Kyōjin Bikkuribako (The Prideful Person's Box of Inevitable Fear)

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Kyōjin Bikkuribako ["The Prideful Person's Box of Inevitable Fear"]

Hattori [Mantei], Ōga [text by]; Seisei [Kawanabe], Kyōsai [illustrated by]. 

Tōkyō: Shōsetsusha Shorin, Yamazakiya Seishichi ... [et al.], Meiji 7 [1874]. 

The first fascicle of a three-issue series produced by Ōga and Kyōsai. The two other issues in the series, Bikkuri Chōmenbako (1875, "The Surprise Box of Punishment") and Chōmen Oharaibako ("The Exorcism Box of Punishment" or "The Punishment Dismissal"), also feature the word "box" in their titles; Ōga therefore sometimes referred to the collection as the Shōsetsu Sanhako ("Three 'Boxes' of Novels") series. The central moral of the stories was similar - the idea that a life of luxury (presumably in Ōga's worldview a result of a society's Westernisation) leads to ruin. This issue features a fantastic double-page illustration by Kyōsai parodying a hakurankai (exhibition) or tonda reihō (exhibition of bizarre things). As in Ōga and Kyōsai's Tarobē Mizukakeron (1874), Kyōsai's illustrations include a Punch-tengu crossover character. The title may also be translated as "The Prideful Person's Box of Surprises" or "The Prideful Person's Jack-in-a-Box". 

One karitoji-bound volume, complete, on double leaves, traditional East Asian binding style (fukurotoji). Original upper wrapper lightly worn and creased. Previous binding holes present. Small ex-ownership seal to first page of main text and last text leaf verso. Creases to leaf extremities. 8 leaves. 22.3 x 15.2 cm. 

Kyōjin Bikkuribako (The Prideful Person's Box of Inevitable Fear)
Price: $1,750.00 (USD)