1916 First Edition
JATAKA TALES
By H.T. Francis and E.J. Thomas
KEY DETAILS
Condition: Very Good
Format: Hardcover, 8vo; Approx. 240 × 157 mm
Published By: Cambridge: at the University Press, 1916
Language: English
Provenance: An early manuscript presentation inscription to the front endpaper, apparently reading:
Collation: xiv, 488 pp.; Eight plates present as called for; Complete.
SKU: BTETM0000642
Shipping Info: Approximate Package Dimensions H: 15, L: 30, W: 25 (Units: cm), W: 2Kg
Tracked Shipping, Insurance Coverage as per Customer Request
DESCRIPTION
Jataka Tales
SELECTED AND EDITED WITH INTRODUCTION AND NOTES — FIRST EDITION
First edition of Jātaka Tales: Selected and Edited with Introduction and Notes, an important early twentieth-century collection of Buddhist birth stories, selected and edited by the Cambridge scholars Henry Thomas Francis and Edward Joseph Thomas. Published by Cambridge University Press in 1916, the volume brings together 114 tales from the Jātaka tradition, accompanied by an introduction, scholarly notes and eight photographic plates illustrating ancient Buddhist sculpture and narrative art.
The Jātakas recount episodes from the previous lives of the Buddha, appearing in both human and animal forms, and constitute one of the most significant collections of narrative literature within the Buddhist tradition. Combining religious instruction with folklore, fable and moral allegory, the stories explore such themes as wisdom, compassion, self-sacrifice, generosity, deception and the consequences of human actions.
The editors sought to produce an accessible selection of tales possessing particular literary and folkloric interest. Their work reflects the developing scholarly study of Buddhist literature in Britain during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, while drawing attention to the parallels between Indian narrative traditions and those of other cultures.
Bound in the original publisher's tan-brown cloth, with black lettering and a distinctive pictorial panel to the upper board depicting a scene from the Chaddanta Jātaka. The spine bears the title, editors' names and Cambridge University Press device. Illustrated with eight photographic plates reproducing examples of Buddhist relief sculpture.
An attractive example of this early scholarly edition, retaining its original illustrated binding and with an interesting manuscript presentation inscription dated Barcelona, January 1919.
PROVENANCE
An early manuscript presentation inscription to the front endpaper, apparently reading:
“J. H. G. Bates” [surname reading uncertain]
“from C.S.S. and C.G.S.”
“Barcelona Jan 1919”
A further manuscript inscription on the front endpaper appears to read “Paseo S. Juan: 84”, corresponding to an address at Paseo de San Juan (now Passeig de Sant Joan), Barcelona.
The inscriptions suggest an early connection with Barcelona, Spain, within approximately three years of publication. The recipient and donors have not been positively identified, and the precise relationship of the street address to the presentation inscription remains unestablished.
CONDITION, COLLATION & COPY NOTES
COLLATION
xiv, 488 pp.; Eight plates present as called for; Complete.
Very Good.
Original publisher's illustrated tan-brown cloth, with black lettering and pictorial decoration to the upper board. General surface rubbing, handling marks and some soiling, with wear to the edges and corners, including localised fraying at the upper fore-edge corner. Minor abrasion and wear near the lower edge of the upper board. Spine lettering and publisher's device remain clearly legible. Both boards are firmly attached and the internal hinges are sound.
Generally well preserved, with some age-toning and occasional light spotting or handling marks. Manuscript inscriptions to the front endpaper. The illustrated plates appear well preserved.
Please see photographs as part of the condition report.
REFERENCES
Cambridge University Press, Jātaka Tales (1916), original first edition.
Open Library, OL14621092M; OCLC 377671; Library of Congress Control Number 17018045.
Folklore, Vol. 27 (1916), p. 448 — contemporary review.
Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society, Vol. 49, No. 3 (July 1917), pp. 615–617 — contemporary review.
SYNOPSIS
The Jātaka Tales belong to one of the oldest and most influential traditions of Buddhist storytelling. Preserved principally within the Pāli Buddhist canon, they recount the former lives of the Buddha, or Bodhisatta, across countless cycles of existence before his final enlightenment.
In these narratives, the future Buddha assumes many identities: kings, princes, merchants, ascetics and animals. Through episodes of courage, kindness, folly, trickery and sacrifice, the tales communicate the ethical principles of Buddhist teaching while preserving elements of ancient Indian social life, mythology and popular belief.
This collection includes such stories as The Crane and the Crab, The Ass in the Lion's Skin, The Tortoise and the Geese and King Makhadeva's Grey Hairs. Their themes frequently echo those found in Aesop's fables and other traditions of world folklore, making them of considerable interest to students of comparative mythology and the transmission of popular narratives.
Francis and Thomas's 1916 selection occupies an interesting place in the history of Western Buddhist scholarship, presenting these ancient narratives to an English-speaking readership through scholarly commentary and historical illustrations.
The combination of Buddhist literature, Indian mythology, comparative folklore and illustrated religious art makes this first edition particularly appealing to collectors of Eastern religion, mythology and the history of ideas.
AUTHOR BIO
Henry Thomas Francis (1837–1924) was a British Pāli scholar, former Fellow of Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, and Honorary Under-Librarian of Cambridge University Library. He was a contributor to the monumental six-volume English translation of The Jātaka; or, Stories of the Buddha's Former Births, edited by E. B. Cowell, translating the fifth volume and collaborating on the third.
Edward Joseph Thomas (1869–1958) was a British scholar of Buddhism, Sanskrit and Pāli associated with Emmanuel College and Cambridge University Library. His scholarship helped advance the academic study of Buddhist religious history and literature. His later publications included The Life of Buddha as Legend and History (1927) and The History of Buddhist Thought (1933).
1916 First Edition
JATAKA TALES
By H.T. Francis and E.J. Thomas
KEY DETAILS
Condition: Very Good
Format: Hardcover, 8vo; Approx. 240 × 157 mm
Published By: Cambridge: at the University Press, 1916
Language: English
Provenance: An early manuscript presentation inscription to the front endpaper, apparently reading:
Collation: xiv, 488 pp.; Eight plates present as called for; Complete.
SKU: BTETM0000642
Shipping Info: Approximate Package Dimensions H: 15, L: 30, W: 25 (Units: cm), W: 2Kg
Tracked Shipping, Insurance Coverage as per Customer Request
DESCRIPTION
Jataka Tales
SELECTED AND EDITED WITH INTRODUCTION AND NOTES — FIRST EDITION
First edition of Jātaka Tales: Selected and Edited with Introduction and Notes, an important early twentieth-century collection of Buddhist birth stories, selected and edited by the Cambridge scholars Henry Thomas Francis and Edward Joseph Thomas. Published by Cambridge University Press in 1916, the volume brings together 114 tales from the Jātaka tradition, accompanied by an introduction, scholarly notes and eight photographic plates illustrating ancient Buddhist sculpture and narrative art.
The Jātakas recount episodes from the previous lives of the Buddha, appearing in both human and animal forms, and constitute one of the most significant collections of narrative literature within the Buddhist tradition. Combining religious instruction with folklore, fable and moral allegory, the stories explore such themes as wisdom, compassion, self-sacrifice, generosity, deception and the consequences of human actions.
The editors sought to produce an accessible selection of tales possessing particular literary and folkloric interest. Their work reflects the developing scholarly study of Buddhist literature in Britain during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, while drawing attention to the parallels between Indian narrative traditions and those of other cultures.
Bound in the original publisher's tan-brown cloth, with black lettering and a distinctive pictorial panel to the upper board depicting a scene from the Chaddanta Jātaka. The spine bears the title, editors' names and Cambridge University Press device. Illustrated with eight photographic plates reproducing examples of Buddhist relief sculpture.
An attractive example of this early scholarly edition, retaining its original illustrated binding and with an interesting manuscript presentation inscription dated Barcelona, January 1919.
PROVENANCE
An early manuscript presentation inscription to the front endpaper, apparently reading:
“J. H. G. Bates” [surname reading uncertain]
“from C.S.S. and C.G.S.”
“Barcelona Jan 1919”
A further manuscript inscription on the front endpaper appears to read “Paseo S. Juan: 84”, corresponding to an address at Paseo de San Juan (now Passeig de Sant Joan), Barcelona.
The inscriptions suggest an early connection with Barcelona, Spain, within approximately three years of publication. The recipient and donors have not been positively identified, and the precise relationship of the street address to the presentation inscription remains unestablished.
CONDITION, COLLATION & COPY NOTES
COLLATION
xiv, 488 pp.; Eight plates present as called for; Complete.
Very Good.
Original publisher's illustrated tan-brown cloth, with black lettering and pictorial decoration to the upper board. General surface rubbing, handling marks and some soiling, with wear to the edges and corners, including localised fraying at the upper fore-edge corner. Minor abrasion and wear near the lower edge of the upper board. Spine lettering and publisher's device remain clearly legible. Both boards are firmly attached and the internal hinges are sound.
Generally well preserved, with some age-toning and occasional light spotting or handling marks. Manuscript inscriptions to the front endpaper. The illustrated plates appear well preserved.
Please see photographs as part of the condition report.
REFERENCES
Cambridge University Press, Jātaka Tales (1916), original first edition.
Open Library, OL14621092M; OCLC 377671; Library of Congress Control Number 17018045.
Folklore, Vol. 27 (1916), p. 448 — contemporary review.
Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society, Vol. 49, No. 3 (July 1917), pp. 615–617 — contemporary review.
SYNOPSIS
The Jātaka Tales belong to one of the oldest and most influential traditions of Buddhist storytelling. Preserved principally within the Pāli Buddhist canon, they recount the former lives of the Buddha, or Bodhisatta, across countless cycles of existence before his final enlightenment.
In these narratives, the future Buddha assumes many identities: kings, princes, merchants, ascetics and animals. Through episodes of courage, kindness, folly, trickery and sacrifice, the tales communicate the ethical principles of Buddhist teaching while preserving elements of ancient Indian social life, mythology and popular belief.
This collection includes such stories as The Crane and the Crab, The Ass in the Lion's Skin, The Tortoise and the Geese and King Makhadeva's Grey Hairs. Their themes frequently echo those found in Aesop's fables and other traditions of world folklore, making them of considerable interest to students of comparative mythology and the transmission of popular narratives.
Francis and Thomas's 1916 selection occupies an interesting place in the history of Western Buddhist scholarship, presenting these ancient narratives to an English-speaking readership through scholarly commentary and historical illustrations.
The combination of Buddhist literature, Indian mythology, comparative folklore and illustrated religious art makes this first edition particularly appealing to collectors of Eastern religion, mythology and the history of ideas.
AUTHOR BIO
Henry Thomas Francis (1837–1924) was a British Pāli scholar, former Fellow of Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, and Honorary Under-Librarian of Cambridge University Library. He was a contributor to the monumental six-volume English translation of The Jātaka; or, Stories of the Buddha's Former Births, edited by E. B. Cowell, translating the fifth volume and collaborating on the third.
Edward Joseph Thomas (1869–1958) was a British scholar of Buddhism, Sanskrit and Pāli associated with Emmanuel College and Cambridge University Library. His scholarship helped advance the academic study of Buddhist religious history and literature. His later publications included The Life of Buddha as Legend and History (1927) and The History of Buddhist Thought (1933).
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