The Russo-Japanese War, Fully Illustrated, I - X. [TEN VOLUMES]. by (Jikemura, Wasuke; Kinkodo and Maruya)

Tokyo, Kinkodo and Maruya, 1904-05.. Hardcover. .. Ten volumes bound in three. Complete. Crown quarto, paginated consecutively. Pp. 1418. With fine chromolithograph frontispiece to each of the 10 volumes. Plus over 60 other fine (chromo)lithograph plates, two of which are double-page, all printed on thick paper and protected with tissue guards. Plus five exceptionally fine collotype plates printed on thick paper and protected with tissue-guards. Plus around 180 photo plates, some tinted, one fold-out, all printed on different paper. Plus folding lithograph- or letterpress maps, sketch-maps and naval charts, mostly folding, some large, some in colour, bound- or tipped-in, all present as called for. Profusely illustrated throughout with over 1,300 photo- and line-drawn illustrations, portraits, views, maps, etc. Illustrated initials; illustrated head-piece to each volume. Title-page and contents list to each volume, original pictorial wrappers present in part; old expert repair to marginal tear of one text leaf. Hardcover, uniformly bound in contemporary mahogany half calf and red pebble-grain boards, spines with raised band between compartments, direct gilt lettering with title and individual volume number, marbled endpapers, marbled edges, bit rubbed at places, minor blemishes; one volume with cracked hinges. In fine condition. Handsome set, very fine interior, crisp plates. ~ First edition. Fully collated. With an introduction by Wasuke Jikemura. A most remarkable production, scarce in its entirety. Published between 1904 and 1905 by Kinkodo Publishing Corporation of Tokyo, this publication in ten volumes reached subscribers in Germany, Netherlands, India, South Africa, England, France, China, United States, and Australia; a small number of copies, however, did survive. The scope and concept were unique. Combining news, war records, reports, stories, commentaries, and official documents together with historical background, manners and customs of the Japanese people, the Imperial family, daily life, religion, etc., it provides an unparalleled reflection of the period. The ten volumes are accompanied by an extraordinarily rich collection of visual material. It includes an extended portrait gallery of Imperial, military, and political personage; battle scenes; infantry, artillery, and naval operations; transportation; war aftermath; POW; medical corps and wounded evacuation; troops encampment; the winter campaign, etc., mixed with images of civil, daily life, weaving a fantastic tapestry of war and peace iconography. The splendid chromolithograph plates are an entrance for the eyes, and the inclusion of the fine collotype plates adds a touch of elegance to this visual celebration. B-6