Illustrations of Japanese Life
Vol. I & II

Photographs by K. Ogawa
Descriptions by S. Takashima
Black & White Collotypes (96) on Crepe Paper

Volume I

Volume II
Ogawa, K.
Takashima, S. (descriptions):
Illustrations of Japanese Life, Vol. I & II, Tokyo, K. Ogawa, descriptions by S. Takashima, 8vo (7 1/4 x 10 in - 18.8 x 25.7 cm), 26 (Vol I) + 70 (Vol II) black and white collotypes on crepe paper, bound Japanese style and silk thread ties. This set contains a total of 96 plates. Each plate has a title and generally a paragraph of descriptive information written by S. Takashima. While the image areas vary slightly, the norm is 6~7 x 4 1/2~5 in. This is one in a series of photographic album type books under this same title published by K. Ogawa. The four books with the same title, each containing 12 color collotype plates, are seen much more frequently than this set.

Volume 1 is in the vertical format. It consists of front and back covers, a title page and preface (1 double fold page) and 13 double fold pages containing a total of 26 plates/images. The book is comprised of 14 double fold pages and the covers. The title page lists K. Ogawa and does not give a date of publication. The volume has a colophon inside the back cover.

Volume 2 is in the horizontal format. It consists of front and back covers and 35 double fold pages with 70 plates/images. There is no title page or preface but there is a blank double fold page. The volume has a colophon inside the back cover. The book is comprised of 36 double fold pages and the covers.

In the preface to Vol. I, K. Ogawa states:

I have to acknowledge my indebtedness to Messrs. Tamamura and S. Kajima, as well as Prof Burton, for several of the plates in this volume.

I find very little information on the various Illustrations of Japanese Life books that Ogawa published. The four different versions each containing 12 hand colored collotype plates are, in my experience, most frequently seen on the market. For more information on those books, click here.

The following three relevant entries are found in the Wenckstern bibliography.

Illustrations of Japanese life, 100 collotype plates with short description in English by S. Takashima, folio, 1896 (yen 20.--).
-- Another edition in 2 vols. on crepe paper, large 8vo., 1898 (yen 7.--).
-- A third edition in one volume, no date (yen 1.20).
It appears to me that this is the two volume set Wenckstern references. However, the date is 1896 rather than 1898. The 100 collotype plate book noted first is folio size and these volumes are 8vo. I have seen a 100 collotype plate book reported with color plates on plain paper and that is probably the first book noted by Wenckstern. I have not seen a book that fits third reference noted by Wenckstern.

Wenckstern, Bibliography of the Japanese Empire - 1894-1906

There are two versions of this set. In addition to this 96 collotype plate version, there is a 98 collotype plate version. For information on the distinguishing characteristics, see below.

 
For information on Kazumasa Ogawa, click here.

 

Title Page (Only in Vol. I)

Preface (Only in Vol. I)

Colophon (Vol. 1 & 2)

Meiji 29 (1896)

Illustrations.

Vol I. [** Not Found in the 98 Plate Version]

Maidens  


The "Suwari-Odori" A Dance

**Hair Dressing


Backyard at a Tea House

"Sayonara!" (Good-bye) 

An Accident

**Two Ladies in Full Dress


**Lady Tying the "Obi" (Girdle)


The "Miko" Vestal Virgin

Japanese Babies


Venturing Out in the Rain

The Cherry

A Walk on a Snowy Day

A Carrier

The "Amma" (Shampooer)

The "Geisha" (Singing Girl) [the Laughing Geisha]

Japanese Maiden


The "Go-Inkyo" (Retired Gentleman)

A Courtesan in Full Costume


The Ainu Couple

Buddhist Priests Conspicuous

Shinto Priest at Prayer

"Senju Kannon" (A Thousand handed Goddess of Mercy)

The "Dai-Kagura"

A Blind Street Musician

"The "Kamishimo" (The Ancient Ceremonial Dress)


Volume I - 26 plates, 26 images on 13 double fold pages
Vol II. [** Not Found in the 98 Plate Version]
Children at Meals


**The "Matsuri" (The first stock of New Years Goods)


Scene on the "Sumida" River

Entertaining a Guest

Working Men's Holiday


The "Chanoyu" Ceremony

Picking Tea

An Afternoon Company

The "Samisen" (Banjo)

A Play

"Odori" (Dancing)

Orchestra [Koto, Violin, Samisen]

The Orchestra (five women]


Dancing

A Cup of Tea for the Company

Family at Dinner

"Hanami" (Flower Picnic)

Farmers Starting for the Field

The "Jinrikisha"

The "Kago" (The Palanquin)

Maple Garden at Takinogawa

A Miniature Garden of a Tea House

A "Matsuri" (Temple Festival)

The "Jinrikisha" Riding on a Rainy Day


Vestal Virgins at the Kasuga Temple, Nara

**The "Ken" Game


The Ainus at Dinner


Wrestling Match

Game of "Go"

Wrestling Match

A Vegetable Dealer

The Japanese Culinary Art

Mendicant Friars

The "Shiohi" Fishing on the Dry Bed

Green Grocer's Shop

Vegetable Dealer's Shop

Sewing

Mother and Her Baby

Summer Evening on the Shijo River

The "Koto" Playing


Buddhist Priest at Prayer

The Art of Floral Arrangement

Courtesans

A Curio Dealer's Shop

Basket Peddler

The "Ameya" (Taffy Puller)

Cloth Dealer's Shop

Marriage Ceremony

**A Toy Shop


Fencing

Porcelain Ware Shop

The "Kumamonoya" (Fancy Goods Dealer)

"Hakimono" (Clogs)

Greetings

Reeling Threads

A Well

The Cotton Spinning Wheel

Loom

Reeling the Silk from the Cocoons

Examining Warps [2 women weaving]

Silk Worms on a Card

Silk Worm Raising

A Florist

Farmers in a Yard

Rice Planting

Farmers in the Rice Swamp

Carpenters at Work

An Ox Cart

Mamma

The Geishas Holding a Letter


Volume II - 70 plates, 70 images on 35 double fold pages

 


Listing without pictures but with consecutive 
numbers assigned (not numbered in the books)

Volume 1. [** Not Found in the 98 Plate Version]
  1. Maidens
  2. The "Suwari-Odori" A Dance
  3. **Hair Dressing
  4. Backyard at a Tea House
  5. "Sayonara!" (Good-bye)
  6. An Accident
  7. **Two Ladies in Full Dress
  8. **Lady Tying the "Obi" (Girdle)
  9. The "Miko" Vestal Virgin
  10. Japanese Babies
  11. Venturing Out in the Rain
  12. The Cherry
  13. A Walk on a Snowy Day
  14. A Carrier
  15. The "Amma" (Shampooer)
  16. The "Geisha" (Singing Girl) [the Laughing Geisha]
  17. Japanese Maiden
  18. The "Go-Inkyo" (Retired Gentleman)
  19. A Courtesan in Full Costume
  20. The Ainu Couple
  21. Buddhist Priests Conspicuous
  22. Shinto Priest at Prayer
  23. "Senju Kannon" (A Thousand handed Goddess of Mercy)
  24. The "Dai-Kagura"
  25. A Blind Street Musician
  26. "The "Kamishimo" (The Ancient Ceremonial Dress)
Vol. II. [** Not Found in the 98 Plate Version]
  1. Children at Meals
  2. **The "Matsuri" (The first stock of New Years Goods)
  3. Scene on the "Sumida" River
  4. Entertaining a Guest
  5. *Working Men's Holiday
  6. The "Chanoyu" Ceremony
  7. Picking Tea
  8. An Afternoon Company
  9. The "Samisen" (Banjo)
  10. A Play
  11. "Odori" (Dancing)
  12. Orchestra [Koto, Violin, Samisen]
  13. The Orchestra (five women]
  14. Dancing
  15. A Cup of Tea for the Company
  16. Family at Dinner
  17. "Hanami" (Flower Picnic)
  18. Farmers Starting for the Field
  19. The "Jinrikisha"
  20. The "Kago" (The Palanquin)
  21. Maple Garden at Takinogawa
  22. A Miniature Garden of a Tea House
  23. A "Matsuri" (Temple Festival)
  24. The "Jinrikisha" Riding on a Rainy Day
  25. Vestal Virgins at the Kasuga Temple, Nara
  26. **The "Ken" Game
  27. The Ainus at Dinner
  28. Wrestling Match
  29. Game of "Go"
  30. Wrestling Match
  31. A Vegetable Dealer
  32. The Japanese Culinary Art
  33. Mendicant Friars
  34. The "Shiohi" Fishing on the Dry Bed
  35. Green Grocer's Shop
  36. Vegetable Dealer's Shop
  37. Sewing
  38. Mother and Her Baby
  39. Summer Evening on the Shijo River
  40. The "Koto" Playing
  41. Buddhist Priest at Prayer
  42. The Art of Floral Arrangement
  43. Courtesans
  44. A Curio Dealer's Shop
  45. Basket Peddler
  46. The "Ameya" (Taffy Puller)
  47. Cloth Dealer's Shop
  48. Marriage Ceremony
  49. **A Toy Shop
  50. Fencing
  51. Porcelain Ware Shop
  52. The "Kumamonoya" (Fancy Goods Dealer)
  53. "Hakimono" (Clogs)
  54. Greetings
  55. Reeling Threads
  56. A Well
  57. The Cotton Spinning Wheel
  58. Loom
  59. Reeling the Silk from the Cocoons
  60. Examining Warps [2 women weaving]
  61. Silk Worms on a Card
  62. Silk Worm Raising
  63. A Florist
  64. Farmers in a Yard
  65. Rice Planting
  66. Farmers in the Rice Swamp
  67. Carpenters at Work
  68. An Ox Cart
  69. Mamma
  70. The Geishas Holding a Letter

2 Volume Sets -- 98 Collotype Plates -- 96 Collotype Plates

Distinguishing Characteristic of the 98 and 96 Collotype Plate Two Volume Sets.

Covers. Identical covers with the same basic design. "Vol I" and "Vol II" numbers are incorporated into the image on the front covers of the 98 version but not on the 96. The decorative silk on the spine cover of the 98 covers only approximately 1 inch at the top and bottom. On the 96 version, it covers the entire spine.

Size and Format. Both sets are approximately the same size - 8vo (7 1/8~1/2 x 10 in - 18~18.8 x 25.7 cm).

Title Page: On the first volume of the 98, the date is 1896 and the Kelly & Walsh imprint is present along with K. Ogawa. On the 96 there is no date and only K. Ogawa appears.

Collotype Plates: The majority of the plates in the 98 and 96 are identical. However, the sequence is different and they may even appear in different volumes. The 98 plate version has 8 plates that are not in the 96 version. The 96 plate version has 6 plates not found in the 98 plate version.

Colophons: The 98 plate version has a colophon (Japanese language) only at the rear of volume II. The 96 plate version has the same colophon at the rear of both volumes.

References: In the 98 plate version several of the plate have "see plate xx" type notations in the title. This does not occur in the 96 plate version.



The Perry Expedition:    General Information  :   Related Books/Pubs
The Lithographs:    Characteristics   :    Condition    :    Listing    :    Buying
Order On-line:    Lithograph Price List  :   Book Price List
ABE Book List:    BaxleyBooks Inventory on ABE
Special Interest Books/Art:
    ~ K. Ogawa - Color Collotypes and Books/Prints
    ~ T. Hasegawa - Color Woodblock Books
    ~ Shimbi Shoin - Art Reproduction Books
    ~ Tamamura/Takagi, Kobe - Color Collotype Books
    ~ Georges Bigot - Etchings & Art
    ~ Keisuke Serizawa - Calendar Folios & Art
    ~ Woodblock Printing - Process & Miscellaneous Books
    ~ Japanese Woodblock Prints
    ~ 
Blackie the Photographer - Okinawa Photo Essay Books
Meiji Era - Japan Views & Images (Price Lists & Information):
    ~ Albumen Photos  :   Chromolithographs
    ~ Colored Albumen Photographs (from Brinkley Books)
    ~ Stereoviews  :   Kazumasa Ogawa Collotypes
    ~ CDV - K. Ogawa   :   CDV - Other   :   Cabinet Cards
    ~ Glass Slides, "Magic Lantern" - Hand Colored
    ~ Fujiya Hotel, Miyanoshita
PayPal Accepted:    Pay for Purchases with PayPal
Buying Books:    Our Book Buying Interests
BaxleyStamps:    Main Page  :   Ryukyu Stamps  :   Japan Stamps

  Frames Version   :   No Frames Version

Copyright - 2024 - George C. Baxley
Copyright and Fair Use Policy is here.


We Are Buying the 1856-7 Perry Expedition Books and Lithographs.
If you have material to sell, please visit this page:
Buying.

George C. Baxley
PO Box 807
Alamogordo, NM 88311

575.437.8707

Perry Expedition to Japan Books & Lithographs
BaxleyStamps.com  gbaxley@netmdc.com