(JAPANESE PRINT BOOK -- MEIJA ERA)

1905. Paperback. This unusual text is a middle school textbook for plants, and was created, according to our Japanese linguist, in the 38th year of the reign of Emperor Meija (1852-1912), who ruled from 1867 until his death -- which dates it to 1905. Laid into a small 4to portfolio (paper over heavy card stock with paper label), it is published accordion style, which unfolded measures over 15 feet in length. Very good/very good. The portfolio is age toned, rubbed and lightly soiled and has a restored hinge; the text block itself has small paper loss to the sole text page (expertly restored) and archival strengthening of some of the accordion folds (versos only). Fascinating and lovely, if cryptic, this Japanese production apparently includes some Chinese characters identifying the drawings (which include marijuana) and naming the Japanese artists. A prologue in Japanese identifies it as a middle school text for identifying plants. As our knowledge of the Japanese and Chinese languages is, shall we say, extremely limited -- okay, nonexistent -- our bibliographical details are accordingly scanty. What we do know is that the watercolors are superb renderings accomplished entirely in shades of grey with only a couple of highlights in the palest of pink and green -- stark and simple, with no background. There are striking, delicate closeups of a variety of exotic-looking plants and flowers (one with butterfly hovering nearby) and a single dramatic landscape showing a snow-capped mountain, each of these twelve scenes occupying a two-page (13" X 9½") spread. Each watercolor has a small, round 5/8ths diameter rubberstamp the text of which we have not identified. A beautiful thing that must be seen to be appreciated.