DIETER SCHIERENBERG BV

Willemoes-Suhm’s copy bought by him shortly
before his death at sea
41. Nakamura, Teksisei
Kumno Zui Taisei Kyûkôdô. Kyoto (1789). Illustrated encyclopedia
for young people. 21 parts in 10 (all publ.). 8vo. Text in Japanese
with 150 wood-engravings. Original blue stiff stitched paper
wrappers. Contained in a nice recent drop back box with copied
illustrations from the book. $ 3900
= A nice example of an early Japanese encyclopedia, first published in 1666, with
about 1,500 identifyable subjects, including the human body, agriculture, hunting,
fishing, quadrupeds, birds, fishes, snakes, shells, insects, vegetables, fruits, trees,
herbs and flowers. In fact, the vast majority is on natural history subjects. The wood
engravings are of a great artistic quality and very well-preserved. Formerly owned by
Rudolph von Willemoes-Suhm (1847-1875) who wrote an English translation of the
title and some more notes in German, dated Osaka, Mai 1875 on the front wrapper of
part one. Willemoes-Suhm was one of the scientists on board the famous Challenger
Expedition (1873-1876). He died of Erysipelas about 4 months after his visit to Osaka
when the Challenger was sailing from Hawaii to Tahiti and he was buried at sea.