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