Takeda Shin’ichi 武田真一

Nihon Gangu-shū 日本玩具集 [Japanese Toys], 3 vols

1917. Item #85081

Takeda Shin’ichi 武田真一. Nihon Gangu-shū 日本玩具集 [Japanese Toys], 3 vols. Taisho 6 [1917]. Two plate volumes 25 x 18cm are bound orihon (folding album) style with patterned paper over board covers, and centered, printed paper title labels. The first album is marked 天 Ten [Upper, “heaven”] and the second is marked 地 Chi [Lower, “earth”]. Decorated inner boards.



There are eight pages of prefatory material followed by 78 color woodblock-printed images, some double page, depicting every sort of child's pastime from board games to hobby horses, card games to pinwheels.

The 3rd text volume is 24.2 x 16.2cm string-bound Japanese style in green paper covers with a printed paper label. This volume contains the explanatory Japanese text describing the images in the first two volumes. 14 cho total; the initial 2 cho are an index with the titles of all 78 plates and the remaining pages list the plates accompanied by a small description of each. Two small chips on the first two cho edges. Inside rear cover has a pasted down slip with printed Japanese text and a red hanko next to it.

Some dirt staining to covers. Each volume has a small rectangular sticker in the lower right front cover with the number ‘190,’ ‘191’ or ‘192’ on the front cover with the book title in Japanese handwriting. Split cho in Vol 1. Foxing to some pages. Artwork in very good condition, complete. A well-printed and colorful overview of traditional toys in Japan.

Price: $1,250.00