[Kaika no Moto : Shohen]. Nishimura Kanebumi.

Kyoto, Sugimoto Jinsuke 1874 (Meiji 1874). 23x16cm publisher's wrapper with printed title label; double page colour frontispiece and three double page b/w illustrations. Nishimura was an imperialist and an anti-foreigner: they were all to be expelled. Kaika no Moto translates as the Book of Civilisation; it's part one but there was never a part two. A quick glance at the first picture might tell you where he stands but there's much going on in those illustrations I don't understand. A literal translation is of little help when you don't understand what it means. Why is that castle of books being blown up? I have no idea. Nishimura was a much respected appraiser of treasures but it seems he was given to the odd bit of forgery of documents and single sheet editions. A couple of his scholarly books come with a warning about false publications but it has been said that, unlike a thief like Wise, he wasn't in it for the money.