provide a meticulously compiled, year-by-year narrative that is a vital resource for scholars and historians. The inclusion of fold-out maps and official records elevates them to a museum-grade collectible. For a discerning collector of rare geopolitical documents, this set represents a unique asset, holding both intellectual and material value.

2. About the Book 📖✍️✨

The China Yearbook, a government-sourced publication, provides a comprehensive and official overview of the Republic of China's political, economic, and social status during a critical period. The volumes meticulously document a wide range of subjects, from government structures and foreign relations to cultural life and biographical sketches of key figures like the late President Chiang Kai-shek and Vice President Yen Chia-kan. The books are filled with a rich array of data, including charts, statistics, and photographs that illustrate the ROC's progress.

The books present the ROC's perspective during a time of immense international and domestic change. While the mainland was experiencing the chaos of the Great Leap Forward and the beginning of the Cultural Revolution, these yearbooks from Taiwan document a period of stability and growth. The volumes stand as a direct "cultural counterattack" by the ROC, a project to preserve traditional Chinese culture and history on Taiwan while it was being systematically dismantled on the mainland. The detailed and official nature of the content makes this set a unique and powerful historical resource.

3. About the Publisher/Maker ✍️🏛️

The China Yearbook was produced by the China Yearbook Editorial Board, a collective of scholars and officials from the Republic of China government. The work was a collaborative effort to produce a consistent, detailed, and authoritative annual record. The books were published by the China Publishing Co., with its office located at P.O. Box 337, Taipei, Taiwan.

The collaborative effort of the editorial board represents a significant and lasting contribution to the historical narrative of the ROC during this critical decade. The books' official origin is underscored by the presence of a stamp from the Government Information Office. The work of the editorial board was a direct response to the need for a comprehensive and official record of the ROC's history, asserting its political legitimacy on the global stage.

4. Historical/Political Era Context 🌍🕰️📜

This collection covers a pivotal and tumultuous period for the Republic of China on Taiwan. The years between 1960 and 1970 were marked by increasing diplomatic isolation for the ROC, which was being systematically marginalized by nations shifting recognition to the People's Republic of China (PRC) on the mainland. In 1971, the ROC was expelled from the United Nations, a diplomatic defeat that was a direct result of the intensifying debate over China's representation.

Meanwhile, on the mainland, this same decade encompassed the catastrophic Great Leap Forward and the beginning of the chaotic Cultural Revolution. The yearbooks from Taiwan stand as a direct counter-narrative, documenting a period of stability and rapid economic growth for the ROC, a period often referred to as the Taiwan Miracle. This collection is an authentic artifact of a time when the world was being profoundly reshaped by geopolitical forces and competing visions for the future of China.

5. The Ideal Collector 💡🧐🏛️

This collection is a curated acquisition for a specific class of collector who prizes unique history and primary source documents. The ideal purchaser is a curator of East Asian history, geopolitics, or Cold War artifacts. This is an item for a collector who seeks to own a tangible piece of a historical narrative, connecting them directly to a government's struggle for its place in the world.

The stamps and inscriptions from the Government Information Office and a military library add a unique layer to the story. This is a book for a scholar who is interested in the intersection of international relations, history, and the history of publishing. The collection speaks to someone who understands the power of a book to be a political and historical document. Its presence on a shelf would signal a deep-seated interest in the complex history of China in the 20th century.

6. Value & Rarity 💎✨🏛️

This nine-volume set is a genuinely rare find due to its specific historical context and its completion as a consecutive set. Yearbooks from this period are exceptionally scarce, as they were often lost or discarded over time. The set's value is overwhelmingly driven by its status as a primary source document from the ROC government during a period of immense diplomatic tension. This collection is a non-replicable asset, holding value that far exceeds that of a single volume.

The books are approximately 55 to 65 years old, and their survival to the present day as a complete set is a significant factor in their valuation. The inclusion of stamps from a US Special Services Library further distinguishes this set, providing a verifiable link to a specific moment in military and diplomatic history and adding to its uniqueness. This set is a true historical artifact, making it a valuable acquisition for any serious collector.

7. Condition 🔎📚✨

• This nine-volume set is a survivor from the mid-20th century, showing authentic wear consistent with books from that era.

• The hardcover bindings show minor wear and scuffing, particularly along the spine and edges.

• The books do not come with a dust jacket.

• The interior pages are in excellent condition, with clear text, vibrant illustrations, and intact fold-out maps.

• The pages show only minor expected toning and foxing, which is a natural process for paper from this period.

• The text block remains firm, and the pages are free of major tears or markings.

8. Fun Facts & Unique Features 🤓📜🤩

• The books were published in Taipei, Taiwan, during a period of diplomatic isolation for the ROC. The yearbooks were a key tool in the ROC's diplomatic efforts, sent to international missions to assert Taiwan's political legitimacy.

• The presence of a US Special Services Library stamp is a rare and unique feature that adds a layer of military and diplomatic history to the set.

• The books are an invaluable source for scholars and historians, offering a perspective on China's history that is often overlooked in other sources.

• The books provide a detailed, official record of a government that was fighting for its place in the world, with illustrations that show modernizing cities, industrial facilities, and cultural life.

9. Supporting Information 🏷️📦💰

• Title: China Yearbook Collection

• Author/Maker: China Yearbook Editorial Board

• Year: 1960-1970

• Publisher: China Publishing Co.

• Place of Origin: Taipei, Taiwan

• Format/Binding: Hardcover, 9-Volume Set

• Transcription: A stamp on the interior reads "WITH THE COMPLIMENTS OF GOVERN'T INFORMATION OFFICE THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA". Another stamp and handwritten text read "Special Services Library Headquarters Support Activity Box __ APO San Francisco 96263". A stamp on the page edges reads "PROPERTY OF U.S. NAVY".