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Fifth Chinese Daughter by Jade Snow Wong (Signed First Edition), 1950 🐉🇺🇸🇨🇳

Name: Fifth Chinese Daughter by Jade Snow Wong (Signed First Edition), 1950 🐉🇺🇸🇨🇳
Brand: Wall Antiques
Price: 550.00 USD
Availability: InStock

$550.00

Sale Sold out

1. Introduction 📜🔍🏛️

This is a rare, personally signed, first edition of Fifth Chinese Daughter, a foundational work of American literature and a groundbreaking autobiography by Jade Snow Wong.

Published in 1950 by Harper & Brothers, this volume is a premier acquisition for any serious collector of Asian-American literature and American social history. It offers a unique window into the life of a pioneer who navigated two distinct cultures.

Signed first edition status, representing a critical period in the history of American identity.
Author's personal signature, which includes a traditional Chinese chop seal.
Factual importance as one of the first works by a Chinese-American author to be published by a mainstream American publisher.

2. About the Artwork/Book/Object 📖✍️✨

Fifth Chinese Daughter is a powerful autobiography that details Jade Snow Wong’s life in San Francisco’s Chinatown, from her upbringing in a traditional Chinese household to her education at Mills College.

The narrative explores themes of identity, assimilation, and the pursuit of individual freedom. Wong’s personal voice is clear and powerful, and her story is told with a refreshing candor.

The book is an essential primary source for any scholar or dedicated reader of Asian-American literature. The book's use of a third-person narrative, despite the intimate nature of the subject, creates a powerful sense of objectivity and aligns with a traditional Chinese sense of humility. The book is also distinguished by its illustrations by Kathryn Uhl, which add a rich visual dimension to the narrative.

3. About the Artist/Author/Maker ✍️🏛️✨

Jade Snow Wong (1922-2006) was an American author, ceramist, and artist. Born and raised in San Francisco’s Chinatown, she was a fifth daughter in a family of nine children. Her early life was a constant negotiation between the strict, traditional values of her family and the more independent, individualistic culture of America.

Her autobiography, Fifth Chinese Daughter, was published to critical acclaim and became a foundational work of Asian-American literature. Wong also had a distinguished career as a ceramist, creating beautiful pieces that blended Eastern and Western artistic traditions. Her work in both literature and art is a factual testament to her creative spirit and her desire to express herself in multiple forms.

4. Historical/Political Era Context 🌍🕰️📜

Published in 1950, this book is an artifact of the post-World War II era in the United States. It was a period of immense social change and a growing interest in diverse American narratives. The book’s publication reflects a widespread desire for stories that celebrated the complexities of the American experience, especially after the lifting of the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1943.

The book is a "time capsule" of mid-20th-century American social and political thought. It serves as an important record of the transitional period between a segregated past and a more integrated future. The volume reflects the values of its time and provides an honest look at the lives of a community that was often overlooked by mainstream culture.

5. The Ideal Collector 💡🧐🏛️

This book is intended for a curator of American social history, a scholar of Asian-American studies, or a private collector of memoirs. It is an ideal acquisition for an individual who values a book's dual significance as a foundational historical document and a personal artifact of its time.

The author's signature and chop seal make this a perfect fit for a collection that cherishes the intimate story behind a social movement. The book appeals to a collector who is interested in the intersection of:

Culture, history, and literature.
The experiences of pioneers who helped shape American identity.

6. Value & Rarity 💎✨🏛️

As a rare signed first edition from 1950, this book represents a genuinely scarce non-replicable asset class. First editions of personal narratives from a major Asian-American author are highly sought after by collectors. The book was published to critical acclaim, but its scarcity in a signed state makes it a premium and highly desirable item. The price is a direct reflection of the book's rarity, its historical significance, and its condition for an item of its age.

The book's value is enhanced by its:

Foundational Status: It is considered an early classic of Asian-American literature, which gives it a unique place in literary history.
Verifiable Provenance: The author's personal signature and chop seal provide a tangible link to its creator.

7. Condition 🔎📚✨

This volume is a handsome survivor from the mid-20th century, showing honest and authentic wear consistent with its age. The original blue cloth hardcover is in a solid state, with a tight and sound binding. The dust jacket shows visible signs of its age, including rubbing, creasing, and small tears.

Binding: The original blue cloth hardcover is clean and solid.
Dust Jacket: The dust jacket has visible wear, including rubbing, creasing, and small tears along the edges. The original price of $3.00 is visible on the front flap.
Interior: The pages have some expected toning throughout, a natural process for paper from this period, which gives it authenticity. The text block is clean and free of any major stains.
Signature: The signature on the half-title page is clear and well-preserved.

8. Fun Facts & Unique Features 🤓📜🤩

Fifth Chinese Daughter was so popular that it was adapted into a radio play and a PBS television special in 1976.
The book was translated into several Asian languages by the U.S. State Department and was promoted by the author on a four-month speaking tour of Asia in 1953.
The author, Jade Snow Wong, was a celebrated artist and ceramist, and her pottery was exhibited in major museums.
The signature includes a traditional red Chinese chop seal, which is a stamp used in place of a signature in traditional Chinese culture, adding a unique cultural element to this item.