S. Wells Williams

 
Condition. The book is in Very Good condition. Lightly faded red cloth binding with gilt title on the spine. Heavy browning/toning at the front and back. Internally the pages are lightly tanned but remain supple and not brittle. There is a Tokyo bookseller's label inside the front cover (Nanyodo Book Store) and evidence of a removed label on the back of page 263. Ex-libris, Cliff Parfit, with his bookplate the front blank page. The page with the bookplate has a one inch tear where it joins the spine at the top.

 
Williams, Samuel Wells (Journal)
Williams, Frederick Wells (Preface & Editor):
A Journal of the Perry Expedition to Japan (1853-4), Yokohama, 1910, Transactions of the Asiatic Society of Japan (TASJ), Volume XXXVII, Part II, published by Kelly & Walsh, Ltd, printed by the Fukuin Printing Co., 8vo, black and white tissue guard protected collotype frontispiece (portrait of Perry), color chromolithograph plate depicting Dr. S. Wells Williams as drawn by a Japanese artist, 2 other black and white collotype plates of drawings/paintings ("Perry Landing at Kurihama, 14 July, 1853" and "View of Yokohama Harbor when Perry Was First Sighted"), 9 page "Prefatory Note (i-ix), 263 pp. Williams was the official translator for the Commodore Perry during the Expedition to Japan. In this very critical position, he observed all the major events that occurred as the Japan expedition progressed. This is his personal journal recorded on a day by day basis. The journal covers 1853-54. It was made available to the Asiatic Society of Japan by his son, F. W. Williams. Considered by many to be the most important contemporary journal published by a member of the expedition. More than one third of the journal relates to activities on Okinawa.

This bound copy contains the front cover, a list of socieity officers (back of front cover), a single page of notes regarding the Society meeting of June 16, 1910 and then the Williams Journal which ends on page 159. Page 160 is blank and pages 161-3 contain more notes/comments from the Society meeting of June 16.

Dr. Williams was noted expert on China and Asia and was personally selected by Commodore Perry to serve as his interpreter on the expedition to Japan. Williams was a keen observer and had an understanding of Japanese culture. His day to day record of events, is no doubt, the most complete and accurate record of the expedition outside the actual Government published narrative of the expedition. This journal is an invaluable supplement to the Government narrative as Williams did not hesitate to describe and characterize the events unfolding, even when they were unflattering to the Americans.

Kelly and Walsh is the first publisher listed on the title page of the TASJ. The following publishers/agents are also listed: Tokyo: Z.P. Maruya Co., Ltd, London: Kegan Paul, Truebner & Co., Ltd and Leipzig: Otto Harrassowitz.

For a photograph and biography of Samuel Wells Williams published the Far East, December of 1876, click here.

Bindings. I believe that this journal was originally published in paper wraps as was the norm for issues of TASJ. However, it is rarely found in that format. It is generally found bound. All the bound copies I have examined (and it is not that many) were clearly bound privately years after the paper wraps version was issued. The bound books I have examined generally did not retain the paper wrap cover from the actual TASJ issue. They would start with the title page for the journal. A bound copy has been examined which containes the front cover, a list of society officers (back of front cover), a single page of notes regarding the Society meeting of June 16, 1910 and then the Williams Journal which ends on page 159. Page 160 is blank and pages 161-3 contain more notes/comments from the Society meeting of June 16.

A comment regarding scarcity. The complete Williams Journal as originally published in TASJ is, in my experience, very scarce. It is rarely found with the original front paper wrap of the TASJ.

I have seen a comment that the Journal was published in 1856 but find nothing to support this.

 
Plates:

Cover of TASJ, Volume XXXVII, Part II, 1910



Portrait of Commodore Perry with autograph of Sanjo 
Nai-daijin, then Prime Minister, and Shozan Sakuma

Frontispiece - Precedes the "Prefatory Note"


Dr. S. Wells Williams 
(From a Japanese print of the period.)

After page ix, Follows the "Prefatory Note"


Title Page for S. Wells Williams Journal



Commodore Perry's Landing at Kurahama, 14th July, 1853. 

After page 58 
[Title is probably in error.  This illustration is a variation of 
a lithograph in the Government Narrative titled "Com. Perry Paying 
his Farewell Visit to the Imperial Commissioners at Simoda."
That event actually took place June 3, 1854.  To see that lithograph, 
click here].


View of Yokohama Harbour when Commodore Perry was first sighted.
(From a Japanese print of the period.)

After page 114 
[Note the drawing shows 9 ships in the harbor.  Perry first
arrived with 8 ships.  After several days, a 9th ship 
joined the assembled squadron.  For more information on 
the ships of the squadron at the second landing, 
click here].