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