Ziben zhuyi shehui ("Capitalist Society").: Shehui fazhan shi tongsu huace di wu ben ("A Popular Visual Introduction to the History of Society: Part V").

Shanghai: Shanghai renmin chubanshe,, 1956. Second edition, seventh printing overall, of this uncommon and striking example of modern political cartooning, exposing the evils and contradictions of capitalism and its apotheosis, 1950s America. No copies of this edition or the first (1954) are now recorded institutionally, consistent with the relative scarcity of many Chinese comics from the 1950s. After a number of images showing the contribution of slavery, overseas colonization, and industrialization to capitalism's development, this cartoon presents capitalism's modern face: oppressive managers, a dependence on police violence for maintaining order, and "fat cat" business owners hoarding wealth while workers starve. A number of pointed attacks on contemporary America include references to the military-industrial complex, widespread racism, Truman's involvement in the KKK, and the neo-colonialism of the Marshall Plan. Britain and America are pictured at loggerheads over the oil reserves of the Middle East. This was the fifth part in A Popular Visual Introduction to the History of Society, a series of six comic books published by Shanghai People's Press (Shanghai renmin chubanshe) to introduce the Marxist progression of history from primitive man to the realization of Communism. As attested by an ink stamp on the rear cover, this copy was given to a student as a prize by the political leadership of a county. Landscape duodecimo. Original illustrated paper wrappers, gatherings stitched and glued into wrappers as issued, spine and front cover lettered in red and blue. With 51 illustrations after drawings by Wang Kangle and Fan Yixin. Contemporary bookseller's ink stamp on rear wrapper. A few creases to wrappers, ink stamp offsetting on front cover, extremities lightly rubbed, contents toned but still bright. A very good copy.