Ainu Life and Lore - Echoes of a Departing Race

BATCHELOR, The Ven. Dr. John

Published by Kyobunkwan, Tokyo, 1927

About this Item

The blurb on the front of the dustwrapper of the book reads: "The writer of this book is known as the greatest living authority on the language, customs, religion and folk lore of the Ainu people. This book contains some of the results of his observations during more than fifty years. The Ainu were the ancient inhabitants of Japan, driven farther and farther north, until now they are found only in Hokkaido and Saghalien. Even there their numbers are diminishing fast. This book will be of interest to ethnologists and students of folk lore and all those desiring to know something of Japanese beliefs and legends, the correspondences with which are most suggestive and worthy of investigation before it is too late. There are numerous illustrations, chiefly from phographs or in colour, from watercolour drawings by Ainu and Japanese artists." This is a large, thick 8vo book running to 448pp, bound in blue cloth (pattern with gilt to upper borad, gilt lettering to spine) and measuring 9" x 7" x 2.25". 95 illustrations, 15 of which are in colour. VG, with scattered foxing, in original and brittle VG buff-coloured dustwrapper (black lettering, photo of "an old Ainu friend"). Dustwrapper has slight loss at the head of the spine, else all intact with just a couple of tiny closed nicks. A scarce book, and rarely found with its original dustwrapper. Seller Inventory # 2862

Bibliographic Details

Title: Ainu Life and Lore - Echoes of a Departing ...

Publisher: Kyobunkwan, Tokyo

Publication Date: 1927

Binding: Hardcover

Condition: Very Good

Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good

Edition: 1st Edition