Author: Moustaches.
Title: [Shogaku Nyumon : kyoju etoki].
Description: Tokyo, Kodama Yashichi 1877 (Meiji 10). 18x12cm publisher's colour woodcut front wrapper, illustrated throughout. A revolting copy. ¶ A universal truth in all times and all cultures: give someone young - or young at heart - a picture of a face, an implement, a spare moment, and they will draw a moustache on that face.There are quite a few versions of Shogaku Nyumon - elementary school texts - under different titles, varying in subject, charm, interest and form. This one, called the professor's illustrated guide, is rare and would be charming ... if. I've taken the publication details from the single opac entry I could find, not from the rag of colophon at the end of the book. Note that our artist has also added the other touch essential once they were invented: spectacles on the swinging boy in the background.

Keywords: social sciences history colour theory c19th Japan education children juvenile progess science meiji art moustache