YAMATO JIMBUTSU GAFU

1799. [EHON] Yamaguchi SO^KEN, artist. YAMATO JIMBUTSU GAFU. 3 vols., blue-grey covers string-bound fukuro-toji with printed paper title labels. So^ken (1759-1818) was one of O^kyo^'s most important students and his YAMATO JIMBUTSU GAFU is one of the early classics of the Shijo^ genre. Published in three volumes in 1799-1800, a second series of 3 volumes followed in 1804. Our copy of the first series has a preface dated Kansei 12 and a colophon dated Kansei 11, crediting Kawachiya Kihei, and Hishiya Magobei of Osaka and Kyoto. A final advertisement page credits the two booksellers from the colophon and adds 4 more, including one from Edo. The second series is advertised as appearing "in the future", so this is an early printing, as is borne out by the the good quality of the sumi printing. Very good condition. The title labels indicate that all three volumes are of the Ko^hen .... the second series, which they certainly are not. This is a lovely copy of the first series, not the second.. Our only guess is that the first series was set to be re-issued in 1804 to go along with the second series and the second series title labels were mistakenly applied to this first series set.. However a very nice copy overall. (Inventory #: 91251)