Kyokutei Bakin. [sometimes called Takizawa Bakin]. Yoshitoshi. - [Muso byoe kocho monogatari - A Dreamer's Butterfly Tale].

Tokyo, Haishi Shuppansha 1882 [Meiji 15]. Two volumes 225x155mm, publisher's embossed yellow wrappers; a half-page, ten double page and five full page woodcut illustrations by Yoshitoshi. A tiny bit of nibbling to a couple of page edges, a good fresh copy. ¶ Bakin's imaginary voyage fantasia was first published in 1809-10 and this is, I deduce, the second edition, revised or corrected from Bakin's own copy of the first edition; the first with Yoshitoshi's illustrations. Further editions followed thick and fast but apart from a partial translation in The Chrysanthemum (Yokohama 1882) I can't find an English version exists - particularly frustrating as Yoshitoshi's illustrations are magnetic. The surreal and grotesque are always hard to resist - and Yoshitoshi was a master among masters. I don't think I've ever seen a better illustration, a better description, of the world of an opium smoker. The best account of the book I've found is in a 1909 letter from Minakata Kumagusu to the publisher Gowans & Gray who had approached him for a translation of a Bakin work of his choice. He chose this, "the only book that ever took me out of bed 30 minutes sooner than I wished to get up", and described it as something like Gulliver's Travels in which a man, decided there is nothing more to learn in his own land, determines to travel the world. He is told the means - a kite - in a vision and sets off to explore the lands of Infancy, Lust (high, medium and low grades), Drunkenness, Greed, Trouble, Sorrows, Falsehood and Happiness. Unfortunately Gowan & Gray wouldn't spring for Kumagusu's fee and that was the end of that. At least we have Yoshitoshi.

See/Hide Conditions of Sale

Following conditions of sale apply:
Terms of Sale

Prices are in Australian dollars, post extra. Payment can be made by cheque, Mastercard or Visa. Cheques in other currencies must be at the agreed rate of exchange with $20 added for bank charges. All books are guaranteed against any disappointment. All books in original cloth or boards unless otherwise stated, likewise all books can be assumed to be original printings unless otherwise stated. Unless otherwise described all books can be assumed to be in good (in the proper sense) condition.