Fans of Japan

London: Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner & Co., Ltd, 1894. Hardcover. G- (Reading copy only, reference for the collector. Ex-library, with typical labels and markings, and once rebound, losing the original decorative front cover. Small stamp of ink or perforation on each plate- stamp covers small portion of corner of image. Binding strong, but pages fragile, many pages in front half separated from binding, but all pages present. Some chipping. Cover shows limited wear.). Dark blue library buckram, [xix] 148 pp., 39 bw illus. in text, 10 color plates; held in dark blue buckram protective portfolio and slipcase. From the introduction: "Mrs. Sawley has rendered a service to all Japonophiles by her sympathetic and painstaking investigations of a branch of industrial art that has the claims at once of attractiveness, utility and meaning." The text includes an early history and the manufacture of fans as well as the materials employed in their making. Also included are the different types, various uses, arts applied to their making and legends concerning them. Offers lovely color plates of many kinds of fans with their many uses, including a war fan. The many illustrations are very informative and include dagger fan, a kitchen fan, roll-up, ladies' and presentation fans, and ones used by dancing girls, farmers, and umpires of polo and wrestling matches. And many more Most fascinating! Scarce.