Cover Indicating Volume Number "II"

Cover with No Indication of Volume Number

 
Hasegawa, T. (Publisher)
Kimura, Shotaro
Peake, Charlotte M. A.:
Sword and Blossom Poems from the Japanese, Volume II, T. Hasegawa, Tokyo, Japan, 1908, large 16mo (5 x 7 1/4 in - 12.5 x 18 cm), crepe over padded board covers, contents printed on hosho paper (high quality paper) pages, 35 pp. This is volume two from the three volume set of "Sword and Blossom" poems. The first Blossom song is "Sorrow" and the first Sword song is "A Patriot". The colophon indicates a printing date of Meiji 41 (1908).8.1. I have seen this book with two slightly different covers (shown above). One cover has the volume number "II" while the other does not.

Binding format. The binding format for these books is not one that was typically employed by Hasegawa (or in this type of book in general). 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.

Close-up of Colophon

Meiji 41 (1908).8.1

 
1907~1910, 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 also published in 1910 as a special set sold in a padded folding box with ivory clasps.

 
Sword and Blossom Poems from Japan, Volume I
Shotaro Kimura and Charlotte M. Peake
Printed (1st Printing): November 20, 1907 - Published: November 1907
Printed (2nd Printing): February, 1909
Format: Large 16mo, crepe padded covers, hosho paper*
Length: 32 pages
Artists: Kason, Koho, Shoso and Yoshimune
Color woodblock prints on 24 pages

Sword and Blossom Poems from Japan, Volume II
Shotaro Kimura and Charlotte M. Peake
Format: Large 16mo, crepe padded covers, hosho paper*
Length: 34 pages
Printed: August 1, 1908 - Published: August 10, 1908
Artists: Baison, Koho and Shoso
Color woodblock prints on 25 pages

Sword and Blossom Poems from Japan, Volume III
Shotaro Kimura and Charlotte M. Peake
Format: 52 pages, large 16mo, crepe padded covers, hosho paper*
Length: 52 pages
Printed: October 10, 1910 (Meiji 43) - Published: October 30, 1910
Artists: Baison, Koho and Yoshimune
Color woodblock prints on 39 pages

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

Folding Cases. The three books were marketed in 1910-11 period as a set and sold in padded and unpadded folding cases (generally blue with "Sword and Blossom Poems" in silver (padded) 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:

• Volume 1. 2nd Printing of February 1909.
• Volume 2. Only printing of August 1908 (no Number on Cover).
• Volume 3. October 1910 but with the Kami Negishi address.

The set was also marketed in a plain unpadded blue folding case with ivory clasps with no lettering. To see this case, click here.

Deluxe Edition. A deluxe edition of the second volume has been reported.

* 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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