29 folding leaves. 8vo (229 x 156 mm.), later semi-stiff silk-brocade-covered wrappers (covers a bit wormed), gold- & silver-speckled endpapers, old stitching. [Japan]: on final leaf (in trans.): “3 August 1483.”

A beautiful and fine calligraphic manuscript of “Guhishō,” a text on waka poetic theory that, along with “Gukenshō” 愚見抄, “Sangoki” 三五記, and “Kirihioke” 桐火桶, made up the writings collectively referred to as the “Cormorant and Heron Forgeries” (Usagikei Gisho 鵜鷺系偽書). These four texts were attributed to Fujiwara no Teika (1162-1241), the “single most influential figure in the history of Japanese classical poetry. [He] was the supreme arbiter of poetry... More

Title within typographical border (shaved at foot). 2 p.l., 14 pp., one blank leaf. Small 4to, attractive antique panelled calf (some shaving to bottom line or catchwords on several pages), spine gilt, red morocco lettering piece on spine. London: Printed by J.C., 1651.

First edition. “The Reformed Husbandman…is sometimes attributed to Speed, although it was probably written by Cressy Dymock…It is a pamphlet of some 16 pages and full of moral reflections, a melodious exhortation to industry.”–Fussell, I, p. 45.

“The most visible impact of Hartlib’s circle lay in the numerous pamphlets that he published…They comprised letters and treatises solicited... More

Ten double-page & two single-page woodblock color-printed illus.; two-page preface & colophon with color-printed borders, & several leaves with color-printed backgrounds. 14; 13; 11.5 folding leaves. Three vols. 8vo, orig. patterned semi-stiff wrappers, orig. block-printed title labels on upper covers (all three a little defective), new stitching. From the colophon: Kyoto et al.: carved by Inoue Jihei for Daimonjiya Tokugoro, 1835.

First edition of this beautifully illustrated introduction to the story and customs of the Tanabata Festival, today celebrated on July 7th. The Tanabata Festival traces its origins to the Chinese Qixi Festival and marks the meeting of the deities... More

14 double-page woodblock illus. 26 folding leaves. 8vo, in orihon (accordion) format, orig. boards (covers a bit worn), orig. block-printed title label on upper cover. [Japan]: 1836.

First edition, early printing, of this famous illustrated book of erotica. “This is the most important printed erotic illustrated book by 14 painters of Kyoto and Osaka, particularly artists of the Maruyama-Shijo and related schools, [including the well-known Kanō Eigaku 狩野永岳, Maruyama Ōshin 円山応震, Tosa Mitsubumi 土佐光文, Gantai 岸岱, and Okamoto Toyohiko 岡本豊彦]…

“It is a work of great subtlety, in terms both of the delicacy and reticence of the scenes of lovemaking... More

36 finely color-printed woodcut illus. in the text. 23 folding leaves. 8vo, orig. gold-flecked wrappers (rubbed), orig. printed title label on upper cover, new stitching. N.p.: Preface dated “1810.”

First edition of this finely illustrated work by Kita Busei (1776-1856), a student of Tani Buncho. It is the first masterpiece by Kita; Hillier, describes the present book as “an attractive colour-printed book of poets” (The Art of the Japanese Book, p. 640). The images of the 36 poets, each of which occupies two-thirds of a page, are finely printed in color using a series of woodblocks. The backgrounds are delicately... More

17 hand-drawn & hand-colored illus., mostly full-page. 57; 34 folding leaves. Three parts (kan) & appendix (furoku 附錄) in two vols. 8vo (252 x 180 mm.; 265 x 190 mm.), orig. wrappers, orig. manuscript title-slips on upper covers. [Japan]: 1814.

A very rare manuscript account, beautifully illustrated and with the extremely rare appendix, of the two expeditions in 1808 and 1809 of Mamiya Rinzō (1775-1844), hydraulic engineer, cartographer, and explorer, to survey Sakhalin Island (J: Kita Ezo or Karafuto), off the coast of Siberia. The “Tōdatsu kikō” is Mamiya’s main Sakhalin travel narrative. During these journeys, Mamiya discovered that Sakhalin... More

52 folding leaves. Large 8vo (298 x 190 mm.), orig. patterned semi-stiff wrappers (wrappers a little soiled), old stitching (stitching partially defective). [Korea]: Preface dated 1801, Afterword dated 1816.

A very rare edition of this collection of documents relating to seven men and their actions during the Imjin War and the Manchu invasion of Korea in 1636. The invasions of Korea, first by the Japanese in the 1590s and then by the Manchus in the 1620s and 1630s, were important moments in the course of events that led to the rise of the Manchu Qing empire in continental East... More

Numerous brush & ink illus. (some heightened in red, blue, brown, yellow, & gray ink) in text. 20 parts in 7 vols. Ca. 522 folding leaves. 8vo (242 x 170 mm.), orig. wrappers, new stitching (a bit loose). [Japan]: 1847.

A very rare and richly illustrated manuscript on military doctrine and practice, compiled during the early or mid-Edo period. Only one or two complete copies appear to be available in Japanese libraries, and none in North America. It has never been published.

A Preface signed by Sawai Munekiyo discusses the duties of civil and military officials: “to serve... More

Many fine woodcuts throughout. Four parts & appendices in five vols. 8vo, orig. semi-stiff wrappers (a little frayed), old stitching, orig. title slips on covers. Tokyo: Yamasakiya Seishichi 山崎屋清七 et al., 1852.

First printed edition of this artillery manual from the bakumatsu period. In the early 19th century, Japan came under increased pressure from Western nations that wanted access to Japanese ports. “The Shogunate government issued the Order to Drive Away Foreign Ships in 1825 and commanded that foreign ships appearing along the coast of Japan be fired upon, so the domains along the coast began building gun... More

Two & one-half woodcut illus. 44 sheets, each folded into multiple pages. Oblong small 8vo (89 x 288 mm.), orig. stiff boards in concertina format (one loose). [Beijing]: [Nei fu 內府], 1617.

A very scarce bilingual — Tibetan and Chinese — Buddhist scripture published at the Ming Imperial Household in Beijing. Ours is one of two known copies, judging by WorldCat (1202247985). Our book is dedicated to Bhaiṣajyaguru, the healing Buddha. This Buddha “has a body more brilliant than the sun, which was the color of lapis lazuli (vaiḍūryamaṇi) and possessed the power to heal illness and physical... More

]. 1 p.l., 4, 25, 34, 29; 37, 30, 28 folding leaves. Six kwŏn in two volumes. Small folio (360 x 223 mm.), orig. wrappers (some wear & rubbing), handwritten title on covers, orig. stitching. [Hansŏng]: Kyujanggak, [ca. 1799].

A royal gift, presented by the king of Korea. In 1794, King Chŏngjo (1752-1800) of the Chŏson dynasty compiled and had printed a collection of the letters of the great Neo-Confucian philosopher Zhu Xi 朱熹 (1130-1200) to be disseminated throughout his kingdom. As King Chŏngjo wrote on this occasion, “the learning of Master Zhu, in its expansive and oceanic plentitude, is... More