AKUTAGAWA, Ryunosuke.

Jigokuhen [trans.: Hell Screen].

88, [4] pp. Small 4to, orig. blue cloth, uncut & unopened. Tokyo: Noda Shobo, 1936.

First separate edition, limited to 170 copies, originally published in 1918 in two newspapers. Akutagawa (1892-1927), is today most famous for having written the story “In the Grove” which was the basis for the classic film Rashomon by Kurosawa. The theme of the present story is concerned with artistic obsession. It was dramatized by Mishima in 1953 and made into a movie — Portrait of Hell — in 1969.

Fine copy in the original slipcase. This limited edition is printed on fine handmade paper with a watermark reproducing the author’s signature. The binding and original Japanese style box of dark blue rough cloth are in the mingei style.

Price: $2,250.00

Item ID: 4769