In 1887, Konbunsha, the publishing house of the Hasegawa family, issued a 16-volume Japanese Fairy Tale Series, of which ours are #6, The Mouse’s Wedding and #15, My Lord Bag-O’-Rice. Konbunsha (1853-1938) specialized in books in European languages on Japanese subjects, often using leading foreign residents in Japan as translators. The translator of our fairy tales was B.H. Chamberlain (1850-1935), professor of Japanese at Tokyo Imperial University, and one of the foremost Japanologists of his day. These small, delicate books are beautifully illustrated by noted Japanese artists in hand-colored wood block prints on “creped” paper simulating fabric and are silk-bound with a silk spine. Of particular interest, #15 appears to have been a special publisher’s copy; the back cover is addressed by special wood block print addressed to the London publishing house of Griffin, Farran & Co. It is stamped “Fairy Land, Jan. 1, 1888” and must have been an individualized announcement of the availability of the series. Original books from this series, particularly such bright copies, are extremely rare. Condition: Excellent with some creasing to covers of #15. Dimensions: 4" x 6".