[HAIKAI] RINRAI Katsurayama

SHIJIMI KAGO-SHU 1 vol.

1830. Item #90130

[HAIKAI] RINRAI Katsurayama. SHIJIMI KAGO-SHU 1 volume, complete. N.p., n.p., Bunsei 13 [1830]. 22.8 x 15.8 cm. String-bound, Japanese-style, fukurô toji. Little is known of the editor of this haiku compilation, Rinrai, other than that he was a haiku poet and monk of the late Edo period who also wrote under the name "Busson". He is known to have edited only one other book, "Kokon Hyaku Kidan" (1831), which, like "Shijimi Kago-shu", was printed without a publisher's name or place of publication. This strongly suggests that Rinrai's books were privately published, which would explain their scarcity in Japanese databases. The Union Catalogue of Early Japanese Books database shows one copy of this work published under a slightly different title by Gyokumeidô in Sakata, but with an identical preface date, suggesting that Rinrai may have been based in Yamagata. A second volume of "Shijimi Kago-shu" is also believed to have been published in Tenpô 2 (1831), without a publisher or place of publication recorded. Our copy contains 2 double-page illustrations of landscapes, 3 single-page illustrations (including one by the editor himself), and one page of decorative calligraphy. Original binding with minor abrasion to extremities, ex-ownership signatures in brush and ink (two partially erased) and minor wormholing to both wrappers. Also comes with original printed paper title slip in nice condition. A few wormholes and light marginal stains to text, but otherwise in very good condition overall. This particular copy was printed with one text leaf more than the copy digitised by the Koku-bungaku Kenkyû Shiryôkan, and is in infinitely better condition. Comes in a custom-made clasped chitsu case. An interesting example of a privately-published collection of haiku which may benefit from further research.

Price: $650.00