Shugio, H. (editor)
Ogawa, K(azumasa) (photographs/collotypes)
Tamura, T. (color plates):
Japanese Art Folio, edited by H. Shugio, 1898 - 1899, issued in twelve monthly parts, folio (13 x 19 in), 73 pp. The page count noted (ie 73 pp) does not include 72 pages of tissue guards with descriptive text. The pages are not numbered although the individual plates are numbered consecutively in roman numerals on the descriptive tissue guards and in the contents page at the front of each part. This is folio of classic Japanese art reproduced on 73 plates photographed and collotyped by K. Ogawa. Twelve (12) of these plates are colored by T. Tamura. Each plate protected with tissue guard containing an explanation in Japanese and Engish. Sold in bound volume format as well as twelve monthly single issues on a subscription basis.

Published by K. Ogawa, No 13 Hiyoshicho, Shinbashi, Tokyo, Japan, Printed at the Tokyo Tsukiji Type Foundry. Note that at this time T. Hasegawa's (well know for the color woodblock crepe paper Japanese Fairy Tale books) address was just across the street at No 10 Hiyoshicho. I believe that H. Shugio was Hiromichi Shugio, a noted scholar, collector and dealer of Japanese art. < Preface Reads:

The present publication is undertaken to facilitate the study of Japanese art and to satisfy in a modest way the desire of many who cannot enjoy the privilege of seeing the originals.

It is the editor's intention to select the best examples of our acknowledged masters and to show as far as possible the most striking characteristics of all the artists.

Size - Folio size. All plates/pages are 12.5 x 18.5 in (32 x 47 cm). The bound volume is 12.8 x 18.75 in (32.5 x 47.6 cm).

Covers/Binding, All 12 Parts Bound Together. All 12 parts bound into a single book with decorated silk covered boards, paper paste on title label on front board and all edges gilt. While the bound volume has two string ties, they appear to be only decorative. This is the bound volume marketed by K. Ogawa and I have seen an indential bound volume listed by a bookseller.

Cover of Single Bound Volume (All 12 Parts)

Covers/Binding, Individually Published Parts 1-12. The individual parts are published in gray printed wraps. They covers are medium thickness paper wraps. Under the paper wraps the illustrations are tied together by three staples. The lettering on the front cover is in red or black. The same lettering is on the back cover but it is only in outline. The actual part number is not printed on the cover. The covers are very flimsy and tears along the spine are the norm. I have seen listing which indicate that each part was issued in a slipcase.

Cover from 12 Part Series

Title Page. All title pages have the following: Japanese Art Folio, Editor, H. Shugio, Photographed and Collotyped by K. Ogawa, F.R.P.S, Colored Plate by T. Tamura, Published by K. Ogawa, No 13 Hiyoshicho, Shinbashi, Tokyo, Japan, Printed at the Tokyo Tsukiji Type Foundry. Part VIII has the additional information: Sold by Kelly & Walsh, Limited, Yokohama, HongKong, Shanghai & Singapore. The bound volume only has a single title page and omits the reference to Kelly & Walsh.

Contents Page. Gives the Part number and lists the illustrations. The illustrations run in sequence from I-LXII (1-72). There are actually 73 pages of plates. The index lists XLV as one plate but there are actually two separate plates. The series of 12 parts contains 73 full page plates.

Tissue Guards. All plates are tissue guard protected. On the side of the tissue guard away from the plate, there is the full title of the art, the artist and the collection where the art is housed. After this there is a one paragraph about the artist, characteristics of their work and sometimes a comment on the particular work pictured.

Color Plates at front of each part. Each color plate is on thick stock paper. They appear to me to be hand colored collotypes although the process might be some form of mechanical process. I have seen the plates described as "wood-engravings in colors by Tamura." Image areas are generally 7 1/2 x 13 1/4 in - 19 x 33.7. The image is sunk in to the paper as is impressed by a die under heavy pressure. Colors are sharp and vivid. No lettering or titles have been added to the plates.

Paper Thickness. The color plates are on thick card stock (0.25 mm). The non-color collotype plates and descriptive letter press pages are printed on thin paper stock (0.05 mm). In the bound volume the 12 sections are each separated by a blank medium thickness (0.10 mm) card stock page. In summary, the color plates are approximately 5 times thicker than the non-color printed plates.

Black and White Collotypes. Each collotype plate is on thin rice type paper. It is protected by a tissue guard (same type of paper) which has the title of the picture and information regarding the artist and the art work. Behind the collotype on thin paper there is a thicker piece of blank paper for separation. When a collotype is on medium thickness paper, the blank page is not present. The last page in each part appears to be a colophon. Size of the image areas vary. The small image area would be 7 x 10 3/4 in - 18 x 27 cm. Some are much large and cover 80% of the page. No lettering or titles have been added to the plates.

Advertisement/Colophon. In Parts III, IV & VI-XII of the single issue parts there is an advertisement for the Japanese Art Folio. Rates are listed at 1.50 yen for a single copy, 8.10 yen for 6 months and 15.30 for 1 year. Delivery charges are set forth also. This page lists K. Ogawa, Publisher, 13, Hiyoshicho, Kiobashi, Tokio, Japan, Telephone Honkioku 1392. Part VI has a taped on correction to the Japanese text (colophon, I believe). These advertisements also contain a colophon for the particular issue. The bound volume contains only one similar advertisement and colophon (Meiji 34 - 1901) at the back of the volume.

Listed in Wenckstern. This set is listed in Volume 2 of the Wenckstern Bibliography of the Japanese Empire. The listing states:

Japanese Art Folio edited by H. Shugio. An Album of old paintings reproduced on 72 plates some photographed and collotyped by K. Ogawa, others coloured by T. Tamura. With explanations in Japanese and English for each plate, folio, Tokyo, no date [1898-91]. -- Issued in twelve monthly parts (yen 15.30) or elegantly bound in Japanese style (yen 35). (Wenckstern, Volume 2, at Page 274)

Cost When Issued. Using Wenckstern prices of 15.30 yen for twelve monthly parts and 35 yen for the finely bound consolidated set, below are my cost calculations based on 1901 yen prices.

Individual issues (12) - 15.30 yen = 11.37 grams of gold (ca .37 troy ounces).
Bound volume - 35 yen = 27 grams of gold (.87 troy ounces of gold).

The above yen to gold calculations are based on Historial Currency Converter here.

In 1901 the cost of gold in US dollars was $20.67 (see here). This would make the cost of the bound volume $17.98 ($20.67 x .87) + shipping. Shipping was extra and probably would have added an additional 1/3 to the above calculations. This was an expense item.

Bound Volume. A bound volume containing the 12 parts was published in 1901 (Meiji 34). This book has decorated silk covered boards with title label on front board, all edges gilt. Instead of the paper wraps found in the individual parts, each section is separated by a blank medium stock page. Weight.

• Bound Volume. Unpacked for shipping the bound volume weighs ca 7 1/2 pounds.
• Set of 12 Individual Parts. Unpacked for shipment and without slip cases, the complete set weighs 7 pounds.

Bound Volume vs Individual Parts. In my opinion the bound volume is much more desirable than the individual parts. The parts have flimsy wraps and they tend to deteriorate under normal use. They are often seen on the market described with significant faults. On the other hand, the bound volume is strong and subject to much less stress.

Part I.
Plate I -- A Female Figure by Shunsho
Plate II -- A Fancy Portrait of Laotsu, by Sesshiu
Plate III -- A Mountain Stream, by Motonobu
Plate IV -- A Fancy Portrait of Iima by Korin
Plate V -- Autumn Flowers by Hoitsu
Plate VI -- Morning Glories by Kiitsu


Part II.
Plate VII -- A woman on bench (colored wood engraving) by Choshun
Plate VIII -- Landscape, by Shokei (Keishoki)  
Plate IX -- A Bird and Lotus, by Sesson
Plate X -- A Hawk and Tree, by Yusho
Plate XI -- Landscape, by Tanyu 
Plate XII -- Love-birds under willow tree by Zeshin


Part III.
Plate XIII -- "Shidsuka" at dance by Ritsuo
Plate XIV -- Landscape by Yeitoku
Plate XV -- The "Goddess of Music" by Yukinobu
Plate XVI -- "Haha" bird by Kenzan
Plate XVII -- "Rinwasei" by Ganku
Plate XVIII -- The Poetess Murasaki Shikibu by Yosai


Part IV.
Plate XIX -- A Female Figure by Kaigetsudo
Plate XX -- Landscape by So-Ami
Plate XXI -- "Daruma" by Shiugetsu
Plate XXII  -- A White Heron by Giokuraku
Plate XXIII -- Chrysanthemums by Mitsuoki
Plate XXIV -- Flying Birds by Hokusai


Part V.
Plate XXV -- A Female Figure by Hokusai
Plate XXVI -- A Village Scene by Morikage
Plate XXVII -- Li Tapeh at Waterfall by Naonobu
Plate XXVIII -- Meeting on the bridge by Shohaku
Plate XXIX -- Lotus and Bird by Tsunenobu
Plate XXX -- Landscapes by Gukei


Part VI.
Plate XXXI -- A Female Figure by Kiyonobu
Plate XXXII -- Landscape by Shiubun
Plate XXXIII -- Sennin by Sansetsu
Plate XXXIV -- A Bird on tree by Buncho
Plate XXXV -- Ducks and Reeds by Keibun
Plate XXXVI -- Daruma by Raisho


Part VII.
Plate XXXVII -- A Female Figure by Yeishi
Plate XXXVIII -- Old Priest on Ox-back by So-ami
Plate XXXIX -- The Nirvana of Sakyamuni by Matahei of Otsu
Plate XXXX -- Fowls and Bamboo by Shiko
Plate XXXXI -- Tiger by Okio
Plate XXXXII -- Old Monkey by Rosettsu


Part VIII.
Plate XLIII -- Beauties at play by Tsunemasa
Plate XLIV -- Landscape by Nara Hogan 
Plate XLV -- Ducks and Birds by Sanraku (2 different plates)
Plate XLVI -- Chrysanthemums by Unkoku Toji
Plate XLVII -- The Fuji by Tsunenobu
Plate XLVIII -- The Old Man by Gessen


Part IX.
Plate XLIX -- Beauties by Koryusai
Plate L -- Landscape, by Cho-densu
Plate LI -- Priest Bukan ridingon a tiger by Priest Kao
Plate LII -- Dharma by Masanobu
Plate LIII -- Landscape by Senka
Plate LIV -- Hawk by Tomikage


Part X.
Plate LV -- Beauties by Masanobu
Plate LVI -- Sparrows on an old tree by Sotan
Plate LVII -- Landscape by Sesshu
Plate LVIII -- A man on horse back by Itcho
Plate LIX -- A female figure by Genki
Plate LX -- Musa Basjoo by Chinzan


Part XI.
Plate LXI -- A Female Figure by Hokusai
Plate LXII -- Squirrels and Grapes by Noami
Plate LXIII -- Sparrows in Snow by Morikage
Plate LXIV -- Wild Ducks by Buson
Plate LXV -- Fuji-Musume and Oni-noNenbutsu by Hokuba
Plate LXVI -- Waterfall by Baiitsu


Part XII.
Plate LXVII -- A Beauty Dancing by Shunman
Plate LXVIII -- A Heron and Plum tree by Sesson
Plate LXIX -- Chrysanthemums and Chestnuts by Itcho
Plate LXX -- Puppies by Okyo
Plate LXXI -- Orchid and Rock by Chikuden
Plate LXXII -- Landscape by Tannyu

Colophon, Part I

Indicates Part I was Printed and Distributed
May of Meiji 31 (1898)

 
Wenckstern, Fr. Von
A Bibliography of the Japanese Empire: Being a Classified List of All Books, Essays and Maps in European Languages Relating to Dai Nihon (Great Japan) Published in Europe, America and in the East comprising the literature for 1894 to the middle of 1906, Volume II, 1907, Maruzen Kabushiki Kaisha (Z.P. Maruya & Co, LTD.), Tokyo, Osaka & Kyoto. On-line here.