Illustrated Guide to Famous Japanese Products Complete set of 5 volumes
[Japan] Important set of books comprehensively illustrated and introducing the various industries of Japan including tool making, gold and silver mining, lead production, persimmon cultivation and drying, charcoal production, woodcutting, tea cultivation, mikan (mandarine) cultivation, wooden bowl production, a horse market, papermaking, camphor production, heike crab industry, kitchen knife production, cotton weaving, urushi (lacquer) production, candy production, turnip cultivation, tile production, salt processing, brown sugar production, wax production, somen (noodle) production, burdock root cultivation, konbu (kelp) cultivation, umbrella production, a cow market, earthenware production, basket production, cloth production, moxa cultivation, fan production, a matsutake (mushroom) market, freshwater shrimp cultivation, river fish (ayu) cultivation, crucian carp cultivation, unagi (eel) cultivation, freshwater clam (shijimi) cultivation, cockle shell cultivation, octopus cultivation, sardine cultivation, sea cucumber cultivation, and the whaling industry.
There is also a fascinating illustration of kawataro, child-size creatures from Japanese folklore that inhabit rivers in large numbers in Bungo province (present day Oita prefecture). Apparently, they were not afraid of people but if you got too close they would jump in the river and sometimes pull humans in and drown them). They are known as kappa in the Kanto region.
The books were written by Hirase Tessai and illustrated by Hasegawa Mitsunobu.
Naniwa [Osaka]. Shioya Uhei et al. 1797 (first published in 1754).
Vol. 1 - 22 leaves (+ intro 4 leaves), Vol. 2 - 16 leaves, Vol. 3 - 19 leaves, Vol. 4 - 16 leaves, Vol. 5 - 17 leaves. Each 25.1 x 17.5cm.
In very good condition. Some wear to covers and parts of some string bindings loose or a little broken but all volumes are still tight. Internally very good with only minor darkening and age wear. No worm damage. Original title slips present. In old, folding case. b36121773
