(Title translated here into English, publication itself entirely in Chinese.) Karl Friedrich August Gutzlaff. "The Perfect Man's Model." Singapore: Jian xia shu yuan (the publishing arm of American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions), 1836. 9.5" x 5.25". Title + 30 leaves, in original stitched paper covers. ******************* EXTREMELY SCARCE CHINESE LANGUAGE CHRISTIAN GOSPEL TRACT, and the earliest extant Chinese publication printed in Singapore in the National Library’s collection. As missionaries struggled to bring Christianity to China in the early 19th century, they took advantage of the frequent trade conducted by Chinese merchants in Singapore. Christian publications printed in Singapore were smuggled into China via Chinese trading junks. The work was carried out clandestinely, as Christianity was banned in China until 1846. The author of this work was a German Protestant missionary who was fluent in Chinese, and the present work contains “a treatise on the teachings of the Holy Scripture on unfeigned virtue; spiritual instruction; the Saviour; explanation of the law; theory of prayer; and the doctrine of Jesus true and self-evident” – (Wylie, A. (1867). Memorials of Protestant missionaries to the Chinese.") [Ong Eng Chuan, "The Gospel in Chinese," BiblioAsia] * Note: This work has only recently appeared at auction (see Addison & Sarova sale 1023) and is exceedingly scarce; the present example came from the same collection (a very small collection which was passed down through the family of a 19th century missionary to China.)

First and last several leaves with creased corners, a few very small marginal tears, age-toned, Very Good.