Fireworks. - {Karei no Den].

n.p. n.d. (early to mid c19th?). Manuscript 8x17cm original wrapper; 28 double page leaves (plus a few blanks) in ink with several illustrations (a couple with added red). ¶ The title here - which might translate as Methods of the Fire Spirit - heads the preface. A pyrotechnist's working book. There are almost no published manuals of Japanese fireworks before the 20th century. Risho published a small book in 1825 and that is properly rare. Such information was occult knowledge, circulated in manuscript and passed from master to apprentice. I can't claim expertise but having seen a few 18th and 19th century fireworks manuscripts I am yet to see a second copy of any. It makes sense that every maker had their own method and styles and most every manuscript was peculiar to that. This one is a cut above average, it's carefully written and skilfully illustrated.

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