TWO MANUSCRIPT LETTERS: FROM LAFCADIO HEARN TO BASIL HALL CHAMBERLAIN. FEB. 2, 1

Kumamoto 1894, 12 page letter to Chamberlain from Hearn Feb. 2, 1894. Chamberlain's 8 page reply Feb. 5, 1894, with the envelopes from both Hearn & Chamberlain. Superb condition, zero defects, beautifully bound in brocaide silk cloth book. . *** **** *** . . TWO VERY RARE & EARY HEARN MANUSCRIPT LETTERS . *** The first: 1. From Lafcadio Hearn to Basil Hall Chamberlain, dated Feb. 2nd., 1894. This is a 12 page letter with the title: "PENDULUM ON THE LEFT." Written on six sheets of paper, each matted in the book so both sides of the letters are visible. The envelope to Chamberlain is laid down on the first page, and has Lafcadio Hearn's Japanese name "Koizumi Yakumo" stamped on the end of the back side of the envelope. This Hanko [seal/chop] is stamped in the usual red cinnabar color. . *** The second: The letter is from B.H. Chamberlain dated Tokyo, Feb. 5, 1894 to Hearn in Kumamoto. As for the Chamberlain letters, they are 18 x 23.1 cm., printed on each side. Each sheet is 4 pages of letter, folded in half to form a "book" like letter. In all there are two sheets making a total of 8 pages of letter text. . * Each Lafcadio Hearn letter sheet is 12.7 x 20.2 cm., the book size is 23.3 x 31 cm. Each letter is printed on both sides. . *** THE CONTENTS OF THE LETTERS: Please see Bisland below for the contents of the Hearn letter of Feb. 2, 1894 on pages 243-245. On page 10 of this letter Hearn also states "Kumamoto" just after Lafcadio Hearn's signature & date, all of which Bisland failed to note. The letter continues on page 11-12, so perhaps either Hearn signed the earlier page and then continued with after thoughts, or simply mis-numbered the ages. Regardless 12 pages in all. * Koizumi below. This work was compiled by Hearn's eldest son, who was the keeper of the largest collection of Hearn writings, letters, and replies from Chamberlain. . *** BINDING: The book is bound in purple silk spine, with a brocade silk cover showing flowers. There are two silver labels on the front cover. Two purple silk ribbon ribbons tied in a square knot hold the pages firmly in place. There is then a brown stiff paper Chitsu [folding book case] protecting the exterior with two bone clasps. There is an orange label on the cover stating in English: "2 LETTERS: B.C. 8 PGS & 1 ENVELOPE; L.H. 13 PGS, & 1 ENVELOPE." . *** CONDITION: The letters are immaculate, without flaw and neatly laid down in mats showing both sides. Each book page is also superbly clean and flawless. . *** REFERENCE: . Elizabeth Bisland, comp.: THE JAPANESE LETTERS OF LAFCADIO HEARN. * Kazuo Koizumi comp.: LETTERS FROM B.H. CHAMBERLAIN TO LAFCADIO HEARN, pp.70-72. * Yoji Hasegawa: A WALK IN KUMAMOTO: The Life & Times of Setsu Koizumi Lafcadio Hearn's Japanese Wife. Mr. Hasegawa has cited January 24, 1895 as the date of a letter From Hearn to Chamberlain with "Pendulum" on pl.321 of the chronology. The letter we list here in is clearly dated Feb 2, 1894, so we must assume that Mr. Hasegawa's notes were incorrect. Although we have researched this date in the below resources, there is no letter with that date to be found. Unless Mr. Hasegawa has yet another variant of the letter of Feb. 2, 1894 to the title: "PENDULUM ON THE LEFT" we are at a loss to understand his entry. . * . .