Edo Kiriezu. Set of 31 maps of Tokyo.
by TOMATSU Masanori, KAGEYAMA Muneyasu, et al
- Used
- Condition
- See description
- Seller
-
New York, New York, United States
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
1850. WITH AN UNRECORDED 31st MAP TOMATSU Masanori, Muneyasu KAGEYAMA et al. Edo Kiriezu. A complete set of 31 Coloured Woodblock Maps of Tokyo. 12mo, 165 x 90 folded, 490 x 535 unfolded, each bound in original pale blue wrappers, preserved in a contemporary wooden box. Edo: Owariya Seishichi, 1852-1864. A very special set of these Tokyo maps consisting of a mix of the first and revised editions, but containing an unrecorded 31st part. This part covered the Hacchobori district which was composed of the security administration; police, judge, defense, sheriff, etc. This colourful series of late Edo period maps depicts Tokyo's wards and the buildings, temples, shrines, gardens and residences therein. These maps represent not only a fine example of woodblock printing, but also remain an indispensable source of information on the architecture of Tokagawa Edo. Each map includes a legend delineating geographical and architectural elements by colour and shape: roads and bridges (yellow), rivers, lakes and ocean (blue), shrines and temples (red), fields and hills (green), and merchant houses or machiya (grey). Lesser noble residences are indicated by a black circle, higher ranking residences with a black square. Residences of even higher distinction are marked with the families' mon, or crest. Remarkably, nearly all residences also include the name of the inhabitant's family. The most important structures are illustrated with rough, yet charming depictions of the actual buildings, often surrounded by images of trees and gardens. Some of these structures include: The Hie Shrine (lost to bombing in the Second World War); Kanei-ji Temple, burial sight of 6 Tokagawa Shoguns; Senso-ji Temple, the oldest temple in Tokyo; Hamagoten Garden, the villa of the Tokugawa family, and many others. We can identify three creators of the maps: Muneyasu Kageyama, Masanori Tamatsu, and Yoshitomo Iyama. Each map was first published by Owariya, Seishichi, between 1849-1855, and some were subsequently reprinted. It has been generally considered that the entire series consisted of 30 maps as identified in Kerlen as well as a set digitized by the University of British Columbia, however most institutional holdings list only the odd map, thus complete runs of the series are extremely rare, and our 31st map in unrecorded. Our group remains in remarkably fine, bright condition and in a contemporary box. A complete list of each map's creator, title, size and publication date, is available upon request. Kerlen, Catalogue of Pre-Meiji Japanese Books and Maps in Public Collections in the Netherlands 221 (citing 30 maps).
Reviews
(Log in or Create an Account first!)
Details
- Bookseller
- Ursus Books (US)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 171513
- Title
- Edo Kiriezu. Set of 31 maps of Tokyo.
- Author
- TOMATSU Masanori, KAGEYAMA Muneyasu, et al
- Book Condition
- Used
- Date Published
- 1850
Terms of Sale
Ursus Books
30 day return guarantee, with full refund including shipping costs for up to 30 days after delivery if an item arrives misdescribed or damaged.
About the Seller
Ursus Books
Biblio member since 2007
New York, New York
About Ursus Books
Ursus Rare Books is renowned throughout the rare book world for handling outstanding copies of important rare books. Our inventory ranges from early printed books to modern livres d'artistes. Our particular strength is in illustrated books of all periods; from the 15th to 21st centuries. We also carry fine copies of literature in all languages, art and architecture, natural history, voyages and travels, landscape gardening and fine bindings. Ursus is dedicated to developing long term relationships with clients in helping them to form first class collections.
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- 12mo
- A duodecimo is a book approximately 7 by 4.5 inches in size, or similar in size to a contemporary mass market paperback. Also...
- Fine
- A book in fine condition exhibits no flaws. A fine condition book closely approaches As New condition, but may lack the...
- Wrappers
- The paper covering on the outside of a paperback. Also see the entry for pictorial wraps, color illustrated coverings for...