Fables choisies

Two parts in one volume, printed on hōsho paper and folded in the Japanese style

Two colour-illustrated covers, and 28 superb Japanese colour prints by Kano Motonobu, Kadjita Hanko. All text pages are illustrated with drawings in black.

A very fine artistic publication printed on pure Japanese rag paper with special Japanese folding. The Tokyo publisher is Kané-Mitsou Masao, the printer Shueisha, under the direction of Yamamoto Yeijiro.

Original publisher's binding in half black embossed leather with japanese motifs, illustrated boards depicting figures and animals in colours, long-grain red morocco lettering-piece on the upper board gilt-stamped and framed within a foliate border, patterned embossed paper endpapers and pastedowns.

The preface recalls the publisher's first publication, “Les Fables de La Fontaine,” and provides some details on the artists: Motonobu, is a representative of the Kanō school, founded by his celebrated ancestor, and Hanko, one of the leading figures of the realist school of Yosaï. “These illustrations actually represent scenes of Japanese life as well as if the author of these fables were Japanese himself". 

A superb copy in its original publisher's binding, in perfect condition.