Kod zuroku. Illustrated book on the smelting of copper. A facsimile edition of the original edition (ca. 1801) with English translation by Zenryu Shirakawa and preface by Bern Dibner. With color woodcuts by Niwa Motokuni T kei. Edited with an introductory essay by Cyril Stanley Smith. Presentation copy. Signed by Bern Dibner. Fine.
Publisher Information: Norwalk, Connecticut: Burndy Library, 1983.
[1] 96 [1] pp. (273 x 205 mm). Original printed wrappers. "For Dr. Eugene Bliss from Bern Dibner" signed in black pen on the ffep. Fine.
"Facsimile of the original book (ca. 1801), written by Masuda Tsuna (d. 1821), who describes himself as an employee of the Sumitomo clan of Osaka. Contains 22 full-page woodblock prints showing details of stages in the production of copper from the mine through smelting & de-silverization to casting of forms for the market, together with drawings of the various tools employed. Each illus. bears a short account of the operation depicted in it, written in Japanese using “hiragana” & Chinese characters. Then follow 12 pages of text in Chinese, which repeats with more detail the account of the operations, together with a short account of the Sumitomo family & its involvement in the copper industry. This edition is enhanced by an English translation by Zenryu Shiraikawa." (Dianepublishing.net. Acc. 19 Jan 2023).
Book Id: 50623Price: $30.00