Vintage post war Japanese culture/ travel books signed

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Vintage post war Japanese culture/ travel books signed

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Sold Date: 06/23/2007
Channel: Online Auction
Source: eBay
Category: Ethnic, Folk & Native American Art

I am listing these three books as a group. They are all by author Harold S. Williams and they are all signed and inscribed by him. They are travel and Japanese culture books.

The First book, Foreigners in Mikadoland has an inscribtion which states: For Ruby and Robert Edmunds with warm regards from Jean and Harold S. Williams, December 1975 Shioya Japan. The book is a first edition printed 1963 in Japan by Charles E. Tuttle. Dust jacket in very good condition. Book in very good condition. Some chapters are: Yokohama the wild west of the far east, Travels to osaka, Those very queer japanese, the whalers and the beachcombers.

Second book, Shades of the Past Indiscreet Tales of Japan by Harold S. Williams. Inscribed: Autographed by the Author Shioya, Japan. First Edition 1959, second edition 1960. The sakai massacre, The case of Maria Luz, The Yoshiwara ladies and pin up girls. Book in very good conditon.

Third Book, Tales of the Foreign Settlements in Japan by Harold S. Williams. Inscribed: Autographed for Mr. & Mrs. Edmunds by the author with pleasant memories of their Shioya days, Shioya Japan 1968. Nagasaki Days, The Kobe Foreign Settlement, The Hongs, Maya-San, The Smiths in Yokoham.

In one of the books was a typed page describing the author and the books: It states:

The following is a short history of St. George's Church, Shioya, kindly provided by Mr. H.S. Williams. As you may know, attendance at the Church has decreased of late, with the result that the future of this church is uncertain. Should the church be forced to close, this will also, inevitably, ensure the closing of the kindergarten on the same premises, the land and building reverting to Shioya Tochi.

All Saint's Church and the vicarge, which in pre-war years were located in Tor Road on the site now occupied by the Kobe Taxation office, were destroyed during the air raids of 1945. At the same time the Kobe Missions to Seamen was totally destoryed, but a new institute and Chapel were built in 1948/9 on the same site, namely on the corner opposite the Kobe Port Post Office, close to w the Mission is now.

The late Mr. E.W. James returned to Japan in 1948, and immediately set about securing the return of his Estate at Shioya. During the war, the japanese navy had taken over his private residence, the Army had moved into the Main Club building (the top club), and Prefectural officials into some of his houses. Then, on the termination of hostilities in 1945, most of the houses on his Estate were utilized for residential purposes by the Occupational Forces, first by Australian Military officers, and then by U.S. Military personnel. By early 1950, Mr. James had secured a return of most of his houses, which after renovation were rented to incoming foriegn residents. Thus, in the early 1950's, t was a comparatively large foreign residential population in Shioya, comprising about 55 foreign households on the James Estate, and some 25 or more houses in nearby areas in Shioya and Tarumi.

It goes on to talk about the church and it's services.

Mr. and Mrs. H.S. Williams donated the lectern. Serveral members of Lloyd's Register of Shipping provided and attended to the hanging of the church bell which was tolled on Sundays prior to the service.

Mr. E. W. James died November 1925. In 1961 I became trustee sold the entire James estate to the Shioya Tochi K.K. I appealed to Mr. Toshio Iuye to continue to make the premises available to St. George's Church rent-free just as had been done ttofore. To that Mr. Iuye readily agreed.

Interesting piece of Japanese culture during the 1940's through 1960's. Great books!!!