Condition. The book is in Fair condition. The front and back inner hinges are broken. The front and back covers and spine are discolored and scraped. The title page is loose at the bottom and has manuscript writing in ink. There is manuscript writing in ink on the inside front cover pastedown. On the outside edge "Japonese English" is written. The pages are aged/brown but not brittle. Internally there is no foxing, staining or marking. To see the top bottom and outer edge, click here.

 
Hepburn, James Curtis:
Japanese - English and English - Japanese Dictionary, Second Edition, Revised and Enlarged, Tokyo, Z.P. Maruya & Co. Ltd, Yokohama, Kelly & Walsh, London, Trubner & Co., R. Meiklejohn & Co., Stereotypers and printed at "Seishi Bunsha," Tokyo, 1887, small 16mo (4 3/4 x 6 in - 12 x 15 cm), red blindstamped cloth with black decoration on front board and gilt lettering on front board and spine, two parts (Parts First & Second) numbered continuously, text in parallel columns on the page, 1033 pp. In the preface to this book Hepburn states the "... abridgement consists only in the omission of the Chinese characters, the Japanese Kana, all the archaic and obsolete words...." Part First (pages 1 to 759) contains the "Japanese and English Dictionary ." In this part you find the transliteration of the Japanese word followed by the English definition. Part Second (pages 761 to 1033) contains the "English and Japanese Dictionary Containing the Most Important English Words with Numerous Examples" In this part the English word is presented along with the transliteration of the Japanese version. The second part has a separate title page. The first part is not preceded by a separate title page but the book contains a complete title page (for both parts) at the front. The last line of text reads: "R. Meiklejohn & Co., Printers and Sterotypers, 26 Water Street, Yokohama." There is a Japanese colophon at the back. This is a pocket size edition (pocket dictionary) of the Hepburn dictionary with characters in English only. Wenckstern described this as a "Pocket dictionary .. in Roman characters only." Hepburn (1815-1911) was a Presbyterian medical missionary who lived in Japan from 1859 to 1892. In addition to the many dictionaries he published, he authored or co-authored translations of various book of the Old Testament into Japanese between approximately 1877 and 1888. He also translated into English Japanese fairy tales that were published by Takejiro Hasegawa.

Wenckstern describes the Hepburn dictionaries in these terms:

Hepburn, J.C. Japanese and English Dictionary

1st edition with an English and Japanese Index, XII, 560 and 132 pp. small-4to Shanghai 1867 (£5.5s).

2nd edition Japanese-English and English-Japanese Dictionary, two parts in 1 vol. XXXI, 632 and 210 pp. royal-8vo, Shanghai, 1872 (£ 8.8s reduced to l8s).

3rd edition Jap.-Engl. and Engl.-Japan. XXXIII and 962 pp. royal-8vo, Tokyo, 1886.

4th edition Jap.-Engl.and Engl.-Japanese, XXXII, 962 pp., royal-8vo Tokyo, 1888 ($7.50 cents). It is arranged phonetically according to the Roman alphabet; for every word is given its Chinese sign, Katakana, transliteration in English characters and its meaning in English. For index of Chinese characters see under " Whitney".

Hepburn, J.C. Japanese-English and English-Japanese Pocket dictionary, abridged by the author, in Roman characters only.

lst edition VI, 330 and 206 pp., square 8vo, Shanghai, 1873.

American reprint VI, 330 and 206 pp. square 8vo, New York, 1873.

2nd edition, revised and enlarged, VIII and 1033 pp., 16mo, Tokyo, 1887 ($2) (in English characters only).

 
I have recorded the following editions of Hepburn dictionaries:

• 1867, A Japanese and English Dictionary with an English and Japanese Index, Shanghai, American Presbyterian Mission Press and London, Trubner, 2 parts (560 pp & 132 pp), small 4to.
• 1870, A Pocket Edition of Japanese Equivalents for the Most Common English Words, Tokyo, Matsmoto.
• 1872, A Japanese and English Dictionary with an English and Japanese Index, Second Edition, Shanghai, 2 parts, 632 pp and 210 pp, small 4to.
• 1873, A Japanese - English and English - Japanese Dictionary, Abridged by the Author, 8vo, Shanghai, 330 pp & 206 pp. ("pocket dictionary" in English only).
• 1873, A Japanese - English and English - Japanese Dictionary, Abridged by the Author, New York, A.D.F. Randolph & Company, 2 parts 330 pp & 206 pp, 16mo. ("pocket dictionary" in English only).
• 1876, A Japanese - English and English - Japanese Dictionary, Tokyo, Z.P. Maruya & Co.
• 1886, A Japanese - English and English - Japanese Dictionary, Third Edition, Tokyo, Z.P. Maruya & Co., large 8vo, 962 pp.
• 1887, A Japanese - English and English - Japanese Dictionary, Abridged by the Author, Second Edition, Revised and Enlarged, small 16mo, 2 parts numbered consecutively, 1033 pp.
• 1886 & 1887, A Japanese - English and English - Japanese Dictionary with an English and Japanese Index, Osaka, Nitsuse-Kuwan.
• 1888, A Japanese - English and English - Japanese Dictionary, Fourth Edition, Improved and Enlarged, Tokyo, large 8vo, 962 pp.
• 1894, A Japanese - English and English - Japanese Dictionary, Fifth Edition, Tokyo, Z.P. Maruya & Co and London, Trubner & Co. 8vo, 962 pp.
• 1897, A Japanese - English and English - Japanese Dictionary, Tokyo, Z.P. Maruya & Co.
• 1900, A Japanese - English and English - Japanese Dictionary, Sixth Edition, Tokyo, Z. P. Maruya & Co.
• 1903, A Japanese - English and English - Japanese Dictionary, Seventh Edition, Tokyo, Z. P. Maruya & Co. and London, Trubner & Co., 8vo, 962 pp.
• 1905, A Japanese - English and English - Japanese Dictionary, Second Edition, Abridged by the Author, Tokyo, Z. P. Maruya & Co.
• 1907, A Japanese - English and English - Japanese Dictionary, Third Edition, Revised and Enlarged, Tokyo, Z.P. Maruya & Co, 8vo, 962 pp.
• 1907, A Japanese - English and English - Japanese Dictionary, Fifteenth Edition, Revised and Enlarge, Tokyo, Z.P. Maruya & Co, 12mo, 1033 pp.
• 1970, A Japanese - English and English - Japanese Dictionary, Tokyo, Toyo Bunko, reprint of 2nd edition of 1872 edition, 8vo, 632 pp and 201 pp.
• 1970, 1983 & 1985, A Japanese - English and English - Japanese Dictionary, Vermont, Charles E. Tuttle Co. reprint.

 
Title Page (before Part First)

 
Preface

 
Orthography (Page 1 of 2)

 
Abbreviateions (Page 1 of 2)

 
First Page of Text, Part First

 
Title Page (before Part Second)

 
First Page of Text, Part Second