Kisetsuhyō 季節表
1935. Item #90547
Onchi Kōshirō 恩地孝四郎. Kisetsuhyō 季節表 (Shibun-shū 詩文集). Tokyo: Aoi Shobō アオイ書房.Shōwa 10 [1935]. This copy is number 34 of only 50 deluxe copies from a total edition of 200. 3 full-page color illustrations by Onchi. Folio, 36 x 31 cm, printed on very heavy paper, bound in gilt-printed Japanese paper over boards. Besides the illustrations, Onchi wrote the poems in this collection of “Signs of the Seasons” and was responsible for the book's design. The text reproduces his calligraphy. The book is signed by Onchi and contains a photogravure portrait of him. Interestingly, it is rendered a unique copy by the fact that Onchi further presented the book to a “Kawada Seiichi shi” (Shinshoku) 河田政一氏清嘱 and wrote a line of poetry dated 1936 on the signature page. Laid-in slip with Japanese transcription of signature page in pen includes a line of poetry; “空いよいよ、あをく” (Sora iyoiyo, A o ku) [which may be translated as: The sky grows more and more blue].
Since the printer never intended for these 50 deluxe copies printed on tori no ko paper to be read, each of the deluxe copies was accompanied by a hors commerce "reading copy" on Kyokushi paper 局紙 without illustrations. There were a further 200 copies of the so-called fukan 府刊 (supplementary) edition, also printed on Kyokushi paper, with only one of the Onchi's color prints. The combination we have here at hand is of the original pair of issues, deluxe and reading copy. This would seem to contradict theories (such as my own) that the first 50 copies of the "fukan" edition were meant as a reading copy for an identically numbered deluxe edition copy.
This is the deluxe and only complete edition of this work, being bound in hard covers and having all three illustrations Onchi designed for it. It is a tour de force of bookmanship, and the most elusive of Onchi's productions.
Wear to front board and slight foxing throughout. Damage to front wrapper and dampstain and mold on top section of last 10 pages and rear wrapper of the reading copy.
Price: $9,500.00