Author: Sarah S. Cornell & Toriyama Hiraku.
Title: [Tennen Chirigaku]
Description: Tokyo &c, Shoyusha 2533 (ie 1873 or Meiji 6). Three volumes, 22x15cm publisher' wrappers with title labels (marked). Coloured illustrations, maps and diagrams. Smudges and minor signs of use; rather good, specially for a school book. ¶ Cornell's Primary Geography was printed in English for Japanese schools in 1866 - one of the first western school books in the country. I'm not sure which of her books has been translated here and I doubt it matters much. I guess they did their job: to mislead children, bore them, and induce a dislike of geography. The Japanese versions are nicer to look at than the blobby grey American originals.

Keywords: social sciences education geography schools c19th Japan Asia America maps children juvenile