Ed van der Elsken spent three months in Japan during a 14-month trip through Asia, Africa, and America between 1960 and 1961, during which he took the photographs later published in his book Sweet Life (1966). While in Japan, van der Elsken met with many photographers and had a lasting influence on them. Once Upon a Time contains work from throughout his career, including Sweet Life, Een Liefdesgeschiedenis in Saint Germain des Prés [Love on the Left Bank] (1956), and Bagara (1958).

First Japanese edition; 4to (300 x 293 mm, 11¾ x 11½ in); black-and-white and colour photographs; black cloth-covered boards, titles stamped in black to spine and front, darkening along hinges from binder's glue, photo-illustrated dust-jacket, whites and orange, titles stamped in black, minor toning, minor wear to extremities, publisher's cardboard slipcase with photo-illustrated title label, light rubbing and wear along edges of spine, near-fine in an excellent slipcase; 212, [4], 59, [1]pp.