ZHUANG, Yu, & Shen Yi.

Inquire · Offered by Peter Harrington

Gongheguo jiaoke shu xin guowen ("National Readers for the New Republic"). A collection of later printings of six illustrated vocabulary textbooks designed for elementary education in the nascent Republic of China. Reflecting the government's state-building priorities, the contents encourages understanding of national and cultural identity, history, geography, the natural world, and many other topics.In total, the Commercial Press issued eight parts in its National Readers for the New Republic series - the present collection includes Parts One to Five and Part Seven. Part One begins with simple vocabulary, and by Part Seven students are working with complex texts. The republic's pressing need to forge a coherent citizen identity permeates each lesson. Early on in the series, students learn colours from an illustration of the new "Five Races Under One Union" flag, while a later sample text discusses ideas of socio-political equality.Although these textbooks were disseminated widely and went through many printings, they are seldom encountered today in collectible condition.

Found via Rare Books Intel, a search across rare-book dealers, auction houses and marketplaces worldwide.