~~ Book Set 1952070108 ~~
Okinawa, Her Beauties and Traditions, No 1 &
The Commodore Perry Centennial Issue, Okinawa, Volume II,
by Shinzan Yamada
To order this two book set on-line, click here.
Condition. Both books are in Very Good+ condition. The covers have no fading and just minor staining. There are two small scraped areas on the front of the Volume II cover. The front blank page on Volume II has a tear at the bottom adjacent to the spine. Both covers show evidence of removal of a label from the back cover. The front and back blank pages are heavily toned as is the norm. Internally, the books are clean and in Fine condition. Volume 1 has Shinzan Yamada's signature in Japanese and English on the title page.
Volume 1.
Yamada, Shinzan:
Okinawa, Her Beauties and Traditions, No 1, by Shinzan Yamada, Shuri, Okinawa, University of the Ryukyus Foundation, 1952, large 4to (10 1/4 x 13 3/4 in - 26 x 35 cm), 40 pages (80 if you count front and back). Green cloth with a gold embossed front cover. This book is bound Japanese style with stiff cloth covered boards and ribbon ties. Except for a 2 inch cloth covering at the head and food, the spine is uncovered. The book was issued without a dust jacket. In this book Shinzan Yamada, the artist, recreates people, places, crafts and folklore of pre-World War II Okinawa.
Mr. Yamada noted in the preface to the book:
It was fortunate for me that I had once been requested by Japanese Government to paint the fresco of 'Ryukyu Han Setchi' for the Meiji Shrine before the war, and that I had an opportunity to investigate historical materials of Okinawa on that occasion. And these pictures in this collection are all the productions of this memory of mine. Should these pictures be able to take a part to introduce the Ryukyus, it will be a greatest glory for me." 10, Nov., 1952 - Shinzan Yamada
This edition has a total of 40 (13 color & 27 black and white - duo tone) illustrations which are halftone reproductions of paintings by Mr. Yamada. Each picture is on a page and has descriptive text in English below the picture. On the back of the page the descriptive text for the picture is in Japanese. In this book the illustrations are printed directly on the page. In the second book in this set, the images were tipped to page.
This is the first of two books by Mr. Yamada. The second was titled The Commodore Perry Centennial Issue, Okinawa, Volume II. For information on Volume II, click here.
Here is a listing of the pictures:
- Gate of Courtesy - color
Image Area 15.4 x 15.4 cm (6 x 6 in)
- The Famous Pond - color
- Sei-mei-sai - color
- A Famous Garden - color
- Sales Girls - color
- Madambashi Bridge - color
- An Okinawan Miss - color
- Bezaiten-do - color
- Sogenji Temple - black/white
- The Silk Maker - color
- The Introduction of the Sweet-Potato - black/white
- Gosamaru - black/white
- Urashima Taro - Okinawan Rip Van Winkle - color
- Futenma Shrine - black/white
- The Funeral Procession - black/white
- Horse Riding - black/white
- Women's Day - black/white
- Naha Harbor - black/white
Image Area 15.5 x 18 cm (6 x 7 in)
- A Shin-ko-sen - black/white
- The Water-point - black/white
- Pottery Baker - color
- A Pottery Plant - black/white
- The Palanquin (two views) - black/white
- Shishi-mai - black/white
- Boar Hunting - black/white
- Bull-fighting - black/white
- A Cow Boy - black/white
- Okinawan Mothers - black/white
- On Okinawa the Tanme - color
- Izumi-zaki Bridge - black/white
- A Fishing Boat - black/white
- T(F)emale Dancers - black/white
- A Horse Wagon - black/white
- The farmer's lunch - black/white
- Amamiko and Shineriko - black/white
- A Kara-shi-shi - black/white
- Masks - black/white
- Hachimaki - black/white
- Female Fish-vendors of Itoman - black/white
- Demon Clouds - color
Colophon
Printed: 1952.11.10
Distributed: 1952.12.1
A Note Regarding "Typical" Condition. The covers of these books (Volume 1 and 2) are generally found faded and with water stains and similar damage. They are your typical "coffee table" book and more often than not show evidence of that type use. Also, it is normal for the front and back end papers to be heavily toned/foxed. In technical terms, I would say the average cover would grade "Good" and the contents "Very Good - Fine." In my opinion, a book that grades Fine (covers and content) would command a significant premium in pricing.
Volume II.
Yamada, Shinzan:
The Commodore Perry Centennial Issue, Okinawa, Volume II, 1853-4, Commemorating 100 Years of Ryukyuan American Friendship, by Shinzan Yamada, Shuri, Okinawa, University of the Ryukyus Foundation, 1953, large 4to (10 1/4 x 13 3/4 in - 26 x 35 cm), 30 numbered pages (60 pages total if you count the backs which have printed text). Yellow cloth with a gold embossed front cover. This book is bound Japanese style with stiff cloth covered boards and ribbon ties. Except for a 2 inch cloth covering at the head and food, the spine is uncovered. The book was issued without a dust jacket. In this book the artist recreates people, places and religious and cultural beliefs as they were at the time of Commodore Perry's visit to Okinawa in 1853.
Mr. Yamada noted in the preface to the book:
The roaring of cannon outside the ports of Uraga and Naha has proved to have been the alarm bell that awakened people of isolated Japan and the Ryukyus from idle slumber. It is the responsibility of the present Ryukyuan people to regard the memory of Commodore Perry with respect and affection, for in so doing we are contributing to mutual friendship between the Ryukyus and United States of America, as well as to the cause of world piece.
This edition has a total of 30 (14 color & 16 black and white - duo tone) pictures which are paintings by Mr. Yamada. Each picture is on a page and has descriptive text in English below the picture. On the back of the page the descriptive text for the picture is in Japanese. In this, the second volume, the pictures are tipped (on separate pieces of paper that are glued to the page) to the pages. In the first volume of this set, they were printed onto the page.
This is the second of two books by Mr. Yamada. The first was titled Okinawa, Her Beauties and Traditions, No 1. For information on Volume I, click here.
Here is a listing of the pictures:
- Commodore Perry - black and white
- The Beautiful Island Opened Before Their Eyes - color
- The Islanders being Startled by the Great Ships - color
- Naha Port - color
- The Sending off of the Presents - color
- The Market in Naha - color
- Bazaar - color
- Preparation of the Vehicle - black/white
- The Visit to Shuri Castle - black/white
- The Landing at Tomari Port - black/white
- Exploration Party - color
- A Girl in Kasuri Dress - color
- Spinning Women - black/white
- The Parrot Fish - black/white
- Prayer for Peace - color
- Mortar - black/white
- Construction of Coal Depot - black/white
- Kroton - black/white
- Makiminato - black/white
- Old Regent - color
(Mabuni Anji)
- Okinawan Fishermen - black/white
- The Tattoo - black/white
- The King's Crest - color
- The Boy's Fishing - black/white
- Roofed Gate - black/white
- Dragon Ship - color
- The Buddhist Heaven - color
- The Buddhist Hell - color
- The God of Wind - black/white
- The God of Lightening - black/white
Colophon
Printed: 1953.11.20
Distributed: 1953.12.5
A Note Regarding "Typical" Condition. The covers of these books (Volume 1 and 2) are generally found faded and with water stains and similar damage. They are your typical "coffee table" book and more often than not show evidence of that type use. Also, it is normal for the front and back end papers to be heavily toned/foxed. In technical terms, I would say the average cover would grade "Good" and the contents "Very Good - Fine." In my opinion, a book that grades Fine (covers and content) would command a significant premium in pricing.
Shinzan Yamada1885-1977
Mr. Yamada as Pictured in the Book.
Mr. Shinzan Yamada was one of Okinawa's foremost artists. Mr. Yamada is probably best known for his 18 year labor to create a "Tsuikin" lacquer statue (12 meters high by 8 meters wide) as a peace memorial and tribute/honor toward those that died in World War II on Okinawa. Mr. Yamada began the project at the age of 72 and completed it when he was 90+ years old. The statue, known as "The Prayer for Peace Statue," is located in the Heiwa Memorial Hall on Mabuni Hill in southern Okinawa.
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