Title: Bunrin gafu, 1883. Volumes 2-4, 6, 9, 10, 11-17
Artist: Sano Motoyasu
Condition: Good
An extremely scarce partial first edition set of Motoyasu’s Bunrin Gafu, a multi-volume, woodblock-printed picture book series, also known as the Multiple Designs Picture Album. Motoyasu’s drawing style was influenced by a Chinese painting style practiced largely by amateur artists, with the sole intent of revealing a subject’s spirit, rather than its form. In other words, revealing the true shape and colors.
Every page contains a full-page woodblock illustration. Volumes 2-4,6,9, and 10 contain illustrations of plants and landscapes, volumes 11-16 contain illustrations of various flora and animals, from birds to insects to mammals. Volume 17 contains illustrations of various furniture and other objects.
Worldcat records only two existing copies of this edition in libraries.
This partial set comes complete with its original slipcase.
13 volumes in 32mo, 20, 20, 20, 20, 20, 22, 20, 20, 20, 20, 20, 20, 20(?) leaves
On note of condition, these volumes are in good shape, with minor rubbing and wear to the binding, with worming to the upper margins of volumes 4, 10, and 14, with very light worming to the upper margin of volume 16. Some of the washi leaves have split. There is staining and wrinkling throughout.