Description:
First three volumes (of 4) of this rare botanical set. 150 colour woodcut botanicals printed by hand on hand-made paper, bound in blue stitched wrappers with red labels.
A superb botanical and pharmacopoeia japonica, includes flowers and vegetables as well as plants of commerce. Plants include Japanese magnolia, peony, clematis, tiger lily, iris, camellia, hibiscus, water lily, bitter gourd, taro, musk melon, etc.
Index of the illustrated plants in Vols. 1 and 2 in Japanese kanji characters, katakana and romaji alphabets. Index in katakana only in Vol. 3. Katakana and romaji titles and Japanese descriptive text in most images.
Condition: Blue paper covers slightly worn, but interior fresh and vibrant. All botanicals fresh and vivid with strong lines and natural colours.
Bookplate of "Biblioteca Botanica Christian Hauer" in Vol. 1.
Bairei Kono (1844-1895) was a Japanese painter, book illustrator and art teacher famous for his botanicals and kacho-e (flower and bird) paintings.