SEIYOH MONJI CHIE: WISDOM OF THE WESTERN ALPHABET.

SEIYOH MONJI CHIE: WISDOM OF WESTERN ALPHABET.

About this Item

[Japan, 1875]. A small folding album, 8 x 17 cm., original blue covers, [18]p., accordion folded, soiled covers, verso blank, but evidence of a Japanese practicing his attempt at writing in English alphabet,128 color woodcut illustrations. A very charming early attempt to teach the Japanese English alphabetical letters and numerals. Folded and reading from traditional left to right, this work shows the Japanese the familiar "IROHA" alphabet in both Katakana & Romanized alph- abetical letters [Romaji], with Hiragana above. The most fa- scinating part are the profuse color woodblock illustrations of familiar Japanese objects, each with Romanized letters & the appropriate Japanese. Such cute things as Inu, Roonin, Hato, Niwatori, Potsukkuri [Pokkuri], Hyotan, Tonbo, Ringo, Dobin, Soroban, Taiko, Daikon,Yoroi, Wakizashi, Kani, Katsuo and a plethora of others. This work basically was used to train the Japanese to read Romaji first for familiar objects and thus begin the process of learning English ultimately to read English letters. Works of this subject are now quite RARE and seldom come to market, many were basically used up in the learning process. This example well used, cover soil, bit thumbed, but remarkably complete. Back cover has the Sumi penned date: Meiji 7 nen, with a later cover title slip pasted on, and Sumi ink title written. Brief commentary on the English language, some text worn away, balance complete.

Seller Inventory # 98119401

Bibliographic Details

• Title: SEIYOH MONJI CHIE: WISDOM OF THE WESTERN ALPHABET.