Kokugi Kanko (Viewing the Highlights of the National Art) by Honinbo Jowa. Preface by Hiraiwa Akira - 1826

Offering: The first printing of Jowa's first book, a compilation of woodblock prints with captions illustrating 74 go games and 40 openings. The set is complete and exceptionally well preserved with Jowa's seal on the first page in each volume. Rarity: Rare. A worldwide catalog search finds four institution holdings, including the National Diet Library of Japan, Waseda University, and the Library of Congress. Condition: Good+. Woodblock Prints: sharp and bright with no insect damage or worming and no tears or chips. Pages: fresh and clean, except one sheet in Volume I with light margin stains outside print frame, some sheets in Volume III with tip creases, some sheets in Volume IV with a minute edge stain; rear blank of Volume III with large stain. / Wrappers: About Good, humidity cockling, substantial rubs, some edge wear and creases. / Title Slips: Vols. I and II: light soiling. Vols. III and IV: soiling, some edge wear. / Bindings: solid and reliable. For two volumes, cords need tightening. Pagination: Complete; 208 pages with 104 b/w woodblock printed sheets, 103 numbered: 101 one-sheet illustrations in the two facing pages format with top frame commentary on positions and lines of play and 3 sheets of separate text, the introduction and preface in vol. i, and the afterword in vol. iv. Format: Publisher's brown wrappers decorated with a blind printed go-ishi (go stones) pattern, sewn with 4-stab holes in the fukuro-toji style. Size: 260 x 188 mm. Edition Note: The preface is dated December 1825 and the publishing date is often reported as 1825 but the work was registered in the fall of 1826. The work was reissued in 1892 and 1906. Honinbo Jowa [1787-1847]: When the book was published, as a demonstration of the strength of Jowa's power game, Genjo was still head of Honinbo House. In 1827, (one year after publication), Genjo retired and Jowa became the 12th head of Honinbo House. He received 8th dan rank in January 1828. Jowa is known to have won 46 games against 6 losses and 5 draws in a golden era of go competition. He was esteemed by the leading players and commentators of his era as a player of remarkable strength and tactical profundity, (In the introduction, Akira calls him, "the crowning glory of the nation"), and was regarded in his own lifetime as a go sage, one of three to receive this accolade. Additional Images: by request.