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Condition. I would rate the books as in Good condition. The covers of both books are in Poor condition. The covers of Vol I are complete but worn and stained. The crepe paper is rolling over at the edges and there are numerous tears and creases, primarily along the edges. The covers on Vol II are in Fair (bad) condition. The front cover is complete but has considerable staining, creasing and tears. Additionally, the crepe paper is rolling over at the edges. The back cover is in tatters with pieces missing. The preliminary blank pages of Vol II have water staining. Internally the books are in Good+ condition. The collotype plates are clean and free of problems in the image area. These two books are a good candidate for rebinding.
Ogawa, K.
Takashima, S. (descriptions):
Illustrations of Japanese Life, Vol. I & II, Yokohama, Kelly & Walsh, descriptions by S. Takashima, 8vo (7 1/8 x 10 in - 18 x 25.7 cm), 32 (Vol I) + 66 (Vol II) black and white collotypes on crepe paper, bound Japanese style and silk thread ties. This set contains a total of 98 plates. Each plate has a title and generally a paragraph of descriptive information written by S. Takashima. While the image areas vary slightly, the norm is 6~7 x 4 1/2~5 in. This is one in a series of photographic album type books under this same title published by K. Ogawa. The four books with the same title, each containing 12 color collotype plates, are seen much more frequently than this set. The two books in this set have a volume number printed on the cover. This is not the case with the four 12 plate books.
Volume 1 is in the vertical format. It consists of front and back covers (2 double fold pages). A title page and preface (1 double fold page) and 16 double fold pages containing a total of 32 plates/images. Covers included, the book is comprised of 19 double fold pages. The title page lists Kelly & Walsh as the sole agents and gives the date of 1896.
Volume 2 is in the horizontal format. It consists of front and back covers (2 double fold pages). There is no title page or preface. There are 33 double fold pages with 66 plates/images. The volume has a colophon inside the back cover. Covers included, the book is comprised of 35 double fold pages.
In the preface to Vol. I, K. Ogawa states:
I have to acknowledge my indebtedness to Messrs. Tamamura and S. Kajima, as well as Prof Burton, for several of the plates in this volume.
Several of the plates have the comment "see page xxx." The pages in these two volumes are not numbered. Further, when you count the pages and go to the page that would carry the referenced number, there appears to be no relation between the images. I suspect the references were valid in a previous version of the book and left on the plates in error.
I find very little information on the various Illustrations of Japanese Life books that Ogawa published. The four different versions each containing 12 hand colored collotype plates are, in my experience, most frequently seen on the market. For more information on those books, click here.
The following entries are found in the Wenckstern bibliography.
Illustrations of Japanese life, 100 collotype plates with short description in English by S. Takashima, folio, 1896 (yen 20.--).
-- Another edition in 2 vols. on crepe paper, large 8vo., 1898 (yen 7.--).
-- A third edition in one volume, no date (yen 1.20).
It appears to me that this is the two volume set Wenckstern references. However, the date is 1896 rather than 1898. The 100 collotype plate book noted first is folio size and these volumes are 8vo. I have seen a 100 collotype plate book reported with color plates on plain paper and that is probably the first book noted by Wenckstern. I have not seen a book that fits third reference noted by Wenckstern.
Wenckstern, Bibliography of the Japanese Empire - 1894-1906
There are two versions of this set. In addition to this 98 collotype plate version, there is a 96 collotype plate version. For information on the distiguishing characteristics, see below.
Vol. I Open to Plates
For information on Kazumasa Ogawa, click here.
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Title Page (Only in Vol. I)
Preface (Only in Vol. I)
Illustrations.
Vol I.
Venturing Out in the Rain
The Cherry [woman with a parasol under cherry trees]
The "Miko" Vestal Virgin
The "Shiohi" Fishing on the Dry Bed
[women holding fish in baskets]
A Courtesan in Full Costume (see page 85)
The Ainu Couple
"Senju Kannon," (A Thousand Handed Goddess of Mercy)
The "Dai Kagura"
A Blind Street Musician
The "Kamishimo" (The Ancient Ceremonial Dress)
Hear Dressing
Backyard of a Tea House
Japanese Maiden
The "Go-Ineyo." (Retired Gentleman)
Buddhist Priests Conspicuous
Shinto Priest at Prayer
A Walk on a Snowy Day
A Carrier
"Sayonara!" (Good-Bye)
An Accident
Maidens
The "Suwari Odori" (A Dancing)
Letter Writing
Morning Toilet
The "Amma" (Shampooer)
The "Geisha" (Singing Girl) [the Laughing Geisha]
Wrestling Match
The Ainus at Dinner
Examining Warps [2 women weaving]
Reeling the Silk from the Cocoons
Japanese Babies (see page 99)
A Damsel (see page 46)
32 plates, 32 images 16 double fold pages
Vol. II.
"Hanami" (Flower Pic-Nic)
Farmers Starting for the Fields
Scene on the Sumida River
Entertaining a Guest
Rice Planting
Farmers in the Rice Swamp (see page 41)
Mamma (see page 99)
The Geishas Holding a Letter (see page 1) [number not clear]
The "Hatsuni" (The First Stock of New Year's Goods)
Children at Meals
A "Matsuri" (Temple Festival)
The "Jinriksha" Riding on a Rainy Day (see page 18)
Maple Garden at Takinogawa
A miniature Garden of a Tea House
Basket Peddler
The "Ameya" (Taffy Puller)
Porcelain Ware Shop
The "Kumamonoya" (Fancy Goods Dealer)
Carpenters at Work
An Ox Cart
Summer Evening on the Shijo River
The "Koto" Playing
The "Kakubeshishi" [Child acrobats]
Fencing
Mendicant Friars
The "Shiomi" (Fishing on the Dry Bed) (see page 12)
Picking Tea
An Afternoon Company
Buddhist Priest at Prayer
The Art of Floral Arrangement
Sewing
Mother and Her Baby
Courtesans
A Curio Dealer's Shop
Cloth Dealer's Shop
Marriage Ceremony
"Odori" Dancing
Orchestra (see page 76) Koto, Violin, Samisen
The "Samisen" (Banjo)
A Play
The Orchestra (see also page 87)
Dancing (see page 63)
Working Men's Holiday
The "Chanoyu" Ceremony
Game of the "Go"
Wrestling Match (Sumo)
Reeling Threads
A Well
Silk Worm Raising
Silk Worms on a Card (see page 33)
The Cotton Spinning Wheel
Loom
A Florist
Farmers in a Yard
A Vegetable Dealer
The Japanese Cullinary Art
Vestal Virgins at the Kasuga Temple, Nara
A Sleep
The "Jinrinksisha"
The "Kago" (The Palanquin)
A Cup of Tea for the Company
Family at Dinner
"Hakimono" (Clogs)
Greetings (see also page 10)
Green Grocer's Shop
Vegetable Dealer's Shop (see page 83)
[Japanese colophon] Meiji 29 (1896)
Listing without pictures but with consecutive
numbers assigned (not numbered in books)
Vol I.
- Venturing Out in the Rain
- The Cherry [woman with a parasol under cherry trees]
- The "Miko" Vestal Virgin
- The "Shiohi" Fishing on the Dry Bed [women holding fish in baskets]
- A Courtesan in Full Costume (see page 85)
- The Ainu Couple
- "Senju Kannon," (A Thousand Handed Goddess of Mercy)
- The "Dai Kagura"
- A Blind Street Musician
- The "Kamishimo" (The Ancient Ceremonial Dress)
- Hear Dressing
- Backyard of a Tea House
- Japanese Maiden
- The "Go-Ineyo." (Retired Gentleman)
- Buddhist Priests Conspicuous
- Shinto Priest at Prayer
- A Walk on a Snowy Day
- A Carrier
- "Sayonara!" (Good-Bye)
- An Accident
- Maidens
- The "Suwari Odori" (A Dancing)
- Letter Writing
- Morning Toilet
- The "Amma" (Shampooer)
- The "Geisha" (Singing Girl) [the Laughing Geisha]
- Wrestling Match
- The Ainus at Dinner
- Examining Warps [2 women weaving]
- Reeling the Silk from the Cocoons
- Japanese Babies (see page 99)
- A Damsel (see page 46)
Vol II.
- "Hanami" (Flower Pic-Nic)
- Farmers Starting for the Fields
- Scene on the Sumida River
- Entertaining a Guest
- Rice Planting
- Farmers in the Rice Swamp (see page 41)
- Mamma (see page 99)
- The Geishas Holding a Letter (see page 1) [number not clear]
- The "Hatsuni" (The First Stock of New Year's Goods)
- Children at Meals
- A "Matsuri" (Temple Festival)
- The "Jinriksha" Riding on a Rainy Day (see page 18)
- Maple Garden at Takinogawa
- A miniature Garden of a Tea House
- Basket Peddler
- The "Ameya" (Taffy Puller)
- Porcelain Ware Shop
- The "Kumamonoya" (Fancy Goods Dealer)
- Carpenters at Work
- An Ox Cart
- Summer Evening on the Shijo River
- The "Koto" Playing
- The "Kakubeshishi" [Child acrobats]
- Fencing
- Mendicant Friars
- The "Shiomi" (Fishing on the Dry Bed) (see page 12)
- Picking Tea
- An Afternoon Company
- Buddhist Priest at Prayer
- The Art of Floral Arrangement
- Sewing
- Mother and Her Baby
- Courtesans
- A Curio Dealer's Shop
- Cloth Dealer's Shop
- Marriage Ceremony
- "Odori" Dancing
- Orchestra (see page 76) Koto, Violin, Samisen
- The "Samisen" (Banjo)
- A Play
- The Orchestra (see also page 87)
- Dancing (see page 63)
- Working Men's Holiday
- The "Chanoyu" Ceremony
- Game of the "Go"
- Wrestling Match (Sumo)
- Reeling Threads
- A Well
- Silk Worm Raising
- Silk Worms on a Card (see page 33)
- The Cotton Spinning Wheel
- Loom
- A Florist
- Farmers in a Yard
- A Vegetable Dealer
- The Japanese Cullinary Art
- Vestal Virgins at the Kasuga Temple, Nara
- A Sleep
- The "Jinrinksisha"
- The "Kago" (The Palanquin)
- A Cup of Tea for the Company
- Family at Dinner
- "Hakimono" (Clogs).
- Greetings (see also page 10)
- Green Grocer's Shop
- Vegetable Dealer's Shop (see page 83)
Covers. Identical covers with the same basic design. "Vol I" and "Vol II" numbers are incorporated into the image on the front covers of the 98 version but not on the 96. The decorative silk on the spine cover of the 98 covers only approximately 1 inch at the top and bottom. On the 96 version, it covers the entire spine.
Size and Format. Both sets are approximately the same size - 8vo (7 1/8~1/2 x 10 in - 18~18.8 x 25.7 cm).
Title Page: On the first volume of the 98, the date is 1896 and the Kelly & Walsh imprint is present along with K. Ogawa. On the 96 there is no date and only K. Ogawa appears.
Collotype Plates: The majority of the plates in the 98 and 96 are identical. However, the sequence is different and they may even appear in different volumes. The 98 plate version has 8 plates that are not in the 96 version. The 96 plate version has 6 plates not found in the 98 plate version.
Colophons: The 98 plate version has a colophon (Japanese language) only at the rear of volume II. The 96 plate version has the same colophon at the rear of both volumes.
References: In the 98 plate version several of the plate have "see plate xx" type notations in the title. This does not occur in the 96 plate version.
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