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an open book with chinese writing on it on a white surface
Jeschke Jádi Auctions Berlin

Estimate €300 - €400
Sale commission
Description
Japan Pfizmaier, August Dictionary of the Japanese Language. First instalment (= all published material). Vienna, on consignment with C. Gerold & Sohn, printed by the Mechitharite Fathers, 1851. XI, (1), 80 pp. plus 79 pp. with illustrations of various kanji and katakana characters. Folio. Stapled as published, uncut, in the original printed covers. (Slightly dusty.) Alt-Japan Catalogue, 1142. – Wenckstern I, 78. - Zaunmüller 212. - First edition of this German-Japanese dictionary, which lists the kanji (Chinese) character alongside the katakana phonetic transcription, followed by the German and English translations as well as the Japanese synonym. August Pfizmaier (1808–1887) was one of the most significant and prolific translators of Japanese works into German of his time.Conceived as a multi-volume work, only this first instalment of the dictionary was published due to its limited commercial success; it ends with the entries for ‘Ittan’ and ‘Ittai’. The Far Eastern characters were produced by the renowned printing house of the Mechitharite monks in Vienna to a remarkable standard of typographical quality — an exceptional feat of printing technology for the time, as the Viennese Mechitharite printing house was one of the few European print shops to possess the necessary typefaces for East Asian characters. This copy is in its original, uncut condition and is therefore a remarkably pristine example of early European Japanese studies in its original form of publication. First edition of this German–Japanese dictionary, which provides the Kanji (Chinese) character together with the Katakana pronunciation, followed by the German and English translations as well as the Japanese synonym. August Pfizmaier (1808–1887) ranks amongst the most significant and prolific translators of Japanese works into German of his time. Of the dictionary, which had been conceived as a multi-volume work, only this first volume was published; due to its limited commercial success, it ends with the entries for ‘Ittan’ and ‘Ittai’. The Far Eastern characters were set with remarkable typographical quality by the renowned printing house of the Mechitharist monks in Vienna – an extraordinary achievement for the period, as the Viennese Mechitharist press was one of the very few European printing houses to possess the type sets necessary for East Asian characters. - The present copy survives in its uncut, original state and thus stands as a remarkably unaltered testament to early European Japanology in its original published form. This lot is subject to standard tax. A 24.95% buyer’s premium is payable on the hammer price, and 7% (Books and Art) or 19% VAT (Manuscripts, Screenprints, Offset Prints, Photographs) is payable on the final invoice amount within the European Union. This lot is subject to the standard tax regime. A 24.95% buyer’s premium applies to the hammer price, and 7% (books and art) or 19% VAT (manuscripts, screen prints, offset prints and photographs) applies to the final invoice amount within the European Union.
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About the sale Valuable books, prints, historical photographs
Auction location
Auction time 10/24/2026 at 10:00 AM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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