Fair condition overall. The ink has not faded, and the printed lines remain sharp throughout. There is insect damage along the edges of the pages, though most illustrations and calligraphy remain intact and visually strong.
This Meiji-era woodblock printed book, Yochi Shiryaku (輿地誌畧), was published in 1874 as part of Japan’s early efforts to introduce global geography and foreign cultures to the general public following the reopening of the country during the Meiji Restoration.
For over two centuries during the Edo period, Japan maintained strict limitations on foreign contact under the policy of sakoku. Books discussing foreign lands, cultures, and geography were heavily restricted and largely inaccessible to ordinary people. After the Meiji Restoration, interest in the outside world rapidly expanded, and works like Yochi Shiryaku were produced to satisfy the curiosity of common readers eager to learn about neighboring Asian countries and the broader world.
Illustrated with traditional woodblock printing techniques, the book combines educational content with detailed imagery and calligraphy, reflecting the transitional period where traditional craftsmanship was used to communicate newly accessible global knowledge.
A historically important example of early Meiji educational publishing, suitable for collectors of Japanese books, Meiji modernization materials, and illustrated woodblock works.
