Japan and Her People by Anna Hartshorne - 1902

This is a beautifully bound set of "Japan and Her People" by Anna Hartshorne with gilt illustrations on the covers. 1902 1st edition; Henry T. Coates & Co.; Philadelphia. Complete set in 2 volumes. Each volumes 25 illustrated plates (with textual tissue guards), intricate ribbon page markers and gilt top page edges. At the back of volume II is a large fold-out color map titled "Japan in Provinces."

Here are a few examples of the contents: Mount Fuji; Blind Shampooer; Gate of Nobles House; Vegetable Seller; Cutting Rice; Washing Day; The Kitchen; River Front, Tokyo; Street Vendor; Buddhist Temple, Nikko; Kyoto - The Temples; Fetes and Flowers; Nagasaki; Formosa; The Ainu Aborigines...and much more.

From the Preface: "Every one who goes to Japan writes home at first on thin Japanese paper, unfolding yard after yard of the neat rolls, and measuring now and then, perhaps, to see how much one really has written. That is in the early days, when all seems half unreal, when one says 'fairy like' and 'funny' at every other breath. But just because everything is so different, so utterly unlike all we have ever known, that former life itself seems presently to recede, to grow unreal; we cease to wonder, cease to find anything strange at all. Then the long letters drop to a page or two, and in writing of the simplest experiences of daily life we stop to think half despairingly, 'How shall I make them understand?' Out of that effort to be understood, and from the answers to the questions so frequently asked here in America, these rambling pages have grown."

Condition:
The volumes are in terrific condition both inside and out and nearly appear unread. Clean covers and spines with bright gilt. Both are tightly bound with no cracks and no loose pages. The fold-out map at the back of volume II is firmly attached (thought the outer edge does have some small tears). Bright gilt top page edges. Clean pages with no stains, tears or foxing found; both front end papers have a name/date (1903) and a name/address written in pen. Overall a wonderful condition set.