Monograph of Plant-Dyeing Peculiar to Japan (Nippon Kusakiome-Fu).
Kanagawa: Getsumeikai, 1961. This book was originally published in 1933. The first edition is rare: OCLC lists two copies, at the Smithsonian and the Library of Congress. Of the present edition, it lists thirteen copies, largely in botanical libraries. With fifty mounted skeins of dyed silk showing the colors achieved with the dyes. Also with a full-page color woodblock of the "Ai no Zu" plant and a photograph showing the picking of benibana, plus an actual specimen of the akanegusa plant. There are sixty-five photographs of the plants used. The paper is specially processed heavy handmade nihonshi (two-layered washi). Preface and plant names in English, text in Japanese. A fine copy in black wrap-around cloth case. A fine copy of a scarce work. Hand-woven blue cloth over boards, the color achieved with the Ai dye. Gilt lettering in English and Japanese. 11 1/4 x 8." Item #15725
"This volume is printed in a limited edition of 500 as it is not practical or possible to produce more than that number of the hand-made paper, the sample skeins, cover material, hand-printed woodblock prints, specimens, etc. which make this volume a unique and extravagant publication."
Price: $1,750.00