Condition. Both volumes are in Good condition. Internally they are clean and free of faults such as foxing, toning and staining. The covers have scraped and bumped areas. The top ribbon tie on each volume is broken or missing. The thin spine covering is missing or only partially present. All 20 plates are sound and in Fine condition.

 
Tajima, Shiichi (Introduction):
Bijutsu Shuyei or Selected Masterpieces of the Old Painting, Sculpture, and Industrial Art of the Far East (2 volumes of a 25 volume set), The Shimbi Shoin, Tokyo (13 Shinsakana-cho, Kyobashi-ku), 1910-1911, issued in installments, folio (19 1/4 x 13 1/2 in - 49 x 34.2 cm), bound Japanese style, crepe type paper over cardboard wraps, ribbon ties, 2 color woodblock prints tipped to plate and 8 black and white collotype plates in each volume. Each volume has a listing of plates. Each plate is preceded by a tissue guard with descriptive information regarding the plate.

The covers are uniform in color (very light blue) but each has a different subtle white design on the front cover. The cover for volume 1 has the title in Japanese and English. The cover for volume 2 has the title in Japanese only.

The introduction found in volume one indicates this set was a supplement to Toyo Bijutsu Taikwan, Masterpieces selected from the Fine Arts of the Far East, a 15 volume set published 1909 through 1910. This supplemental series was a 25 volume set each containing 10 (2 color and 8 black and white collotypes).

These 2 volumes are discussed on this page:

• #1 - 1911, Meiji 44 (English language)
• #2 - 1910, Meiji 43 (Japanese & English language)

 
Volume by Volume Information

 
Volume #1 - 1911, Meiji 43 (English)

 
Plates

1*      Summer Landscape in a Storm by Tai Bunshin
        
        Descriptive Tissue Guard
 
2 & 3   Landscape by Shubun

4       Landscape by Sesso Toyo
         

5       Landscape by Shekel

6 & 7   The Seven Wise Men in the Bamboo Grove by Kuzumi Morikage

8       Landscape in Autumn by Yosa Buson.

9*      Pine-trees on the Beach by Maruyama Okyo
        

10      Golden Pheasants in the Ravine by Nakabayashi Chikuto
        

Colophon
        

Volume 2, 1910 (Meiji 43), Japanese & English language

Title Page
       

Plates

1*     Woven brocade picture of grape-vines (Imperial Treasure, Nara)
       
       Descriptive Tissue Guard

2      A Buddha and two Bodhisattvas embossed on a blue stone-tile

3      Three Clay images

4      A solitary cottage under a pine-tree by Chang Yuan.
       

5      Nichiren in his exile by Hogen Kwaii

6      A pair of sparrows

7      Landscape by Wang Chien

8      Picture roll of the life of Tokugawa Iyeyasu by Sumiyoshi Nyokei

9*     Flowers by Ogata Korin
       

10     Magpies on a  plum-tree by Shiba Kokan 
       

Colophon
       

* Color Woodblocks tipped to plate