Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-05-04
NORDENsKJOLD's JAPAN BOOKS
\ Remarkable Collection in the Pos
session of the Great Explorer.

\ Remarkable Collection in the Pos
session of the Great Explorer.
Among the varied spoil brought home
by Baron NOrdenskjOld from the memoir
able voyage in the Vega around Europe
and Asia, says the London Times, was a
large collection of japanese books, the
largest, we believe, ever introduced into
Europe. During the Vegas stay at
Japan, Nordenskjold devoted most of his
time to bringing together a representative
library of japanese publications, and his
success may be estimated from the fact
that the catalogue of the library, which
has been printed in Paris and recently
issued, covers upward of $50 pages. This
catalogue has been compiled, revised and
annotated by NJ. Leon de Rosny, the emil
nent Professor in the Special School of
Oriental Languages at Paris. with an in
PRODUCTION by the Marquis d'Hervey de st.
Denys, Professor at the College de France.
From this Introduction we learn that
NOrdenskjold's collection OF japanese
manuscripts and books is one of the most
numerous and valuable ever brought to-
gether in any public or private library of
Europe. Japanese books have, until re-
Gently, been of the greatest rarity in Eu-
rope, and the specimens which existed
were generally of little value. The Ma
tiOnal Library of Paris, so rich in Chinese
works, had only about twenty volumes
from Japan twenty years ago. Since the
opening up of Japan to the outside world,
however, many of the great public libra
ries OfEurope have made considerable ac-
questions of the literature of the country,
though, from a want of knowledge of the
language, these collections have been
mostly made at haphazard. The catalogue
of the Nordenksjold collection, then, may
be regarded as an important step toward
the acquisition of a thorough knowledge
of the literature of an unusually interest
ing country. Some Of the works in this
catalogue are of very ancient date, and
not to be obtained through the usual chan
nels of commerce. Some of the manu-
scripts reproduce printed texts not other
wise to be obtained, while others contain
original works which may turn out to be
invaluable.
The catalogue was originally put to-
gether by native, but it contained so
many errors that Baron NOrdenskjold
asked and obtained the assistance of Prof.
de ROsny, not only to revise the catalogue,
but to superIntend its printing at the
national printing Office of France, at the
expense of DIR. Oscar Dickson. In ac-
comprising his task M de ROsny has
taken endless trouble; he has classified all
the works under considerable number
of headings, given them titles which af-
ford some idea of the nature of the con-
tents, and in many cases added notes
which will be of the greatest service to
the serious student. Dates have, more
over, been added to the works, indicating
as nearly as possible the time of compost
tion or publication, while an attempt Is
made to indicate the size in terms of
European photography. Prefxed to the
catalogue is a list of books that will be
serviceable to the student of japanese in
acquiring a knowledge of the language
and literature. The library is divided into
twelve sections by NJ. de Rosny, as fol-
lows: 1. Religion; ?. Philosophy; 3. EX-
act Science; 4. Natural Science; 5. So
cial and Political Science; 8. Language
and Philology; Z. History; s. Geography;
9. Bellies Lettres; 10. Archaeology and
Fine Art; IL. Education. Industry and
Useful Arts; u. Encyclopedias, Bibli-
ography, Journals, etc. We are unable
to give further details concerning this
unique catalogue, but have probably said
sufficient to give those interested in the
subject an idea Of its value.