AN IMPERIAL EDICT OR DECREE CONFERRING A PROMOTION UPON AN OFFICIAL DATED TO THE 20TH DAY OF THE 11TH MONTH OF THE 26TH YEAR OF THE REIGN OF EMPEROR QIANLONG CORRESPONDING TO 1761 CHINA, QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG PERIOD The edict is written on a woven silk brocade and mounted. It has been lately cut down and laid on on a soft cardboard as an accordion book with two covers. The text is arranged in standard form reading from right to left in Chinese characters and repeated from left to right in Manchu. The Chinese text is opening with a four-character title in a vertical line 'Fengtian Gaoming' (lit. ‘By Command of Heaven’), flanked by a pair of dragons, On the central part of the edict, there is a large stamped imperial seal impression reading ‘Zhì Gào Zhī Bǎo’ (‘制誥之寶’, lit. ‘Seal of Edict’) followed by the inscription ‘乾隆二十六年十一月二十日’ dating the decree to 1761. The content of the edict or decree first briefly describes the relevant will of the emperor, then the deeds or achievements of the conferred officials as officials, and finally the conferred rank and order. Dimensions (each leaf): 28,3 x 30 cm Note: Several decrees or edicts with similar contents and dated to the same day, month and year are known. One is preserved in the collection of the Imperial Decree Museum, Xuzhou, China. Another one has been sold at SOTHEBY’S Hong Kong, China, 2012-10-09, lot 3012, for HKD325,000. 皇帝圣旨- 乾隆二十六年十一月二十日 中国，清代，乾隆时期 NOTE: CONDITION REPORTS AND MEASUREMENTS It is up to the bidder to satisfy themselves prior to buying as to the condition of a lot. In relation to Condition Reports, whilst we make certain observations on the lot, which are intended to be as helpful as possible, references in the condition report to damage or restoration are for guidance. The absence of such a reference does not imply that an item is free from defects or restoration, nor does a reference to particular defects imply the absence of any others. The condition report is an expression of opinion only and must not be treated as a statement of fact. Measurements and weight are approximate and the potential bidder may re-ask it to be checked when asking for a condition report.