One full-page woodcut. 30 folding leaves. 8vo (192 x 138 mm.), orig. wrappers, manuscript title-slip on upper cover, new stitching. [Edo]: on final leaf [Matsue Ichirōbei 松会市郎兵衛], “on a good day in July 1664.”

First illustrated edition of “the first culinary book [in Japan] written for an audience other than hōchōnin [professional chefs who created meals for the ruling elite].”–Rath, p. 57. The first edition, which was unillustrated, appeared in 1643 and is a well-known rarity; our edition is equally rare. The anonymous author, who in the Postscript is described as having written this book in Sayama in Musashi province... More

42; 32 folding leaves. Two vols. 8vo, orig. semi-stiff wrappers (rubbed), orig. block-printed title labels on upper covers (both labels partly defective), new stitching. Kyoto: Takemura Shinbei, 1698.

First edition to be printed in Japan of this collection of Chinese literary texts, with the Preface of Isshiki Tokei (or Maeda Tokei, 1673-1744), the Kyoto Confucian scholar who served the Yamashiro yodo fiefdom lord Noriyuki Ishikawa. The book is printed in kanbun with reading marks. It is rare, with no copy in WorldCat (we did find a copy in the Nagoya Tsurumai Library).

The texts are:

1. LI Jiweng 李濟翁 (or... More

A complete collection of 90 intricate architectural models of tea house designs, with dimensions and components printed lithographically, each design housed in a large folding envelope, manuscript titles on outside of each envelope. The two sets of 45 models are each stored in the two original publisher’s boxes, with a printed list pasted to the inside of the lid of both boxes, as issued. A total of 90 envelopes (folded: 255 x 172 mm.). [Japan]: ca. 1920s-30s.

A remarkable creation, a complete set of 90 elaborate architectural pop-ups of tea ceremony houses and related structures, as well as interior features... More