JA                              Bijutsu Bonsai Zu (Artistic Bonsai in Painting / Catalog of Bonsai Art) ; Tōkyō: Bijutsu Bonsai Takai, 1882.  This three-volume work is from an exhibit presented the previous year.  It gives the scientific name of the species, the type of container and the name of the owner of the specimens, is richly illustrated with full-page detailed line drawings of the different styles and types of plants used in bonsai.  A few suiseki can also be found in the drawings.  "This was one of the earliest books to be published regarding 'bujitsu,' which the Meiji emperor declared as 'art' in the sense of Western fine art.  The designation bujitsu distinguishes art from craft and amusing pastime activities.  In the book, exhibits include many Chinese-style stones & tray landscapes with stones with other objects closely grouped...  The Bujitsu Bonsai Zu exhibition was mounted to accompany a sencha banqueting event -- this was a precursor to public exhibitions (as in Hibiya Park, Tokyo) where the exhibit of bonsai would become the major focus of the event." 2

JA        Ogawa, Anson  Bonsai Baiyo Tebiki Sou (How to Raise Herbs and Grass for Bonsai) ; 1893.

JA        Okamoto, Nobufumi  Zouka Mokuchiku Bonsai Baiyoho (Complete Maintenance Methods for Grasses, Flowers, Trees, and Bamboo Bonsai) ; Kaishin-Shyoro; 1894.

JA        Okamoto, Jun  Gakei chikuzō hakoniwa bonseki zuhen ; Tōkyō: Shūgakudō; 1898.  131 pp.  Illustrations, some color. 4 

1      Koreshoff, Deborah R.  Bonsai: Its Art, Science, History and Philosophy (Brisbane, Australia: Boolarong Publications; 1984), p. 9. 

2      Giorgi, Gianfranco Simon & Schuster's Guide to Bonsai (New York: Simon & Schuster; 1990), pg. 22 has b&w copy of two pages from, with date of late nineteenth century; Nippon Bonsai Association, Classic Bonsai of Japan (Tokyo and New York: Kodansha International; 1989), pg. 153 has b&w spread of 4 pairs of facing pages; Elias, Dr. Thomas S. "New Library Additions," NBF Bulletin, Vol. XI, No. 2, Winter 2000, pp. 3-4, with b&w of a pair of facing pages on former.  Quote from Chris Cochrane, in Sept. 27, 2006 #10 posting to Internet Bonsai Club.   The Oberlin College Inventory of Mary Ainsworth Collection of Japanese Artist Books lists this as an 1842 [sic] work with the following notes: "3 volumes   22 cm x 14 cm   speckled gray paper covers, white title strip with black writing. Black printing. Set Contained in a blue, cloth covered wrap case. Note on the inside of the box reads: "Bijutsu Bon Sai Zu. Exhibit of dwarf trees opened by members of the Bon Sai Kai. Tokyo. These Books are [overwritten with "were"] printed (not published) [sic] 1892 for the members of the Society and are not sold. Painter Kaineu has many bonsai. Merchant Iekida has many [?]. Tokyo- ..." [last five words are illegible]"  Added to 12/29/07

3       Per the National Agriculture Library AGRICOLA Database, http://agricola.nal.usda.gov, Call Number: SB447.5 .O33 1898 DNAr.    New 01/07/06

4      Per the National Agriculture Library AGRICOLA Database, http://agricola.nal.usda.gov, Call Number: SB433.5 .I38 1897 DNAr    New 01/07/06