ORIENTAL HUMOUR.

Tokyo, Japan:: Hokuseido Press, , 1959.. Hardcover first edition -. Very good in a good only dustjacket - a solid, clean copy in orange cloth with just a hint of dampness/crinkling to the upper edges of the first few pages, previous owner's name, in a fragile dustacket with rubbing along the folds, and one fold partially split (now protected by an archival cover.) . First printing. Rather uncommon first edition of this classic and comprehensive English-language work on Japanese, Chinese & Korean humor from all periods (India is not included, although the introduction describes India as the chief origin of world humour.) Among the topics are Chinese classics and poetry, ghost stories, Liehtse, proverbs, Taoism, Zen, short stories, Korean humor and proverbs, Chinese influence on Japan, Japanese caricature, old and modern Senryu, Yanagidaru, and more. Illustrated with a color frontispiece, 26 rather striking inserted plates (7 in color), each with a tissue guard imprinted with notations about the plate, by Kang Hi An, Li Am, Sengai, Hakuin, Tosa Minsunaga and others, and 6 en texte illustrations. Chronological chart, bibliography, index. 582 pp.