I am a Cat (Chapter I, Chapter II)

ENQUIRE

Natsume, K. [Kinnosuke; Natsume, Soseki]; Ando, K. [Andō, Kanichi] [translation by]; [Hashiguchi, Goyō (illustrations by)].

Tokyo : Y. Okura, 1906 [actually 1908]. First edition, later printing.

The first English translation of Natsume Soseki's classic of modern Japanese fiction. The translator, Andō, a fan of Conan Doyle, went to the great writer's house to show him his finished English translation of Soseki's novel, and it is reported that, looking over the novel, Doyle remarked, "Did you say you are here to study English, Mr. Ando? Why, your English needs no improvement; it is finished". The boards were designed by renowned artist Hashiguchi Goyō, as were the two illustrations (one colour plate of a cat and one smaller black and white vignette of a woman and a cat) included in the book. While this volume names Ōkura as the publisher, other slightly earlier copies of the same book were published by Hattori Shoten. Ōkura and Hattori had jointly published the first Japanese edition of Soseki's book, Hattori being a branch of the bigger Ōkura publishing company. The Hattori printing of the English edition seems to have been earlier than the Ōkura printing, therefore making this copy a slightly later printing of the first edition, or the first 'Ōkura' edition. The Japanese colophon of this particular copy reads Tokyo : Ōkura Shoten, Meiji 41 [1908], while the English colophon reads Tokyo : Y. Okura & Co., 1906. It is unknown how many copies of the translation were printed, although it is assumed there were not many, as, possibly due to a lack of popularity, publication stopped after Chapter IV.

Original thin boards, spine chipped. Binding starting, and in fairly delicate condition. Some browning to margins of boards and spine. Endpapers browned, several pencil inscriptions, otherwise contents in nice condition. Overall very good. 1 v. 3, 133 p. 18.7 x 12.4 cm. Text in English.

I am a Cat (Chapter I, Chapter II)
SOLD