Twelve Wood-Block Prints of Kitagawa Utamaro Illustrating the Process of Silk Culture; Reproduced in Facsimile from the Originals in the Collection of Edwin & Irma Grabhorn

San Francisco: The Book Club of California [printed at the Grabhorn Press], 1965. Limited Edition. Hardcover. Near fine. Utamaro, Kitagawa. One of 450 copies, folio size, [36] pp., with prospectus. The Book Club of California's publication for Christmas 1965. Presents the pictures of Kitagawa Utamaro (1783-1806), an eighteenth-century Japanese artist that dealt with the process of silk culture, and the handiwork of women who were responsible for all aspects of making silk. The images together form one continuous composition, and are known as the "Silkworm Series". This is the fourth and final book in the "Grabhorn Japanese Print Series", which are regarded as the "crowning achievement" of the Club's publication program.

___DESCRIPTION: Quarter parchment with green and light-green decorated paper boards, title in gilt to backstrip, title-page in black, green and yellow, opening initial letter of the introductory essay in green and yellow, twelve numbered plates (not included in pagination) in colour; handset Goudy Modern type, machine made paper, folio size (15" by 10"), [i-xiv] [1-22] pp., limited edition, one of 450 copies (unnumbered), with four-page prospectus loosely in.

___CONDITION: A near fine copy, internally bright, covers are clean, text block is straight and tight with solid hinges, and free of prior owner markings; corners and tail of the spine slightly bumped, else a fine copy; prospectus near fine, clean and bright with minimal edgewear.

___CITATION: BCC no. 121; Grabhorn Bibliography, Volume III, no. 652.

___POSTAGE: International customers, please note that additional postage may apply as the standard shipping charge does not always cover costs; please inquire for details.

___Swan's Fine Books is pleased to be a member of the ABAA, ILAB, and IOBA and we stand behind every book we sell. Please contact us with any questions you may have, we are here to help.