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The First Comprehensive Japanese-Russian Dictionary

by Iosif Antonovich Goshkevich and Tachibana Kosai

The First Comprehensive Japanese-Russian Dictionary by Iosif Antonovich Goshkevich and Tachibana Kosai
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The First Comprehensive Japanese-Russian Dictionary by Iosif Antonovich Goshkevich and Tachibana Kosai

[Japan] Extremely scarce work, this is the first comprehensive dictionary of the Russian and Japanese languages. It is actually a Japanese-Russian dictionary and uses the Japanse iroha alphabetical order. The back story is quite fascinating. Goshkevich (1814-75) was a diplomat and Orientalist who studied Chinese and worked as an interpreter for Putyatin's embassy to Japan from 1852 which ended in the Treaty of Shimoda being signed in 1855. Tachibana Kosai (1820-85), who was also known as Masuda Kosai, had apparently been in the vicinity of Shimoda and hoped to meet Westerners so this was how he came to meet Goshkevich. In December 1854, a large earthquake and tsunami destroyed the Russian vessels in the area and it wasn't until July 1855 that Goshkevich was able to leave Japan for Siberia on a German vessel, Greta. Japan was still closed to the outside world but Tachibana was smuggled aboard the ship by Goshkevich (who was also on board). Due to the Crimean War (1853-56), the ship was intercepted by a British man-of-war and all passengers were taken to Nagasaki. Then Tachibana and Goshkevich were sent to Hong Kong and/or Britain and interned until the war ended in 1856. It was during this time in internment that Goshkevich and Tachibana compiled this quite impressive dictionary. Goshkevich went on to became the first Russian consul in Hakodate from 1858 to 1865 when he returned to Russia. Tachibana was baptized and went by the name Vladimir Iossifovich Yamatov. The title in Russian is 'японско-русского словаря' ['Russo-Japanese Dictionary'].

 

Saint Petersburg [Russia]. Asia Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.1857.

 

pp. [2], xvii[1], 462, [4]. 26.3 x 17.8cm.

 

In very good condition. In contemporary boards and calf spine. Covers worn and corners a bit bumped. Internally very good with only minor age wear and a few stray marks. nb36100006

The First Comprehensive Japanese-Russian Dictionary

Price: ¥2,420,000




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