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Signed limited edition, out of series from an edition of 100 copies signed by the author. As with his other exquisite publications, for this tribute to fine Japanese colour printing "Barnett chose the best materials available: he procured type-fonts from Germany, used hand-made paper, and imported vellum from England, board from Scotland, silk from China and brocade from Japan" (ANB). The New Zealand-born Barnett (1891-1953) devoted the first half of his life to the study of bookplates, publishing several limited editions on the subject. In the 1930s, he turned his attention to Japanese woodblock printing, employing "40,000 prints and specially designed endpapers from Japan for a series of charming books including Japanese Colour-Prints (1936), Colour Prints of Hiroshige (1937), Hiroshige (1938), Figure Prints of Japan (1948) and Japanese Art (1953). Barnett not only wrote the text; he also designed and published each work. [and was] a perfectionist at a time when the second-rate satisfied many people. His books were printed in Sydney at the Beacon Press, whose proprietor H. P. Mortlock was a dedicated craftsman" (ANB). Figure Prints of Japan was the last of a trilogy of folio-sized studies, following Japanese Colour-Prints and Colour Prints of Hiroshige. These appeal to collectors "not only because they are examples of fine and rare books, but also because their creation was so tragically mis-timed. Barnett's project was almost abandoned with the restrictions of the Second World War and became a covert activity after the bombing of Pearl Harbour" (Ferson). This is one of 40 copies from the "standard de luxe" issue. The edition also included "special de luxe" and author's presentation issues. Ferson, pp. 26 & 62. Folio. With laid-down colour woodblock frontispiece (Toyokuni's "Tying Ode on Cherry Tree"), 36 tipped-in colour woodblocks, laid-down woodblock title page. Original vellum-backed decorative brocade boards, spine lettered in gilt, pictorial endpapers, edges untrimmed. With acetate jacket. Recent bookplate of Bernard Gore Brett, Melbourne lawyer; bookseller's ticket on front pastedown. Binding and contents bright; jacket with couple of splits: a fine copy in near-fine jacket.
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