Amazing find, Hokusai Paintings, Drawings & Woodcuts by J. Hillier. A beautiful first edition published in the UK in 1955 by Phaidon Press with 18 beautiful color plates and one loose wood cut. These were actually printed by separate printed and glued into the books by hand.

The cloth cover is a work of art onto itself, the original dust jacket is long gone but personally I prefer this cover. A former Syracus University library copy the spine was rebound at some point and includes an embossed stamp and bookplate from the school.

Because the plates are separate in the original editions, they are often removed and sold separately. It has definite signs of wear and age but all that adds it it's charm. Also a true first edition, editions that show a New York distributer are not.

This item is sold from a vintage boutique in Pendleton, South Carolina.