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1870s JAPAN Photo, History Travel book, BOY OF OLD JAPAN by Van Bergen

1870s JAPAN Photo, History Travel book, BOY OF OLD JAPAN by Van Bergen

Description

Wrap this up in red tissue paper and you have a great holiday, birthday, or Valentine's gift. Please click on 1st image to zoom in on colorplate of a man in Samurai attire....

Super rare antique photographic colorplates and travel journalism book that tells the true story of the dramatic and spellbinding world of 1870s Japan. Penned by R Van Bergen who witnessed Japan’s intense political revolution that would metamorphose the people into a great Empire, and the author documents historic events he saw first-hand, letting readers into his world so you learn about the emperors, princesses, samurais, “the battles, the plotting, the friendships the hatred.”

Like an expert journalist the author became acquainted with many Japanese revolutionaries and gives an inside account of the land’s historical figures while at the same time this reads like a fascinating travel book, describing the cities, the castles and oh so much more. This book is so rare that you may never see it for sale in your antiquarian bookshop and if you do it may cost much more than this edition that I am able to make affordable since this is a library bound edition, published the same year as the first edition in 1901.

In the preface, the author states:
I have known… the men, whose story I have endeavored to tell. They are now honored under the simple name of Genrô,—statesmen of Revolutionary Times. Of the brilliant array of patriots whose names appear in these pages, only Ito, Inouye, and OKuma remain…..(This is) a true story of devotion, sacrifice, and self-restraint. …..All the characters as portrayed in these pages, were living actors in the great national drama. Of those whose names have never before appeared in print, Karassu Maru, the only impulsive noble I have ever known, was the first imperial governor of Yedo. He died in August, 1872, and I attended his funeral. Honami came to Yedo with the emperor, but he was soon sent back to Kyoto, where he was placed under guardianship….”

Title: “BOY OF OLD JAPAN: The Story of Japan, The Story of China, Heroic Japan, Etc., Etc.”
Published in 1901 by Lee & Shepard in Boston. Text written in English.
Includes 8 antique photographic colorplates and author’s notes in back of book, showing how to pronounce many of the words.
Hefty book of 246 pages , 8 photographic colorplates
Measures 4 3/4 x 7 1/4.

Hardcover with gold-gilt text and a red Japanese symbol on spine. Front and back covers are solid black. Library code stamps on spine as well. No dust jacket and cover is in very good condition with only minor wears on corners and edges.

Once owned by a library so has library stamps/marks on endpapers, copyright and title pages. Dedication page at front is taped on blank side. Book still very tightly bound. Only flaws found on the story/picture pages are a few minor end-of-page small tears that occur when people turn the pages too quickly- no big deal.

Paper may have tanned (just very slightly with age but is still clear and feels smooth, strong and thick like cardstock. The only issue I see is for this first image shown here of the man in Samurai attire -- along the spine where this colorplate page is bound, it has developed a crease just from the natural opening and closing of the book. The crease runs up and down and because it's at the along the edge of photo, it doesen't take away from enjoyment of it, but I mention this because the crease is wearing in, starting to look like it might someday crack apart --not now but it has that issue that may not or may occur someday. Even if it happened the image would still be great in book and frameable. So I'm being nitpicky because it's not mint but it's a GREAT book that makes a very unique and different gift someone will always remember you by.

SHIPPING: In USA to be shipped Media Mail that during busy times like holidays make take 7-10 days so if you need faster, 2-3 day Priority, inform me before or upon purchase & please wait my response - it'll be a few bucks more.
Via USA and Canada- registered mail, any other INTERNATIONAL country to ship at is fine as long as they'd be open to a major shipper with a tracking system like FedX.

Not for children 12 and under. For older teens and adults -thanks, http://JoyandWhimsy.etsy.com

Added on Sep 21, 2009