Hasegawa, T. (Publisher)
Kimura, Shotaro (translation)
Peake, Charlotte M. A. (translation):
Sword and Blossom Poems from the Japanese, Volume I, T. Hasegawa, Tokyo, Japan, 1907~c1914, large 16mo (5 x 7 1/8 in - 12.5 x 18 cm), crepe over padded board covers, contents printed on hosho paper (high quality paper), 34 pp. This page count does not count the covers or a front free page. This is volume one from a three volume set of "Sword and Blossom" poems. The first Blossom song is "Snow" and the first Sword song is "Waiting". In the first edition, the last two pages of text ("Post Scriptum") are in a typeset type font.

The first printing indicates a printing and publication date of November, Meiji 40 (1907).

There is a second printing of this volume dated Meiji 42 (1909).2.1. The second printing has the same illustrations as the first. The text on the last three pages ("Post Scriptum") is the same but printed in manuscript script type font (same as seen throughout the book) and it carries over to the last page with the colophon.

There is a third printing of this volume dated to c1914. The book is similar to the 2nd printing except that in the colophon it carries the 17 Kami Negishi. The dates of printing or publication of this printing are not stated but presumed to be c1914 based upon the address listed in the colophon.

Binding format. The binding format for these books is not one that was typically employed by Hasegawa. The pages are joined to the binding at the middle. This allows for a seamless panoramic views of the prints when a page/plate is opened. The resulting outside edges were normally (but not always) lightly glued to the outside edge of the next page/plate. Other Hasegawa folded page books were bound with the page/plate folded and the open edges joined to the binding at the spine.

Same Title Page in all Printings

 
1st Printing (1907)

2nd Printing (1909) & 3rd Printing (c1914)

1st Printing (1907)

2nd Printing (1909)

3rd Printing (c1914)

Colophon, 1st Printing (1907)

Printed: Meiji 40 (1907).11.10
Published: Meiji 40 (1907).11.20
38 Honmura (third column of characters from left)

 
Colophon, 2nd Printing (1909)

First Printing: Meiji 40 (1907).11.20
Second Printing Printed: Meiji 42 (1909).2.1
Second Printing Published: Meiji 42 (1909).2.2
38 Honmura

 
Colophon, 3nd Printing (c1914)

First Printing: Meiji 40 (1907).11.20
Second Printing: Meiji 42 (1909).2.1
Third Printing: No date stated, presumed to be c1914 based on address
17 Kami Negishi (4th row of characters from bottom)

 
1907~c1914, Shotaro Kimura and Charlotte M. A. Peake, Sword and Blossom: Poems from the Japanese, T. Hasegawa, Tokyo, 118 pages, many with woodblock color illustrations, large 16mo (5 x 7 1/4 in - 12.5 x 18 cm), crepe over padded board covers, hosho paper (high quality paper) pages, 3 volume set. The "Blossom" poems are short unrhymed verse known as Tanka which were written date from the Kokinshu, 900 AD. The "Sword" poems are Chinese poems by Japanese writers from a more modern time. The 3rd volume also contains a section of "Love" poems which were also written pre-10th Century. The three books were sold in 1910~11 as a set and marketed in a wrap-around case with ivory clasps.

 
Sword and Blossom Poems from Japan, Volume I
Shotaro Kimura and Charlotte M. Peake
First Printing Printed and Published: November 1907
Second Printing Printed and Published: February 1909
Third Printing Printed and Published: c1914 (not dated in colophon)
Format: Large 16mo, crepe padded covers, hosho paper*
Length: 34 pages
Volume Number: No volume number stated on the front cover.
Artists: Kason, Koho, Shoso and Yoshimune

Sword and Blossom Poems from Japan, Volume II
Shotaro Kimura and Charlotte M. Peake
First Printing Printed and Published: August 1908
Second Printing Printed and Published: c1914 (not dated in colophon)
Format: Large 16mo, crepe padded covers, hosho paper*
Length: 34 pages
Volume Number: Published with and without the volume number (II) on the front cover.
Artists: Baison, Koho and Shoso

Sword and Blossom Poems from Japan, Volume III
Shotaro Kimura and Charlotte M. Peake
First Printing Printed & Published: October 1910
Second Printing Printed and Published: c1914 (not dated in colophon)
Format: Large 16mo, crepe padded covers, hosho paper*
Length: 54 pages
Volume Number: No volume number stated on the front cover.
Artists: Baison, Koho and Yoshimune

Large 16mo format for all three books is 5 x 7 1/4 in - 12.5 x 18 cm.

Three Volume Set. The three books were marketed in 1910-c1920 period as a set and sold in padded and unpadded wrap-around cases (generally blue with "Sword and Blossom Poems" in silver on the spine of the case and with ivory clasps). To see this case (unpadded version), click here. It is my experience with sets in these folding cases that the following books were included:

Matched Set, c1914, all three volumes with the 17 Kami Negishi address in the colophon. To see the covers, colophons and case for this set, click here.

Unmatched Set.

• Volume 1. February 1909 (2nd printing).
• Volume 2. August 1908 (1st printing - no volume number on front cover).
• Volume 3. c1914, (2nd printing - ie Kami Negishi address on the title page).

Deluxe Edition. A deluxe edition of the second volume has been reported but I have not examined one.

* Hosho paper is a traditional, high-quality kozo (mulberry) paper, which is strong and absorbent. It does not shrink or tear easily and is well suited for woodblock printing. Relatively speaking, hosho paper is expensive. The paper is made from made from the inner bark of the mulberry tree.

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