Japanese Fairy Tale Series No. 15: My Lord Bag-O’-Rice [Ōdō 王堂]

Item #90929

Japanese Fairy Tale Series No. 15: My Lord Bag-O’-Rice [Ōdō 王堂].

Hasegawa Takejirō 長谷川武次郎.

B. H. Chamberlain, translator.

Kobunsha.

Tokyo.

Meiji 20 [1887].


15 x 9.9cm small crepe paper book, opens Western style. Perfect-bound with holes for sewing. [9] cho with decorated wrappers in color, story end on inside rear wrapper. Colophon in Japanese on the inside rear wrapper gives the date Meiji 20 [1887] and the Saegicho address 南佐柄木町. Detailed woodblock prints are known to have been done by prominent artist and illustrator Suzuki Kason 鈴木華邨 (also Kwason, Kwasson).


The intricate woodcuts and English text depict a warrior known as My Lord Bag-O’-Rice, who is brave enough to rescue a dwarf and his entourage from a giant centipede. One of his rewards for vanquishing the creature in a very clever way, is a bottomless bag of rice, whence he got his name.


Binding is starting at top. Split cho. Wear to wrappers with chipping at the side edges and binding. Overall toning. Good printing and color.

Price: $150.00