Catalogue of Japanese Manuscripts and Rare Books

This catalogue explores the entire collection of early Japanese woodblock-printed books, maps and single-sheet prints held in the Royal Library, Copenhagen, these appearing for the first time in print. The collection spans the whole of the Edo period (1603–1867). Items from the latter part of the Edo period are best represented with many literary genres including Japanese editions of Chinese classical works. The woodblock-printed books and single-sheet prints of the Meiji period (1868–1912) are also included. The catalogue comprises 152 entries covering multi-volume works and series of woodblock prints and provides both concise bibliographical data and additional material gathered from various sources. It furthermore provides reproductions of pages of each of the books and a representative selection of the woodblock prints for a visual appreciation of the works. The introduction outlines the history of the collection, identifying some of the more important items and explains the bibliographical principles on which the catalogue has been compiled. Indexes and a comprehensive list of references are also included.

• Merete Pedersen, Author