Japanese Fairy Tale Series No. 10 - The Matsuyama Mirror

Item #90925

Japanese Fairy Tale Series No. 10 - The Matsuyama Mirror.

Mrs. T. H. [Kate] James, translator .

Hasegawa Takejirō 長谷川武次郎, publisher for Kobunsha.

Tokyo.

Meiji 19 [1886].

14.8 x 9.7cm small crepe paper book, opens Western style with decorated wrappers. Perfect-bound with holes for sewing. [9] cho with story ending on the inside rear wrapper. Colophon on the inside front wrapper gives the date Meiji 19 [1886]. This volume was published by the Hasegawa family in Meiji 19 [1886] when they were known as Kōbunsha, working from the address in Minami Saegichō 南佐柄木町 Tokyo, their first address.

Kate James was the wife of a naval officer stationed in Japan, and translated numerous fairy tales for Hasegawa publishing. Her text in English tells the moving tale of a mother’s love for her daughter, passed on after the mother’s death through a unique gift. Colored single and double-page woodcut illustrations throughout.

A few cho are detached at top of binding. Wear, fading and staining to wrappers, chipping at binding. First page has the handwritten letter “B” and stains with spots on inside front cover and on some pages. Overall toning. Good printing and color.

Price: $150.00