Property from the Japan Society Library, London
Kitao Masayoshi (1764-1824) Shiba Kokan (1747-1818) Morishima Churyo (1754-1810) | A Miscellany on the Red-Hairs (Komo zatsuwa) | Edo period, 18th century
Lot Closed
November 4, 02:48 PM GMT
Estimate
1,500 - 2,000 GBP
Lot Details
Description
Property from the Japan Society Library, London
Kitao Masayoshi (1764-1824) (artist)
Shiba Kokan (1747-1818) (artist)
Morishima Churyo (1754-1810) (author and editor)
A Miscellany on the Red-Hairs (Komo zatsuwa)
Edo period, 18th century
woodblock printed book, 5 volumes (complete), preface by Otsuki Bansui (1757-1827), dated Tenmei 7 (1787), various publishers; binding: fukurotoji (pouch binding), pale blue covers embossed imitating Dutch leather; encased in a 20th century fitted blue linen board case with impressed gold leaf Japan Society Imperial chrysanthemum crest
Hanshi-bon: 22 x 15.8 cm.
William George Aston (1841-1911)
This book is an illustrated discussion of assorted things related to the Dutch, including appearance – covering wigs and clothing, the microscope, and things viewed through a lens, such as insects, flowers and seeds. As noted by The British Museum, Komo (red-haired) was the term used by the Japanese during the Isolation for describing Dutchmen, in the belief that, like demons, they all had red hair. See museum no. 1979,0305,0.140.3, go to:
https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/A_1979-0305-0-140-3
Morishima Churyo was born in Edo and was an author, poet and Dutch studies scholar. A complete set is in the collection of Waseda University Library, Tokyo and is fully illustrated online, go to:
https://www.wul.waseda.ac.jp/kotenseki/html/wo07/wo07_01526/index.html