Part I

Part II

Part III

Part IV

Part V

Condition - Sets 1887091135b1 & 1888091135b2 The books are in Good to Very Good condition. Internally they are in Fine condition. All plates and pages are present and free of marking, staining, foxing or faults. All folded pages are complete and unbroken at the fold. The plates are bright and free of faults. The edges of the book are in sound condition with no faults. All book have a red seal and ink signature over it at the top of the title page. The string ties on all books are original/as issued. While the condition of the fragile string ties is far above average, several are broken and that is the primary reason the books are not described as in Good to Very Good condition rather than as in Fine condition. Several parts have one or more of the fragile string ties broken and one has most of the string ties broken (see book by book details below). Even with the broken string ties, all bindings are solid. Japan in Days of Yore (Set 1887091135b1) Part I. All string ties in place. Part II. Sting ties at the top and bottom broken. Part III. All string ties in place. Part IV. All string ties broken across the spine. Edges Solid, click here to see. The Life of Toyotomi Hideyoshi (Set 1888091135b2) Part I. String ties at top and bottom broken Part II. All string ties in place. Part III. All string ties in place, "ex 2 vols' written lightly in pencil on front cover. Part IV. String tie at top middle and bottom broken. Part V. String tie at top and two at bottom broken. Edges Solid, click here to see. The books are housed in wooden box constructed using small nails. The box measures 7 3/4 x 5 1/2 x 5 1/4 in - 19.8 x 14 x 13.4 cm and the books fit perfectly into it. It was clearly a custom made to house the two sets of books. Whether the books were marketed in this box by the publisher is unknown. The top of the box has handwritten, Japanese Books/ 5 Vol Toyotomi Hideyoshi / 4 Vol Japan in Days of Yore." To see the box, click on the picture below.

Japan in Days of Yore, Set 1887091115b1 Life of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Set 1888091115b2

 
Dening, Rev. Walter:
The Life of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, a 5 part set, Tokyo, The Hakubunsha, 1888-90 (Meiji 21-23), stiff wrap covers illustrated in color, 12mo (5 x 7 1/4 in - 12.7 x 18.3 cm), string tied in Kangxi binding style, text in English and on folded pages, Japanese language colophon at the rear, approximately 4-6 double page color woodblock prints per part, a total of 27 double page and 1 single plate color woodblock prints, each part with approximately 80 text pages, pages numbered consecutively, 417 pp. The spine is not covered except for approximately 3/4 in (1.8 cm) at the top and bottom. Publisher's advertisements at the end of Parts I, II and III. On the back cover it states "The Hakubunsha, Publishers, Booksellers, Printers and Stationers, No. 1, Shichome, Ginza, Tokyo, Japan."

The double page color woodblock prints are printed on one side of a single sheet. They are then folded at the middle and tipped to tabs which are bound into the book. The single page plate is also printed on one side only and tipped to tab. The woodblock print pages are not numbered or included in the page count. There are a total of 26 double page plates and one 1 page plate in the five part set.

Wenckstern discusses this set in these terms:

Dening, Rev. W. The Life of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. 417 pp. text with many plates. Post 8vo, Tokio, 1890. (80 cents).
Fine Edition on Japanese paper, in five volumes, Post 8vo, Tokio, 1890, ($2.50 c).
(Wenckstern, Volume 1, 1859-93, at page 96)

Based upon the Wenckstern entry it is clear that there was a trade edition, or ordinary type, single volume version of the book and multi-volume "Fine Edition." Wenckstern's discussion refers a single book with 417 pages (80c) as well as 5 volume "Fine Edition" ($2.50). In the trade edition, published in 1890, the five parts are bound (half green leather and green marbled boards) into one book. The trade edition contains no color illustrations but does contain 27 double page black and white illustrations.

An advertisement for this set published in Japan in Days of Yore stated:

The Life of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, in 5 Vols.,

illustrated with notes and apendices, about 360 pages, printed with type lately imported from England.

The tale of Hideyoshi's life is one of the most wonderful records of triumph of genius over the most formidable obstacles that Japanese history contains. It tells how a poor, friendless lad rose to be the first lord of the land, and how the foundations of that form of central feudal government which Ieyasu elaborated with such consummate skill were laid by the Taiko. Hideyoshi's originality, fertility of resource, knowledge of human nature, generosity, courage, and versatility constitute him the most remarkable man that Japan has produced. (Japan in Days of Yore, Part I, 1887, Walter Dening, Hakubunsha, publisher's advertisements at the rear after page 78).

The books which are discussed on this page, and pictured below, are part of the "Fine Edition" that Wenckstern notes.

 
Pages & Woodblock Prints in Each of the Five Parts:

Part I, pages 1-78, Meiji 21 (1888) - 6 double page color woodblock plates
Part II, pages 79-154, Meiji 22 (1889) - 6 double page color woodblock plates
Part III, Pages 155-244, Meiji 22 (1889) - 6 double page color woodblock plates
Part IV, Pages 245-324, Meiji 23 (1890) - 5 double page color woodblock plates
Part V, Pages 325-417, Meiji 23 (1890) 1 single page & 4 double page color woodblock plates

 
Title Page (Part I)

Title Page (Same in Part II & III)

 
Color Woodblocks, Part I

Title Page (Same in Part IV & V)

Color Woodblocks, Part I

 
Color Woodblocks, Part II

 
Color Woodblocks, Part III

 
Color Woodblocks, Part IV

 
Color Woodblocks, Part V

(Only single page plate in the set)

 
Colophons

Part I

Meiji 21 (1888).11.26

Part II

Meiji 22 (1889).9.10

Part III

Meiji 22 (1889).9.10

Part IV

Meiji 23 (1890).11.10

Part V

Meiji 23 (1890).12.16