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[JAPANESE FAIRY TALE SERIES] Kobunsha : JAPANESE FAIRY TALE SERIES

[JAPANESE FAIRY TALE SERIES] Kobunsha. THE FIRST 13 VOLUMES OF THE JAPANESE FAIRY TALE SERIES. This set of the series was published by the Hasegawa family when they were known as Kobunsha, working from an address in Minami Saegicho, Tokyo, their first address. The series began in 1885, printed on plain, uncreped paper and hence a bit larger than the creped versions, approximately 18.1 x 12.3 cm. The very first issues of the first few volumes had romanized Japanese language titles and no series volume number. Later volumes from the series had romanized titles first, as do several of the volumes from this set: NEDZUMI NO YOME-IRI (#6), KOBUTORI (#7), YAMATO NO OROCHI (#9) - MOMOTARO, URASHIMA and KACHIKACHI YAMA seem to be quite early appearances as they do not have "englished" titles as in later printings. Indeed, the first volume MOMOTARO, without any indication of a series number, is very early, indeed. The first illustration in THE CUB'S TRIUMPH (#12) is of a norimono with a moveable flap that, when lifted, reveals the fox cub within. All of these are early printings from the 1880s and very difficult to assemble as a set as such. They all have a bit of cover and content wear and some edgewear, as well. The plain-paper back cover of #4 is edge chipped and has been laid down. The collection is housed in a custom clamshell box.

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