81. [CREPE PAPER BOOK] Hearn, Lafcadio. Japanese Fairy Tale Series No. 25. CHIN CHIN KOBAKAMA. 1903. "Published by T. Hasegawa, 38 Yotsuya Hommura, Tokyo; Simpkin Marshall, Hamilton, Kent & Co., Sole Agents in London." 19 x 13.8 cm. A few pages have been mistakenly cut, the covers are a bit edgeworn and dull. Else a good copy. $185.00
82. [CREPE PAPER BOOK] JAPANESE FAIRY TALE PRINCESS SPLENDOR, The Wood-Cutter's Daughter. Translated into English by E. Rothesay Miller. Tokyo, Kyôbashi, Maruya-chô.: Kobunsha, 1889. The standard creped dimension, 15 x 10.3 cm, for a fairy tale series book, but much thicker. Not in the regular fairy tale series. A good impression internally with a bit of staining and wear; the covers have been repaired and there is a new spine as well as strengthening of the covers. No text is affected. An unusual Hasegawa item, illustrated by Kobayashi Eitaku. $95.00
83. [CREPE PAPER BOOK] K. OGAWA. ILLUSTRATIONS OF JAPANESE LIFE. Described by S. Takashima, A.B. Tokyo: Ogawa (3rd printing, Meiji 39 [1906]) 19.0 x 24.9 cm. 12 hand colored collotypes, printed on crepe paper and bound, Japanese style, in printed paper covers. One of two collections of photos issued in this format). Very slightly toned throughout with a slight tear to one illustration, else very good in good impression. SOLD
84. [CREPE‑PAPER BOOK]. ILLUSTRATIONS OF JAPANESE LIFE. Described by S. Takashima, A.B. Tokyo: K. Ogawa, (1910). Fifth printing, having appeared originally in 1896. 25.4cm x 19cm, cord bound, Japanese style, in full-color printed paper covers. Illustrated throughout with 12 full-page hand-colored collotypes. A very good copy that shows only some light edgewear at the corners. These creped photo collections have become quite scarce. SOLD
85. [EHON - FAIRY TALES] BARBATOU, P. CHOIX DE FABLES DE LA FONTAINE. 2 volumes in 1. Tokio: MDCCCXCIV. Imprimerie de Tsoukidji-Tokio. (Printer: Kimura Tokutarô; First Series, printed September 20th, published September 30th; Second Series, printed October 10th, published October 20th, Meiji 27 [1894]. Large format plain paper book, bound with the original covers into a contemporary Western style half leather binding. The first volume is 20 x 30 cm, with 14 double page color woodcuts by Kanô Tomonobu, Kajita Hanko, Kawanabe Kyôsui, and Okakura Shôsô called for. The "deuxieme serie" is similarly bound, 20 x 30 cm, with 14 prints by the four previously listed artists, along with Eda Sadashiko.
This work, with its French text and literary origins, may be placed in the mainstream of an emerging international style in Japan. Yet it may still be seen as squarely in the tradition of the Japanese illustrated book. It shares many of the characteristics of the revival of Japanese picture book printing in general at the end of the 19th century: an emerging Nihonga style which was an amalgam of theme and technique from East and West, skilled printing, increasingly restrained coloration, etc.. An interesting document of East-West cultural and artistic accommodation, which gave rise to such hybrid vigor in world art.
The bound-in covers and contents are perfect, the leather binding is worn. The two volumes, complete. $1,250.00
86. [EHON - FAIRY TALES] BARBATOU, P. FABLES CHOISES DE FLORIAN. The first volume only. Paris: Librairie Marpon & Flammarion; (Tokyo: Shûeisha) Meiji 28 [1895]. Fukuro toji, cord-bound in printed paper covers. This first volume is 26.6 X 19.8 cm, with 14 full page color woodcuts by Kanô Tomonobu and Kajita Hanko. #167 of 200 from a deluxe edition on Japanese hôshô paper. Covers soiled and a bit edgeworn (one corner chipped). The contents are very good and the impressions and colors are quite lovely. This work, despite its French text, may be seen as squarely in the tradition of the Japanese ehon and it shares many characteristics of the revival of picture book printing in mid to late Meiji demonstrated by other works: an emerging Nihonga style, skilled printing, increasingly restrained coloration, etc. In that context, the large scale of its illustrations renders it particularly interesting. The first volume only (of two). $850.00
87. [FAIRY TALE SERIES]. KOBUTORI. "THE OLD MAN AND THE DEVILS." Kobunsha, #2 Minami Saegichô, Tokyo, Meiji 18 [1885]. A large format, 18.3 x 12.5 cm, plain paper version of this title. A very early version of this work, "Japanese Fairy Tale Series, No.7", with romanized Japanese title and lightly colored woodcut illustrations. A bit edgeworn, else very good. $145.00
88. [FAIRY TALES, JAPANESE] AINO FAIRY TALES. NO.3., Tokyo, 1887. Vol.3 (THE MAN WHO LOST HIS WIFE): 18.7 x 13.3 cm. Tassel-bound, woodblock printed illustrations, plain paper version by Hasegawa. Any volumes from this set of three are unusual. Just about a fine copy. $975.00
89. [HASEGAWA] FLORENZ, Karl. JAPANISCHE DICHTUNGEN: WEISSASTER, ein romantisches Epos, nebst anderen Gedichten. Frei nachgebildet Karl Florenz. Leipzig: C. F. Amelang's Verlag, Tokyo: T. Hasegawa, (1895). Printed on Japanese paper in a Japanese-style binding. [8],79,[1],4 pp. 25 cm. Color woodblock prints on wrappers and numerous black & white illustrations throughout. Except for some slight worming, this is a truly fresh and lovely copy. Housed in a modern clasped chitsu case. $850.00
90. [HASEGAWA] KIMURA Shôtarô & Peake, Charlotte M.A. SWORD & BLOSSOM POEMS, 3 volumes. Each volume 18.1 x 12.4 cm, color printed creped paper over stiff boards, plain paper text with color prints throughout. A set with the original clasped cloth box (broken but repairable). The first volume's Japanese colophon indicates it is a second printing from 1909, while the Kami Negishi addresses on the title pages of volumes two and three indicate a post-1910 printing, despite the earlier dates in the Japanese colophons. Slight fading, very nice printings. Complete set of this classic Hasegawa compilation. $485.00
91. [JAPANESE FAIRY TALE SERIES]. SHITAKIRI SUZUME ‑ THE TONGUE CUT SPARROW. Tokyo: Kobunsha, Meiji 18 (1885). Second edition. Unpaginated. 12mo., bound with silk thread Western style. Color illustrated wrappers with light soil, rear wrapper blank. Occasional soil to edges of pages. Text in English except for copyright page which has some Japanese characters in the illustration. $150.00
92. [JAPANESE FAIRY TALE SERIES] Thompson, David. translator. Japanese Fairy Tale Series No.3 BATTLE OF THE MONKEY AND THE CRAB (Second Edition). Kôbunsha: Tokyo, Minami Saegichô, "Saihan" [Second Printing] Meiji 19 [1886]. Large format, 12.4 x 18.2 cm, plain paper version of this Hasegawa title, with lightly colored woodcuts throughout. The second printing, with the title translated into English, not transliterated from the Japanese, but very early nonetheless. The impression is very good. The covers are a bit faded and rubbed, but the overall condition is still very good. $125.00
