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Three off-prints printed together, as issued ([Philadelphia, 1890]: “The I Hing or ‘Patriotic Rising’ / A Secret Society Among the Chinese in America” (from Proceedings of the Numismatic and Antiquarian Society of Philadelphia, 1887-89)); Chinese Secret Societies in the U.S. (from Journal of American Folk-lore, 1890: Customs of the Chinese in America (from Journal of American Folk-Lore, 1890) Original wrappers with black tape spine. 22pp. total, not consecutively numbered. Inscribed (partially cut off) “Compliments of the author” on front-wrapper

Best known as the first American authority on games of non-western cultures, Culin began his academic career by pioneering studies of Chinese immigrants in America, based on the Chinese community of his native Philadelphia. This little booklet is the first serious examination of the Chinese-American secret societies that  preceded the sinister “Tongs" depicted in  early 20th century adventure fiction.