Old and most famous bonsai books

[rockm]

Also in my collection are the Japanese versions of "The Bonsai Art of Kimura" volumes I and II. Extremely informative and amazing. They've been made into various articles over the years in bonsai magazines, but some of the chapters haven't. Simply amazing stuff and makes you look at how to do bonsai very differently. Get the Japanese versions if you can find them. I ran across both in an old bookstore that sells old books from estate sales etc.
https://www.amazon.com/Bonsai-Art-Kimura-Katsuhito-Onishi/dp/0963442309

Another "must have" is "Forest, Rock Planting and Ezo Spruce Bonsai" by Saburo Kato. Should be in everyone's collection. Shows how to create believable forests regardless of species. If you don't have it, and you're doing multiple tree plantings, you're probably doing it badly ;-)
https://www.amazon.com/Forest-Rock-Planting-Spruce-Bonsai/dp/0970439237

 

[coachspinks]

Uh, I'd be very surprised if that's so. This book was written back in the early 90's

Another great, underrated and not much known coffee table bonsai book is "The World of Bonsai" by Paul Lesniewicz and Eberhard Grames. From the late 80's.early 90's also. Big book, now hard to find and can be expensive. I saw it in English when it first came out. Was only able to get a copy a few years ago in French. Doesn't matter. It's all about pictures. Very well done pics of great bonsai and where they come from.
https://www.amazon.com/World-Bonsai-Paul-Lesniewicz/dp/0713721642

That was my first bonsai book. I gave it away after I stopped in the 90's.

 

[Shima]

Deborah R. Koreshoff
Bonsai: Its Art, Science, History and Philosophy

I loaned it so someone. It never came back. Pisses me off every time I think of it.

 

[rockm]

Although it's not technically "old" (although it's been eight years since it was published--which is unbelievable to me) "Gnarly Branches, Ancient Trees" written and photographed by our own fellow b'nutters Will Hiltz and Victrinia Ridgeway is also a MUST HAVE for any worthwhile book collection. It chronicles the work of legendary American bonsaiist and collector Dan Robinson in remarkable pictures and histories.
https://www.stonelantern.com/Bonsai_Tree_Book_Gnarly_Branches_Ancient_Trees_p/b1gnarly.htm

 

[rockm]

I loaned it so someone. It never came back. Pisses me off every time I think of it.

I think Koreshoff's book is overrated a bit, if that's any comfort. ;-)

 

[bonhe]

For me, Bonsai-Saikei. The Japanese Miniature Trees, Gardens, and Landscapes by Toshio Kawamoto and Joseph Y. Kurihara is the best for bonsai technique. It has ton of tricks for bonsai growth and it is collectable book. It is rare to find because it was limited edition in 1963. Each book has its own number! I think only 1000 books were printed!
Bonhe

 

[Adair M]

Each year a book is published showing the trees at Kokofu-ten. Studying those trees and displays helps train your eye.

 

[Bonsai Nut]

For me, Bonsai-Saikei. The Japanese Miniature Trees, Gardens, and Landscapes by Toshio Kawamoto and Joseph Y. Kurihara is the best for bonsai technique. It has ton of tricks for bonsai growth and it is collectable book. It is rare to find because it was limited edition in 1963. Each book has its own number! I think only 1000 books were printed!
Bonhe

This is one of my favorite bonsai books by the same author. About 45 years old, but good design is timeless. You can still buy used copies on Amazon...

 

[dirk hoorelbeke]

I loaned it so someone. It never came back. Pisses me off every time I think of it.

When you pass, you can lend mine for a while...

 

[SuperMarioZZZ]

Here it’s a blog post with many early bonsai books.

https://kyriolexy.wordpress.com/gemme-di-talento-larte-ed-il-bonsai/bonsai-books-in-the-early-age/

I m trying to buy Dwarf Trees from 1940 from Amazon US but the seller is not delivering the product to my location and now I m trying to convince him to do it.

I was looking to buy also a book from 1902, in frech, Les Arbes nains japonais, Leur formation au Japon, Leur utilisation et leur traitement eu Europe but I couldn’t find it.

 

[substratum]

What is the general thought about "Principles of Bonsai Design" by De Groot? I saw this book discussed briefly elsewhere on this forum.

I noticed that it is $38 (including shipping) from www.InternationalBonsai.com (which may be a "member pricing"), while it is going for FAR more than that on Amazon.

 

[River's Edge]

What is the general thought about "Principles of Bonsai Design" by De Groot? I saw this book discussed briefly elsewhere on this forum.

I noticed that it is $38 (including shipping) from www.InternationalBonsai.com (which may be a "member pricing"), while it is going for FAR more than that on Amazon.

I purchased the book from David at the Artisan's Cup in Portland. I find it well written and go back to it often. Although it has plenty of basics, i would say it tends to the theoretical, philosophical side. A keeper for my library.

 

[Bonsai Nut]

What is the general thought about "Principles of Bonsai Design" by De Groot? I saw this book discussed briefly elsewhere on this forum.

An excellent and one of my current favorites. Make sure you get the new "Principles of Bonsai Design" and not the older "Basic Bonsai Design" by the same author. The later title seems to be in broader distribution.

However I would not consider it an "old or most famous" bonsai book... just an excellent current book.

 

[rollwithak]

I’m looking for an artistic, coffee table type of Bonsai book that is rich with great examples and displays of good quality bonsai trees. Studying these to start catching eye of what great trees offer so I can know what to look for. Any suggestions?

 

[chicago1980]

Here are some books I would recommend.

 

[Emanon]

It’s interesting to read a bonsai book from 1900 even if it is probably outdated.

My first introduction to bonsai was through a copy of John Naka's Bonsai Techniques that was gifted to me along with a few pots to get me started in the hobby. The book was a great help (especially considering the book's greatest flaw -- so much of it is you should do in this month and that in that month and no qualifications re e.g. substrate are given based on location -- didn't affect me because I was/am in Southern California). But it was also a fun read as a document of the past and how things were done in the before time. As it turns out though, not too much was different from the advice given today -- just little curios like he makes not a single mention of akadama, pumice, or lava (everything is to be put into varying mixtures of soil, mulch, and sand). Any way... like @SuperMarioZZZ I've always also been interested in going back further in time to see the advice given to those growing trees in pots in previous centuries. Whenever I come across a book from the 19th century or earlier in a library it is always in Japanese (or Chinese...sorry for my ignorance).

I included pictures of a book that is currently on e-bay from 1904 but in Japanese. According to the posting: author is Matsunosuke Iguchi (Senshi Ran); publisher is Aoki Suzando; and year of publication is 8th edition, Meiji 37). Do these books ever get translated and published online somewhere? I know there is no market for it but it seems it could be easily be done with today's technology (OCR a scan and then Google Translate) and they're all public domain.

According to the Web site Bonsai Empire the first English language book about bonsai was published in 1940 and then the author makes mention of "Yoshimura and Halford's Miniature Trees and Landscapes" published in 1957.

 

[pandacular]

This thread interests me, as I have a curious fixation on vintage English bonsai books, ever since finding Claude Chidamian’s 1954 Bonsai: Miniature Trees and Kenji Mural’s Practical Bonsai for Beginners. The first claims to be the first English instructional book.

I would really love to get my hands on some of the early Brooklyn Botanic Gardens books, as well as any older collection books, as ones focusing on documenting excellent trees never get outdated.