Pound’s first Italian rendering of the Confucian Ta S’eu, the first of the Four Shu. Pound translated the text into English following the French of Guillaume Pauthier, publishing the “wrongly spelled” Ta Hio in 1927 (Gallup A28). This translation, made into Pound’s Italian and then “put into real Italian” by Alberto Luchini, showcases Pound’s advances in the study of Confucius and Chinese, and is rendered together with the original Chinese text, also bound from ‘back to front’ in the Chinese manner. For Pound’s understanding of Confucius and ideogram at this date, see “Ta Hio” in Meridiano di Roma, VI. 46 (1941, Gallup C1617).

Predated by a periodical appearance of Chapter I as “Studio Integrale,” with Chinese, in the Meridiano di Roma, VI. 43 (1941, Gallup C1616). Published again without the Chinese as Testamento di Confucio (Venice, 1944, Gallup A54). Later translated from the Italian to English in Confucius. The Unwobbling Pivot & The Great Digest (New York, 1951 and London, 1952, Gallup B53).

Three states of this book exist, the first a cheap paper and cheap wrapper edition, the second a deluxe edition with watermarked paper and heavier cream wrappers, and the third Gallup suspects a mistake, being cheap paper with the heavier, deluxe wrappers. This copy is second state, with the watermarked paper and heavier wrappers. A very good copy, some foxing to the wraps, the top corner leafed with a small nick to the fore-edge of p.29. Gallup B46.