Covers - Yotsuya Hommura address on Title Page

 
Condition. The book is in Fine condition. Clean and bright with no faults on the covers or internally.

 
Hasegawa, T. (Publisher)
Kimura, Shotaro
Peake, Charlotte M. A.:
Sword and Blossom Poems from the Japanese, Volume III, T. Hasegawa, 38 Yotsuya Hommura, Tokyo, Japan, 1910, large 16mo (5 x 7 1/4 in - 12.5 x 18 cm), crepe over board covers, printed on hosho paper (high quality paper) pages, 41 pages with color woodblock illustrations, total of 51 printed pages + 1 black page (including title page), 52 pp. This is volume three from the three volume set of "Sword and Blossom" poems. In addition to the "Sword" and "Blossom" poems, this volume has a section of "Love" poems. The colophon states a printing date of Meiji 43 (1910).10.10.

Binding format. The binding format for these books is not one that was typically employed by Hasegawa. The pages are joined to the binding at the middle. This allows for a seamless panoramic views of the prints when a page/plate is opened. The resulting outside edges were normally (but not always) lightly glued to the outside edge of the next page/plate. Other Hasegawa folded page books were bound with the page/plate folded and the open edges joined to the binding at the spine.

I have seen this book with two different address for Hasegawa on the title page. The addresses are:

• 38 Yotsuya Hommura (said to be the Hasegawa address from 1902-1911)
• 17 Kami Negishi (said to be the Hasegawa address from 1911 on)

The books have idential colophons indicating printing on Meiji 43(1910).10.10. Both colophones have the 38 Yotsuya Hommura address. It appears the Hommura address is the earlier printing and it also reflects the correct address for Hesagawa for the stated printing date of 1910.10.10. I consider both books first editions and the Kami Negishi address book a later printing, not a reprint or subsequent edition. Except for the address the books are identical in content.

Contents

 
Close-up of Colophon - Yotsuya Hommura on Title Page

Printed: Meiji 43 (1910).10.10
Distributed: Meiji 43.10.30

 
Close-up of Colophon - Kami Negishi on Title Page

Printed: Meiji 43 (1910).10.10
Distributed: Meiji 43.10.30

 
1907~c1914, Shotaro Kimura and Charlotte M. A. Peake, Sword and Blossom: Poems from the Japanese, T. Hasegawa, Tokyo, 118 pages, many with woodblock color illustrations, large 16mo (5 x 7 1/4 in - 12.5 x 18 cm), crepe over padded board covers, hosho paper (high quality paper) pages, 3 volume set. The "Blossom" poems are short unrhymed verse known as Tanka which were written date from the Kokinshu, 900 AD. The "Sword" poems are Chinese poems by Japanese writers from a more modern time. The 3rd volume also contains a section of "Love" poems which were also written pre-10th Century. The three books were sold in 1910~11 as a set and marketed in a wrap-around case with ivory clasps.

 
Sword and Blossom Poems from Japan, Volume I
Shotaro Kimura and Charlotte M. Peake
First Printing Printed and Published: November 1907
Second Printing Printed and Published: February 1909
Third Printing Printed and Published: c1914 (not dated in colophon)
Format: Large 16mo, crepe padded covers, hosho paper*
Length: 34 pages
Volume Number: No volume number stated on the front cover.
Artists: Kason, Koho, Shoso and Yoshimune

Sword and Blossom Poems from Japan, Volume II
Shotaro Kimura and Charlotte M. Peake
First Printing Printed and Published: August 1908
Second Printing Printed and Published: c1914 (not dated in colophon)
Format: Large 16mo, crepe padded covers, hosho paper*
Length: 34 pages
Volume Number: Published with and without the volume number (II) on the front cover.
Artists: Baison, Koho and Shoso

Sword and Blossom Poems from Japan, Volume III
Shotaro Kimura and Charlotte M. Peake
First Printing Printed & Published: October 1910
Second Printing Printed and Published: c1914 (not dated in colophon)
Format: Large 16mo, crepe padded covers, hosho paper*
Length: 54 pages
Volume Number: No volume number stated on the front cover.
Artists: Baison, Koho and Yoshimune

Large 16mo format for all three books is 5 x 7 1/4 in - 12.5 x 18 cm.

Three Volume Set. The three books were marketed in 1910-c1920 period as a set and sold in padded and unpadded wrap-around cases (generally blue with "Sword and Blossom Poems" in silver on the spine of the case and with ivory clasps). To see this case (unpadded version), click here. It is my experience with sets in these folding cases that the following books were included:

Matched Set, c1914, all three volumes with the 17 Kami Negishi address in the colophon. To see the covers, colophons and case for this set, click here.

Unmatched Set.

• Volume 1. February 1909 (2nd printing).
• Volume 2. August 1908 (1st printing - no volume number on front cover).
• Volume 3. c1914, (2nd printing - ie Kami Negishi address on the title page).

Deluxe Edition. A deluxe edition of the second volume has been reported but I have not examined one.

* Hosho paper is a traditional, high-quality kozo (mulberry) paper, which is strong and absorbent. It does not shrink or tear easily and is well suited for woodblock printing. Relatively speaking, hosho paper is expensive. The paper is made from made from the inner bark of the mulberry tree.

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