Scenes and Customs in Japan [Two Volumes]

Volumes I and II of 'Scenes and Customs in Japan', a collection of 24 double-page colour woodbooks (12 in each volume). Published at the turn of the 20th century, during a time when Japan was becoming increasingly engaged with the global community and Western audiences were captivated by Japanese art and culture, there was a growing market for books produced in Japan that depicted Japanese life and traditions. Scenes in the set show women strolling in gardens, temples and Buddhist monuments, street scenes, preparation of the Hoshimatsuri, families catching fireflies, countryside views, throngs at the school gates, etc., with a list of the plates and descriptions of the scenes as well as the colophon (in Japanese), both printed and pasted in at the rear. From the library of Cliff Parfit, Japanese collector and author of 'Exlibris Japan: An Introductory Handbook to the Bookplates of Japan' . . Accordian style binding (with card to add structure) with original limp card wrap-around covers, housed in a modern drop-back box with paper label to the front cover. 26 x 18 cm In good condition near very good condition, with a little wear and marking to the covers, corners lightly rubbed, plates largely nice and clean but some occasional very minor spotting and marks, mostly to the margins, or offsetting of the red plate numbers, splitting at the inner rear hinge of volume I, bookplates of Cliff Parfitt and small stamp to the verso of the title pages and the rear page. Box in very good condition.…