Condition. This set is in Fine condition. There is moderate foxing at the front and back pages. The covers have edge wear and light scraping. One corner has heavy bumping (right top front on volume 2) and the others are lightly bumped. Inside the front cover of both volume is an owner's nameplate with a 19th century date. A few plates, including both frontispiece plates have light foxing, but they are basically clean and bright. The gilt remains bright and text pages bright, clean and free of blemishes. An exceptionally clean and sound set in original bindings.

An account Japanese life, culture and geography by the British Special Envoy to Japan. The book is an excellent first hand description of major upheaval during this period as the foreign powers maneuvered to establish most favored relations with Japan and intense internal civil strife erupted between forces in favor of modernization and those championing Japanese isolation. Volume 1 starts in 1846 when Alcock was living in Canton. It traces the events from his appointment as head of the permanent British Legation in Japan (mid-1859) to the end of that year. Alcock first arrived in Japan at Nagasaki in June of 1859. By July the permanent British Legation was established in Yeddo. Volume 2 starts at the end of 1859 and goes to Alcock's departure from Japan in March of 1862. Alcock was a keen observer and the book is his account across the entire spectrum of life in Japan during this period to include, politics and government, social and political turmoil, customs and social practices, pastimes, language, geography, international and domestic commerce and the economy (including monetary system), the legal system and flora and fauna. The book is a window into Japanese life of the 1859-61 period. In addition, Alcock provides historical background to place events in perspective.

The set is lavishly illustrated with fine multi-color lithographs (16) depicting people and places. Drawings by Charles Wirgman form the basis of 12 of the chromo-lithographs (three in volume 1 & nine in volume 2) in this set. The lithographs derived from Wirgman's art have "C. Wirgman, delt." inscribed in the lower left corner. The lithographs were produced by "Hanhart Litho."

The text is supplemented with 128 black and white woodcut illustrations and finally 2 color maps round out the illustrations.

To see the title pages, click here.

Volume 1
The Village Beauty	Woman of Yeddo in Winter Garb
(Charles Wirgman)	(Charles Wirgman)
Tea House Attendant	Crossing the Ogigawa
(Charles Wirgman)
The Lake of Hakoni	Fusiyama from the Base
Ascent of Fusiyama
Volume 2
Scene in a Silk Shop	Village Scene Near Nagasaki
(Charles Wirgman)	(Charles Wirgman)
The Halt	The Baths at Uriaino
(Charles Wirgman)	(Charles Wirgman)
From our Inn at Omura	Odah
(Charles Wirgman)	(Charles Wirgman)
Village Woman Using the Flail [Village Live]	Japanese Physician
(Charles Wirgman)	(Charles Wirgman)
Shaving the Ladies
(Charles Wirgman)

Table of Contents, Abbreviated.

 

Abbreviated Table of Contents for Both Volumes. (OCR Rendation of actual listing). For the entire TOC click, here   The Capital of the Tycoon Sir Rutherford Alcock   THE FIRST VOLUME.   CHAPTER I. PROVISIONS AND PREPARATIONS   CHAPTER II. VOYAGE TO NAGASAKI   CHAPTER III. FIRST IMPRESSIONS — NAGASAKI PERMANENT RESIDENCE   CHAPTER IV. NAGASAKI TO YEDDO   CHAPTER V. THE CAPITAL AND ITS ENVIRONS   CHAPTER VI. FIRST LESSONS IN JAPANESE DIPLOMACY   CHAPTER VII. EXCHANGE OF RATIFICATIONS   CHAPTER VIII. THE JAPANESE LANGUAGE   CHAPTER IX. JAPANESE SAYINGS AND DOINGS   CHAPTER X. A GLANCE AT JAPANESE POLITICS   CHAPTER XI. FIRST BLOODSHED   CHAPTER XII. IMPROVING PROSPECTS   CHAPTER XIII. A VISIT TO HAKODADI   CHAPTER XIV. MURDER OF FRENCH CONSUL'S SERVANT AT YOKOHAMA   CHAPTER XV. A COUNTRY WALK   CHAPTER XVI. THE NEW YEAR, 1860, AND WHAT IT BROUGHT   CHAPTER XVII. MURDER OF THE REGENT ON HIS WAY TO THE TYCOON'S PALACE   CHAPTER XVIII. STRAY LEAVES FROM A JOURNAL   CHAPTER XIX. AUDIENCE OF THE TYCOON   CHAPTER XX. CHANGE OF SCENE — A PILGRIMAGE TO FUSIYAMA   CHAPTER XXI. THE SULPHUR SPRINGS OF ATAMI   CHAPTER XXII. THE HIGH ROAD TO THE CAPITAL, AND THOSE WHO TRAVEL ON IT   THE SECOND VOLUME.   CHAPTER I. INDICATIONS OF HOSTILE SPIRIT AMONG THE ARMED CLASSES   CHAPTER II. NEW YEAR'S DAY 1861 — THE GREETING IT BROUGHT IN YEDDO   CHAPTER III. SECOND PHASE OF THE CRISIS — FLAGS OE FOUR TREATY POWERS STRUCK   CHAPTER IV. JOURNEY OVERLAND FROM NAGASAKI TO YEDDO ACROSS THE ISLAND OF KIUSIU   CHAPTER V. SIMONOSEKI — THE 'INLAND SEA,' AND VOYAGE TO HIOGO.   CHAPTER VI. THE PORT AND THE CITY —— HIOGO AND OSACA.   CHAPTER VII. OSACA TO YEDDO.   CHAPTER VIII. RETURN TO YEDDO   CHAPTER IX. THE LULL AFTER THE STORM   CHAPTER X. MR. OLIPHANT, THE SECRETARY OF LEGATION, SENT HOME FOR THE CURE OF HIS WOUNDS   CHAPTER XI. REVIEW OF FOREIGN RELATIONS WITH JAPAN   CHAPTER XII. THE GOVERNMENT OF JAPAN AND ITS ADMINISTRATIVE MACHINERY   CHAPTER XIII. THE CIVILISATION OF JAPAN — SOCIAL, AND POLITICAL CONDITION   CHAPTER XIV. TEMPLES, RELIGION, AND AMUSEMENTS OE JAPANESE   CHAPTER XV. WESTERN DIPL0MACY AND EASTERN POLICY.   CHAPTER XVI. ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE DEPARTURE OF THE JAPANESE MISSION TO THE COURTS OF THE SEVERAL TREATY POWERS IN EUROPE   CHAPTER XVII. THE YEAR 1862 -- PROGRESS OF EVENTS IN JAPAN   APPENDICES: A  TRADE OF CHINA. B  MINUTES OF A MEETING OF BRITISH RESIDENTS AT YOKOHAMA. C  LETTER FROM MR. MEDHURST. D  LIST OF DAIMIOS AND THEIR REVENUES. E  MR. VEITCH'S NOTES ON THE AGRICULTURE, TREES, AND FLORA OF JAPAN. F  TITLES IN JAPAN. G   A FEW REMARKS ON 'AN OPEN" LETTER TO THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE WESTERN NATIONS AT JEDDO'. INDEX.

 
Illustrations.

 

Summary - Lithographs, Maps, Text Drawings. Chromo - Lithographs. (16 total - 7 in Vol 1, 9 in Vol 2) Volume 1. (By M. & N. Hanhart.) The Village Beauty Frontispiece Woman of Yeddo in Winter Garb 129 Tea House Attendant 193 Crossing the Ogigawa 407 The Lake of Hakoni 416 Fusiyama from the Base 422 Ascent of Fusiyama 425 Volume 2. (By M. & N. Hanhart.) Scene in a Silk Shop Frontispiece Village Scene Near Nagasaki 70 The Halt 72 The Baths at Uriaino 73 From our Inn at Omura 74 Odah 80 Village Women using the Flail 83 Japanese Physician 291 Shaving the Ladies 292 Maps (2 total) Volume 1. PAGE MAP (Engraved by E. Weller.) Map of Japan To face 1 Volume 2. MAP {Engraved by E. "Weller.) Map of Osaca To face l Woodcut Engravings (128 total - 78 in Vol 1, 50 in Vol 2) Volume 1. (Engraved by G. Pearson.) Hongkong 13 Macao 19 Followers of the 'Great Peace' Dynasty 34 Chinese under the Tartar Dynasty 43 Nagasaki Harbour 73 A Japanese Salutation 80 Lonin reading 81 Japanese Norimon 96 Japanese Cango 97 How Japanese rest 98 Japanese Page in attendance ib. How the Japanese sleep 99 Yeddo from the Avenue 104 A Group of 'Jolly Beggars' 112 Mendicant Singers 114 Merchandise in the Streets of Yeddo 117 Shopkeeper going to a Customer 118 Horse carrying Liquid Manure 120 How Mothers dispose of their Infants 121 The Paternal Nurse 122 Type of the 'Dangerous Classes' 125 The Samourai 130 Officer on urgent Duty 133 Female Head Dress 192 "Writing a Letter of Divorce 194 Love Letter discovered 195 Conjugal Service 196 A Japanese Servant or Workman 197 A Japanese prostrating himself before his Superiors 200 Weighed in the Balance 245 Night Scene 250 Japanese Ladies in the Bath 254 After the Bath 255 A Japanese at his Toilet for a Visit of Ceremony 256 Female Costume 264 Female Dress ib. Music Girl, with Servant carrying her Instrument ib. The Evening Meal 265 Bay of Hakodadi 266 Female Costume 269 Society of Hakodadi 279 Carding Machine for separating the Grain 294 How they separate the Grain 295 Japanese Ploughing ib. How they cover the Seed 296 How they use Manure 297 Manuring Process ib. Mode of protecting Land from Birds 300 The Peasant's Luxury 302 Wild Fowl 307,308 Agricultural Process 320 Homeward Bound 370 Court Dress of the Japanese 386 Japanese 'Lords in Waiting' 387 Fusiyama from the Suburbs of Yeddo 395 How Japanese Beasts of Burden comport themselves 398 Salutation of mine Host 403 Interior of a Kitchen 404 A Japanese Maritornes 405 "Well-earned Rest ib. Pilgrims on the Road 427 Horse-fish 436 Atami and its Monuments 447 Life at Atami — a Peasant and his Wife returning from Labour 448 The Village Aqueduct 451 Returning from Sea-Fishing 452 A Japanese travelling 454 How the Unprivileged travel on the High Road 457 Itinerant Musicians 458 Yaconin on Service 459 On the Road to Yeddo 460 Returning from Market ib. Fishermen 461 The Blind Gentleman 462 A Female Ostler 463 Passing the River Logo 465 'Saionara' 469 WOODCUTS. Volume 2. (Engraved by G. Pearson.) Duty under Difficulties 69 How Pines grow 72 Preparing Cotton for spinning 82 Village Housewife reeling Cotton 83 Roadside Shrine 84 Our Junk in the Inland Sea 87 Gala Dress by Law established 96 The Sea of Suonada ib. Helm of our Junk 97 Steersman and his Mate 98 Sailors eating their Rice 99 Pass out of the Suonada Sea 100 Near Hiogo 101 Hiogo 102 View of Osaca to face 122 Full Plate Castle of Osaca 125 Japanese Wandering Minstrels 127 A Rope of Stones 133 Female Servant 139 Japanese Post — an Express 141 Our chief Yaconin 150 Belfry in Courtyard of Temple to face 280 Full Plate Storks 281 Wild Goose 282 Specimen of Grotesque 290 Barber 291 Clothes Merchant 291 Maker of Bows 292 Ladies at their Toilet 293 Going up Hill ib. Snow Coat 294 Men Towing 294,295 Japanese Wooing 295 Caught in the Rain 296 A Snow-Storm ib. The Mistress and her Servant 297 Mother-in-law and Daughter 298 Blowing Bubbles 299 Gnomes 300 Lantern-maker ib. A Japanese Piiest in his Robes 310 A Japanese Friar of the Mediaeval Type 311 Porter 312 The Wedding Party 313 The Christening 314 Playing at Ball 322 The Maternal Lesson 323 The Wrestlers 324 Japanese Game on Horseback 326

Collation. Full Title: The Capital of the Tycoon: A Narrative of a Three Years' Residence in Japan, London, Longman, Green, Longman, Roberts & Green, printed by Spottiswood and Company, 1863 (1st ed), 2 volumes: 469 pp / 539 pp, 8vo, green pictorial cloth with gilt, 16 chromo-lithographs, 128 black and white woodcut engravings, 2 folding colored maps.

Volume 1. Short Title Page, Frontispiece, Full Title Page, Preface (18 pages), Table of Contents (4 pages), List of Illustrations (3 pages), Eratta (1 page), Folding Map, Text (Pages 1-469), Advertisements (36 pages). Illustrations - 7 chromo - lithographs (including the frontispiece), 78 woodcut text illustrations, 1 folding map.

Volume 2. Volume 2. Short Title Page, Frontispiece, Full Title Page, Table of Contents (4 pages), List of Illustrations & Eratta (2 pages), Folding Map, Text (Pages 1-440), Appendix A-E (pages 441-500), Index (pages 501-539. Illustrations - 9 chromo - lithographs (including the frontispiece), 50 woodcut text illustrations, 1 folding map.