JAPANESE FAIRY TALES. A FIVE VOLUME SET, COMPLETE. [Crepe Paper Japanese Fairy T.

HEARN, Lafcadio

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Tokyo [1898-1926], Hasegawa. Blue Chitsu cloth case, 2 bone clasps,5 pristine crepe-paper volumes, case spine faded one partial split, else complete, 2 bone clasps, color woodblock printed. Macrae-Smith Co., Philadelphia on case.FINE EXAMPLE . *** **** *** . . A COMPLETE SET OF FIVE JAPANESE FAIRY TALES IN CREPE PAPER . . . A RARE EXAMPLE IN PRISTINE COLLECTOR'S CONDITION . * Seldom found complete, with excellent indigo-blue cloth Chitsu [slipcase] with two bone clasps and all five volumes in superb condition, as issued. . All books were published by Hasegawa, and each title has their Japanese colophon. Although some sets were sold by Macrae-Smith in America, their name was a late addition once exported to U.S.A. . *** The full set consists of five crepe-paper titles & first date of issue: . 1. The Boy Who Drew Cats #23 1898 2. The Goblin Spider #26 1899** 3. The Old Woman Who Lost Her Dumpling #24 1902 4. Chin Chin Kobakama #24 1903 5. The Fountain of Youth #27 [not always numbered] 1922 . **NOTE: The Goblin Spider #26 1899 was issued in two sizes: First Edition 1899, 10.5 x 15.2 cm., small paper size, and the First Edition Second Printing, late 1899. . Later reprint Editions 1922 & later 13.8 x19.4 cm. Large paper size . *** MACRAE-SMITH COMPANY, PHILADELPHIA: Some set of this title have a title slip on the front of the Chitsu cover indicating the American distributor & book company. . There are two variations to the Chitsu cover titles: . a. Without any company name below the last title. . b. With "MACRAE-SMITH COMPANY, PHILADELPHIA" below the last title. This example was distributed by Macrae-Smith. Some of the book also had a paper label with that company's name on the title page, for American distribution. . The books of course we always published by Hasegawa, regardless of any foreign company name anywhere on the books or its Chitsu. These books were printed on Hosho Kozu Washi [handmade] mulberry fiber paper, then hand-creped after hand woodblock color printing. . *** DATING: The books are difficult to nail down to an exact date, as Hasegawa was very lax at changing publishing dates to match the actual date of publication in the woodblocks. . In many examples they did not change the date at all, and simply continued to reprint without date change. This is especially the case for: "THE BOY WHO DREW CATS," which continued to show Meiji 31st year [1891] date from first date of publication onward without any later date even though it too was reprinted several times. . Most other titles show various Japanese dates in the colophon, but again it was more convenient to simply reprint without date change for the publisher. The majority of these publications have the Japanese colophon, and for those who can read Japanese, can see reprint dates and the run of various editions. CAVEAT EMPTOR ! . *** ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS BY LAFCADIO HEARN: These five titles were skillfully translated from old Japanese "OTOGI BANASHI" [folk-tales] known to all Japanese by Hearn. . *** THE EMINENT JAPANESE ILLUSTRATORS/ARTISTS: The series were profusely illustrated by famous Japanese artists: Suzuki [Kason/Shoson] Kason & Arai Yoshimune. The tender illustrations are charming and fascinating images of the stories. Both artists are listed in Roberts below. . *** CONDITION: A this stunningly beautiful set was published & hand-printed by Hasegawa, on crepe paper. . This set is in superb & pristine condition, with the unblemished indigo-blue cloth-covered Chitsu [folding case] with 2 bone clasps. . This is a stunning example of Japanese polychrome woodblock printing, binding, paper-making and folk-stories. . These books were designed with the child in mind, and are a delightful medium with imaginative illustrations. Published serially, these were issued from 1898 onwards, dates vary. . Each volume was published serially in the "LARGE PAPER EDITION," 13.6 x 19.2 cm. This is in great contrast to the smaller format Japanese Fairy Tale Series of 24 volumes al.

N° de réf. du vendeur 84221906

Détails bibliographiques

• Titre: JAPANESE FAIRY TALES. A FIVE VOLUME SET, COMPLETE. [Crepe Paper Japanese Fairy T.
• Catalogues du vendeur:
  • JAPANESE LITERATURE
  • CHINA SOCIAL SCIENCE
  • JAPANESE HISTORY