Amanogawa soshi [or Gingazoshi, but this is wrong] [Book of the Milky Way].
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