Roshiya Iroha - Russian Primer for Japanese Children by Ivan Vasilevich Makhov
[Japan] Supposedly the first book in Russian published in Japan, there appears to be only one copy of the 1861 first edition by Ivan Makhov (1820-1895) in Japan at the National Diet Library. According to the Meiji Portraits website, 'Ivan Makhov's father was the hieromonk Vasily Emelyanovich Makhov, who had served as chaplain "Father Vasily" on the frigate “Diana” during her voyage to Japan in 1855. Although the family lived in poverty in rural Russia, Ivan was able to obtain an education enabling him to get an employment in a department of the Russian Interior Ministry in St Petersburg. When his father was sent to Japan again in 1859 as chaplain of the chapel in the new Russian consulate, his son Ivan accompanied him, presumably because of his father's poor health. For this purpose, Ivan was temporarily transferred from the Ministry of Interior to the Russian consulate in Hakodate. Father and son Makhov arrived in Hakodate on June 13, 1859. Little is known about the activity of Ivan Makhov in Hakodate.....' and, '.....A publication of a completely different kind still occupies a special place, even though it had only appeared in a rather small edition. It is a Russian language primer written by Ivan Makhov for Japanese children, published in early 1861 in Hakodate, making it the first Russian book to be printed in Japan. If one can trust Ivan Makhov, pure boredom has given rise to this primer: "Collect plants? There are many botanists among us, and there are also insect hunters and shell experts. What about trying to compile a Russian-Japanese alphabet?" After five months the work was completed. The 20 pages were individually cut and printed on wooden boards; the circulation totalled 500 copies. Makhov paid the cost of production himself. The Russian primer was a "gift from a Russian official" for the children of Hakodate. "Dear child, take this primer”, [is written] in Russian and in Japanese. Then follows the Russian alphabet, in both large and small letters and also in printing and cursive script; the pronunciation was given in the Japanese syllabary katakana. Some copies were made on Russian post paper bound in silk and handed over to the authorities in Hakodate in order to avoid suspicion of prohibited propaganda. Another copy, also in silk binding, but on coloured paper and with pictures, was intended for the Shōgun. When Machov handed it over to the governor and vice-governor of Hakodate, they were amazed at the luxurious presentation. Finally, they said goodbye in Russian words. Makhov's primer, as well as his contributions to journals, show that he was attached to the distant land with more than interested curiosity....'. 'After the death of his father, Ivan Makhov dedicated himself to the publication of his father's report on his first trip to Japan aboard the frigate Diana. Ivan Makhov survived his father by more than thirty years, dying in 1895.' No. 369 of this limited edition of 500 copies.
Tokyo. Yoneyama-do. 1925.
20pp. 22.8 x 16cm.
In very good condition. Minor age wear only. nb37110002
