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2 volumes comprising the complete text of Chapter 4. Volume I includes 3 colour woodblock illustrations of which one, the scene of Singapore is double page, together with a number in black and white. Volume II: Black and white woodblock illustrations. Both volumes comprise 20 folded leaves. 18.5 x 12cm. Woodblock printed text. Original stab binding, paper covered wrappers embossed with flags, paper labels upper covers, light wear covers, very good copy. Kanagaki Robun's fifteen chapter comic saga, 'By Shank's Mare Through the West [or By Shank's Mare to the Western Seas]' was published between 1870 and 1876. The text is complete 15 chapters which were published in 30 volumes. The inspiration for this work came from the earlier 'T?kai d?ch? hizakurige' or 'Travels on Foot on the T?kaid?' published in serial form between 1802 and 1822 which was translated into English as 'Shank?s Mare' by Jippensha Ikku. This earlier work described two travelling companions and their adventures on the Tokaido Road. Kanagaki Robun took the model of the two travelling companions who were supposed to be descendants of the original pair and set them off around the world to visit a London Exposition in UK. This fourth chapter, which covers their journey through Singapore, features an early Japanese colour woodblock view of Singapore by Utagawa Yoshiiku (1833-1904), signing himself on this image as Ikkunsai Yoshiiku ??? ?? In this chapter, the pair had an adventure in a watermelon field and got into a trouble when they wanted to have affairs with local prostitutes. Kanagaki Robun, the pen name Nozaki Bunz? (1829 - 1894), was a highly regarded author and journalist in Japan in the late Edo and early Meiji periods. He was very interested in Japan's opening to the west and the process of modernization in general which the country was undergoing. Using satirical writing to examine the changing society in which he lived, his work proved very popular. He never had a chance to go overseas, but was literate in English. Thus, his story was not totally unrealistic. He was well connected in artistic circles and worked with many of the leading artists of the day including Kawanabe Kyosai, Yoshiiku, Yoshitoshi, Yoshitora, Yoshitoyo, Hiroshige III, Yoshu Chikanobu, and Toyohara Kunichika, often working in collaboration with more than one artist at a time. Scarce. Seller Inventory # 173753
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