Bookplates In Japan
Bookplates In Japan
Edited by Shozo Saito
Published by Meiji-Shobo, Tokyo (1941)
£550
Limited to 350 copies, 300 for sale, this no.288, printed in Japan, signed in Japanese by Shozo Saito, small quarto, (21x18x1.5cm), consists of a handmade paper pamphlet, sewn Japanese style with yellow cord, half title/title/limitation page with editor's signature in Japanese and his chop stamped in red/illustrated essay on Japanese bookplates (7pp)/ two tipped in examples (2pp)/contents(4pp).
This is followed by 50 original bookplates, each mounted on a separate loose page of handmade paper. The last page has an image of a small teapot.
Pamphlet and loose pages are housed in the original terra cotta paper covered card folder with flaps and ties, and a printed label on the front. Slightly worn and torn on spine and joints, but all contents fine.
The bookplates, which are woodblocks, are small and delicate, like bonsai and netsuke. Many of them are coloured very delicately and are extremely charming. The whole ensemble is beautifully presented with typical Japanese style.