KINAI KENBUTSU
1911. Item #82624
[SKETCHTOUR BOOK] KANAO Tanejiro^, publisher. KINAI KEMBUTSU. 3 volumes: YAMATO, KYOTO, and OSAKA. 22.8 x 15.4. (Larger than most examples of the genre.) Bound western style in printed paper covered boards (without the printed slipcases). T.E.G. For details on the importance of this work, see Scott Johnson's article in "ANDON 37", pp.21-25. Aside from one foldout color woodcut and a few reproductions of paintings by Asai Chu^, the illustrations are by Nakazawa Hiromitsu (1874-1964), probably the most important single artist of the "sketch-tour" genre. There are a grand total of 57 hand-printed woodcuts in the three volumes, as well as many collotypes and half-tones. Nakazawa, himself, as well as such literary lights as Yosano Akiko, the famous poetess, provided the text. This set consists of a first printing of the Osaka (1912) volume and second printings of the Kyoto and the Yamato volumes. The printing runs were very small and the book never sold particularly well (the third volume cost three yen, a considerable sum in 1912!). Complete sets are unusual. Our set is very lovely, save that there is a bit of fading, rubbing and skinning to the covers. Enclosed in a contemporary clasped chitsu.
Price: $975.00