[Japan] Mineta Fuko (1817-1883). Kaigai Shinwa (New Stories from Overseas)

1849, 5 vols., richly ill. w. woodblock prints, orig. unif. thread-bound wr. w. paper letterpieces on front covers, 25.5 x 17.7 cm. Occas. minor defects.

Provenance: Christie's sale 19 Dec. 2014, lot 127, indicating the former owner James E. Fagan (1926-2011), an American collector especially interested in the introduction of Western culture and technology to Japan’s closed Edo-era society (1603-1868, the Tokugawa period); he lived and worked in Japan as an attorney in the 1950’s and 1960’s. Comprises: (1) Preface Four leaf introduction and table of contents, followed by 1 single and 13 double pages of text interspersed w. illustrations including a double-p. world map w. British territories indicated in red, British ships and British soldiers. (2) 22 double and 1 single page, text interspersed w. 3 double page and 1 single page illustrations incl. the Chinese burning confiscated opium and a large British fleet of warships departing from London. (3) 26 double and 2 single pages, text w. 3 double page illustrations including the Chinese firing canons at British ships and Chinese soldiers armed with swords, spears and battle axes attacking British troops armed with muskets. (4) 26 double and 2 single pages, text w. 3 double and 1 single page illustration of battle scenes and another of British soldiers looting, getting drunk and attacking Chinese women. (5) 21 double and 1 single page, text and one double page illustration of the British victors signing a peace treaty with the Chinese. (total 5)