Utagawa HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)

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The extremely rare first, private printing of Bora, the grey mullet (Mugil cephalus) with camellia and Japanese asparagusado. From a set of 10 prints in folding album form, privately commissioned for a poetry club, c 1832-34. Poems by Higaki Kunifune and Toshinoto Haruki. The judges’ names next to the poems. These were removed on the commercial editions. Rare because of the obvious reason that the numbers printed were directly related to the relatively small memberships of poetry groups.

Fine impression and colour of the earliest printing without kiwame seal and publisher’s seal. With judges’ names and without gradation at top. Centre fold (as always), otherwise very good condition. Signed Ichiyusai Hiroshige ga. Unknown collector’s seal au verso.

Status: Sold