AYAME-SAN , A JAPANESE ROMANCE OF THE 23RD YEAR OF MEIJI (1890) by Murdoch, James by Murdoch, James

Walter Scott. Very Good. 310, 2 (errata)pp. No date other than the one given in the title. 1890. 8vo. Original publisher's quarter cloth over paper-covered boards with 2 silk ties. The cloth to the spine (now a little dust-soiled) may well be silk too. No inscriptions. Photographs after W.K. Burton reproduced by K. Ogawa's photo-mechanical process. 'So far as I am aware this is the first book that has been illustrated with true half-tone photomechanical reproductions printed with the latter press'. Green ribbon page-divider present and still attached at the head but with some fading to the head. Some age toning, dust soiling and spotting to the paper-covered boards. Also a light stain mark and some other soiling to the rear board. A small light circular stain with tide-mark - about 7mm in diameter to the margin of the title page with some offsetting to the proceeding page. The pages at large are very clean with just slight spotting to the rear endpapers. A very good copy of a scarce first edition.