GINZA KAIWAI, GINZA HACCHO. 1954. FIRST EDITION OF THIS RARE JAPANESE PHOTOBOOK THAT “INSPIRED” ED RUSCHA.
£2,950.00
Tokyo: Toho-Shuppan Publishing, 1954
Original publishers shipping box with printed label. 19.5 x 19.5cm, approx. Content of two volumes. “Ginza Kaiwai”, is a book-length account of the street layouts of the world-famous Tokyo district (364 pages). The text by Kimura Shohachi is interspersed with “ukiyo-e” woodblock print reproductions by Hiroshige, black-and-white photographs by Yoshikatsu Kanno, maps, and reproductions of original drawings in publisher’s original rice-paper DJ, as issued. Volume Two, “Ginza Haccho”, consists of Yoshikazu Suzuki’s photographic re-construction of Ginza in an accordion foldout format. The latter is an exceptionally important publication as it is clearly the uncredited inspiration for Ed Ruscha’s Every Building on the Sunset Strip. Riuscha has never admitted to seeing this prior publication but it is inconceivable that the design and format of the latter book was not taken from the Japanese publication (both have a mid-page gutter with the photographs horisontally both sides and both are accordion folded).
An exceptionally rare photobook this is in VG condition with the outer box showing browning and edge wear with tears and bumps (unavoidable as this was a shipping box made out of poor quality cardboard), Volume one has some marks on the wrappers and a slight separation at the third end paper and on the second volume some waviness where the boards have paper glued over them as well as some browning (possibly foxing).
Original publishers shipping box with printed label. 19.5 x 19.5cm, approx. Content of two volumes. “Ginza Kaiwai”, is a book-length account of the street layouts of the world-famous Tokyo district (364 pages). The text by Kimura Shohachi is interspersed with “ukiyo-e” woodblock print reproductions by Hiroshige, black-and-white photographs by Yoshikatsu Kanno, maps, and reproductions of original drawings in publisher’s original rice-paper DJ, as issued. Volume Two, “Ginza Haccho”, consists of Yoshikazu Suzuki’s photographic re-construction of Ginza in an accordion foldout format. The latter is an exceptionally important publication as it is clearly the uncredited inspiration for Ed Ruscha’s Every Building on the Sunset Strip. Riuscha has never admitted to seeing this prior publication but it is inconceivable that the design and format of the latter book was not taken from the Japanese publication (both have a mid-page gutter with the photographs horisontally both sides and both are accordion folded).
An exceptionally rare photobook this is in VG condition with the outer box showing browning and edge wear with tears and bumps (unavoidable as this was a shipping box made out of poor quality cardboard), Volume one has some marks on the wrappers and a slight separation at the third end paper and on the second volume some waviness where the boards have paper glued over them as well as some browning (possibly foxing).
1 in stock