First edition. Format, large octavo, 222mm. Physical description, xx 21 - 431 [1]. Plates [32]all coloured and unnumbered including a frontispiece. Uncut. Top edges gilt. Title page printed in brown and black. Foredges lightly spotted as usual, occasional light spotting to the text. The diagonal blue/grey cloth backed boards, the upper cover with an intricate design blocked in gilt and silver with romajii font lettering and a goddess sitting on a peacock, the spine, which is lightly rubbed at the head and toe, has a finely detailed illustration of a dragon in gilt , and the title, author and publisher also in gilt in romajii font lettering . The corners are very lightly bumped. Endpapers lightly browned as usual, the front pastedown with a previous owners name in ink. Overall, a fine copy. The book is written in thirty chapters, plus notes on Japanese Poetry; Gods and Godesses; Genealogy of the Age of the Gods etc; which gives the reader a comprehensive picture of the myths and legends of a fascinating country with much being added by the wonderful illustrations by Evelyn Paul.