T. HASEGAWA WOODBLOCK PRINT BOOKS SWORD & BLOSSOM

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T. HASEGAWA WOODBLOCK PRINT BOOKS SWORD & BLOSSOM

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Sold Date: 05/09/2007
Channel: Online Auction
Source: eBay
Category: Ethnic, Folk & Native American Art

A rare set of lovely books entitled Sword & Blossom published by T. Hasegawa during the Meiji Period. Profusely illustrated with stunning color wood block prints, both volumes have elegantly hand lettered poems translated into English from Japanese. Books were printed on a high quality double folded handmade paper, called hosho, made from a combination of kozo (bark of a mulberry tree) and sulphite. The nicely illustrated wood block printed book covers are crepe over padded board. Books measure 5 inches by 7 1/4 inches. First volume printed in 1907 and has 32 pages , 24 of which are illustrated. Third volume was printed in 1910 and has 52 pages, of which 41 have illustrations. Books are in fine condition. Volume one has ink pen inscription of former owner's name on second page of front end paper and written with a pen at the top of the second back end paper at the back of book is a poem with a name of artist, author and poet Sadakichi Hartmann. Volume 3 has minor wear to top and bottom edges of spine with a very small shallow tear to front bottom edge of spine. Pages of both books are bright with no fading to wood block illustrations or hand written text. No loss of pages, tears or foxing to any pages. Bindings on both volumes are tight and neither book has loss of pages. Blossom poems are made up of the Tanka or short unrhymed verses of thirty-one syllables drawn from an anthology of Japanese poems dating to the 10th century called Kokinshiu, while the Sword poems is a collection of Chinese style poems written by Japanese authors dating to the fourteenth century. The third volume also contains a section of Love poems that were also written during the 10th century. An amazing set of well preserved books that provide a good example of quality Japanese craftsmanship. Will go nicely in your collection of antique Japanese wood block prints or rare books. Thanks for looking and good luck.