status: sold

Sakai HOITSU ( 1761-1828)

One volume complete of Oson gafu, “The Drawing Book of Oson. “ ( This being one of the artist’s names taken from the village Uguisu-mura where he lived in retirement. ) Original yellow covers with karazuri decoration. Dated Hinoe ne ( 1816 ) but an early and very careful reprint of this famous book. Published by Owari Toheki do.

A very nice clean copy with original covers and title slip. In chitsu.

status: available

Katsushika HOKUSAI (1760-1849)

Two volumes complete: Toto shokei ichiran ( alternative title: Toto meisho ichiran ), “Fine Views of the Eastern Capital at a Glance.” The first of three important works showing the sights of Edo in colour prints. ( See this website for examples of the other two. ) Published Kansai 12 ( 1800 ) by Suwaraya Mohei,  Suwaraya Ihachi and Tsutaya Jusaburo, Edo.

Original hand-painted blue-green covers with original title slips. One or two minor marks, otherwise a nice example with perfect colour. In chitsu.

status: sold

Ki BAITEI (1774-1810)

One volume complete: Kyuro gafu, “Kyuro’s Picture Album.” ( Kyuro was one of the art-names of Baitei, a Nanga painter in the Buson manner. ) The first edition of this book is in two volumes with haiku, c 1795. However, there is some confusion on the other issues: Mitchell, Biobibliography Of  Nanga, Maruyama, Shijo Illustrated Books, pages 402-4, lists three examples: “A” ( 2 vol. 1795 ); “B” ( 2 vol. 1799 ), and “C” ( 1 vol. 1797 ). The example offered here does not tally with either of these having preface of 2 pp. with 64 single-page illustrations plus 2 pp. afterward and colophon dated Kansai 11 ( 1799 ) published by Koto Shorin. There are also examples with 62 pp. of illustrations and some lacking forward and or afterward and colophon. A later edition of 1824 is also known. A famous book with impressive, bold and austere images.

Lacking original covers and title slip and with some offsetting, but generally a nice copy. Ex Bing collection. In chitsu.

status: sold

Katsushika HOKUSAI (1760-1849)

One volume complete: Shuga ichiran, “Excellent Paintings at a Glance.” One of Hokusai’s most undervalued books but at the same time one of his best documented. ( See Hokusa’s Shuga Ichiran, An annotated description of Hokusai’s Shuga Ichiran by C. Ouwehand, Heinz Kaempfer Fund, 1991. Based on the copy in the National Museum of Ethnology, Leiden. ) Two versions are known: A colour printed edition ( as here, and Leiden ) and a monochrome example with title Denshin gakyo. The book is unusual ( and must have been expensive ) as it is partly printed in gold with mica added. There were a number of later reprints of this book. Published by Hishiya Kyubei, Nagoya and five others, c 1818.

Original dark brown burnished covers. Original title slip ( faded ). Front cover nibbled at edge affecting edge of first two sheets of preface. Other minor marks and soil, but generally a nice copy.

status: available

Katsushika HOKUSAI (1760-1849)

One volume complete: Denshin kaishu-ippitsu gafu, “Drawing Manual – Album of Drawing with one Stroke of the Brush.” Similar to the ryakuga style which was pioneered by Masayoshi. One of the best known and most influential of Hokusai’s books and one which was reprinted and copied many times. Published 1823 by Eirakuya Toshiro, Nagoya.

Original burnished orange covers. Original title slip. A nice early example: This is a difficult book to find without the fugitive pigments being completely washed out. This example has been in the collection of four collectors: Jaeger; Kari and the other two unread ( seals inside front cover ).

status: sold

Yashima GAKUTEI (Fl. c 1786-1868)

One volume complete: Ichiro gafu, “Ichiro’s [ Gakutei’s ] Picture album.” The prints were first issued in a private two volume publication with kyoka poems ( c 1820 ). Published by Gasendo, Edo, 1823.

Original dark brown covers with burnished pattern. Original blue title slip. A nice early copy. This popular book was reprinted many times.

status: sold

Oishi MATORA (1794-1833)

Two large volumes complete: Soga kokufu, “Sketches of National Customs.” A rare work with wonderful images which Vignier, in Odin, described as “Tirage d’une delicatessen remarquable.” Published by Yoshinoye Nimbei, Kyoto; Tsuruya Kiemon, Edo; Kawachiya Kihei and Kawachiya Kichibei, Osaka, 1828.

Original creped and printed covers with original title slips. Two backed wormholes running through two volumes which do not detract from the lovely compositions, otherwise very good.

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status: sold

Katsushika HOKUSAI (1760-1849)

One volume complete: Hokusai soga, “Hokusai’s Free Sketches.” Two versions of this publication are known: Solely printed in sumi and ( as here ) sumi with gradated shading and a pink block. This version also with the colophon. Both are almost certainly contemporaneous. Contain’s some of Hokusai’s best known images and was considered by Jack Hillier to contain “the finest figure prints by Hokusai.” Published 1820 by Eirakuya, Nagoya; Surawaya Mohei and seven others in Edo.

Original light blue burnished covers. Original title slip. Some slight damage to covers, and thumbing on some pages, but overall a very nice copy with fine impressions.

status: sold

Katsushika HOKUSAI (1760-1849)

Three volumes complete: Kyoka yama-mata-yama, “Kyoka: Range Upon Range of Mountains.” The fanciful title is based on the fact that the views illustrated are located around Yama-no-te, the higher ground situated in the north and north-western part of Edo. The pictures accompanied by kyoka poems. This is one of Hokusai’s most admired works. Published 1804 by Tsutaya Jusaburo.

Original dark green embossed covers. Original title slips. A very nice clean copy of this famous book. Some slight smudging of pigments and turning of colour on one or two sheets, but otherwise extremely well retained colour, the elusive blue and purple intact.

status: sold

Katsushika HOKUSAI (1760-1849)

A fine example of the first edition, the “Falcon’s Feather”, of volume one of the Fugaku hyakkei, the “Hundred Views of Mount Fuji.” ( So-called because the title slip is printed in blue with a decorative design of a falcon’s feather – missing on later editions. ) The first volume was published in 3/1834 by the Edo firm of Nishimura Sukezo together with the Nagoya publisher Eirakuya Toshiro and the Edo firms of Kadomaruya Jinsuke and Nishimuraya Yohachi using Hokusai’s favourite engraver, Egawa, amongst others. One of the great and most influential illustrated books. Not just with other Japanese artists, but on European artists of the last century. Full of exquisite compositions, best appreciated in the first or early editions. Due to their popularity, the volumes were reprinted many times. It is also a target for cutting up and separately mounting the pages. Colophon signed: “the old man mad about drawing, formerly Hokusai Iitsu aged 75.”  

Original covers and title slip. One small wormhole on a few pages. Otherwise extremely good condition with only minimal soil.

status: available

Takehara SHUNCHOSAI (Fl. c 1772-1801)

An original wood block for printing four pages for one of his books of famous places published in the 1780s and 1790s. Shows Yamashira Village. Shunchosai, of Osaka, was one of the leading topographical illustrators. Original pictorial blocks as opposed to pure calligraphy are rare. Interestingly, some of the descriptive text has been corrected with new plugs dropped in showing that during the lifetime of the blocks facts needed changing. Sold “as is” with damage, signs of old woodworm, etc. Size: 33.25 x 9 in.; 84.5 x 22.75 cms. A fine addition to a collection of illustrated books.

status: available

Yashima GAKUTEI (1786-1868) and Totoya HOKKEI (1780-1850)

Two vols. kyoka books complete: Ressen retsujo gazoshu, a "Collection of the Portraits of Immortal Men and Women." Twenty eight portraits of Chinese hermits and twenty one portraits of celebrated women in Japanese history. Being a selection of kyoka presented at the meetimg held at Kawachiya of Yanagibashi Ryogoku in Edo, 1st day of the 9th month, Bunsei 7 ( 1824 ). Published by Shinsenyen. Rare.

Original covers and title slips. Minor marks to covers, otherwise very good condition.

 

status: sold

Ichiyusai KUNIYOSHI (1797-1861)

One volume complete: Shinkoku hyakushoden, "New Edition of the Lives of a Hundred Generals." N.d. ( but 1848 ).  Five double pages of colour illustrations and one hundred b.&w. illustrations of generals. Three page preface signed Kuniyoshi ga. The Pulverer copy ( illustrated, no.253, p.222, Heroes & Ghosts, Hotei Publishing, 1998 ) appears to be a later edition lacking the signature and with only 49 b.&w. illustrations of heroes. Rare.

Original covers and title slip in near perfect condition.

 

status: sold

Aoigaoka HOKKEI (1780-1850)

One volume, black & white, Kyoka suikoden shu, “Picture Book of the Water Margins with Kyoka Poems”. Presumably this is based on the 1829 Kyoka suikoden gazo shu . There were a number of variant editions after it.

Original covers and title slip. Slight wormage, otherwise good condition. Although pages start at 6 ( and go to 23 ) there is no indication of any pages being removed.

 status: sold

Suzuki HARUNOBU (1724-1770)

3 volume complete : Ehon yachiyogusa, “The Plant of Eight Thousand Ages”. Sumi images illustrating old poems with the Sumida River as a central theme. Published Meiwa 5, 1768 by Yamazaki Kinbei.

Original covers but later title slips. One page with sumi marks, otherwise good impressions and condition.

  
status: sold

Katsushika HOKUSAI (1760-1849)

Volume 1 only of Ehon Sumidagawa ryogan ichiran, “Panoramic Views Along the Bank of the Sumida River”. Published by Senkakudo c1805/6. Minor marks and wormage, otherwise a fine copy, with perfect colour, of the first edition. Original covers and title slip.

status: sold

Utagawa TOYOKUNI (1769-1825)

Ehon kukuri-zome,  “Tie-Dyed Work”. Two volumes complete. Original covers and one title slip. Published by Izumiya Ichibei, 1794. Shows bijin at famous spots around Edo. Some backed wormage on vol. 2 and some damage to covers, but otherwise good condition with exceptional, pristine colour. Extremely rare. Ex Haviland and Duret collections.

status: sold

Kitao MASAYOSHI (1764-1824)

Choju Ryakugashiki, “Simplified Forms of Drawing Birds and Animals”. Published by Suharaya Ichibei, Kwansei 9 ( 1797 ). One volume complete. First edition. Original covers and title slip. Beautiful condition with perfect colour: The best copy of one of these “simplified” books of Masayoshi’s I have seen. Ex collection Dr E.F.

status: sold

Kitao SHIGEMASA  (1739-1820) and Katsukawa SHUNSHO (1726-1792) 

Seiro bijin awase sugata kagami, Mirror of Beautiful Women of the Green Houses, published by Tsutaya Juzaburo, Anei 5, 1776. Complete in three volumes divided into Spring and Summer in volume 1 and Autumn and Winter in volume 2. Considered to be one of the great "choice" colour printed books. Very rare complete.

Lacking title slips. Light sumi affecting 2,5 designs. Minor fading and marks and repaired wormage but generally a very good example of this fine book.

   
status: sold

Kitagawa UTAMARO (1754-1806)

Two volumes: Momo chidori kyoka awase, “Birds Compared in Humorous Songs” published by Tsutaya Juzaburo in 1790 or 1791. Each double page illustration contains two kyoka poems; eight illustrations in vol.1 and seven illustrations in vol.2, with preface to each volume and an identical colophon in each ( this example lacks one of these ).

Other examples are known with alternative titles which appear to be slightly later. The sequence of the illustrations varies from copy to copy. Of the utmost rarity there appearing to be around thirteen extant copies and considered to be one of the great Japanese illustrated books. Original covers with one original title slip. Covers and title as per B.M. copy. 

Covers slightly worn with slight wormage to one cover. Contents very clean with minimal soil, marks, etc. Lacks one of the two identical colophons, but a fine example of this great rarity.

Utagawa TOYOHIRO (1773-1828)

Two volumes complete of the excessively rare book: Ehon Azuma Warawa, "Picture Book: Children of the East". Shows popular life in Edo during the 12 months and every image is a success. Published by Izumiya Ichibei, Bunkwa 1, 1804. There appear to be only a few complete copies extant of this book and they are in bad condition., Original covers and title slips., Ex Bing collection.

Covers worn. Slight wormage and some thumbing but very fine colour and impression.

           
status: sold

status: sold

Katsushika HOKUSAI (1760-1849)

Two volumes complete Toto shokei ichiran "A View of the Famous Sights of the Eastern Capital". Dated Kansei 12 (1800) and published by Tsutaya Jusaburo, Suwaraya Mohei and Suwaraya Ihachi, all of Edo. Original covers, hand-painted with Iris flowers, and title slips. The first edition (probably of 200 copies) was published solely by Tsutaya Jusaburo in 1800 with title Toto meisho ichiran. The example offered here was published shortly afterwards (probably also in 1800). There were also later reprints in 1815 and 1840. One of Hokusai's best known books and featuring his best work of this period. Difficult to find in an early edition. Ex Kegan Paul Gallery.

Good condition: title slips damaged and some thumbing. A little movement of the blue pigment due to dampness, but overall a nice example of this important work. Signed on colophon Hokusai Tatsumasa.

status: sold

Kitagawa UTAMARO (1754-1806)

(Seiro Ehon) Nenju Gyoji, Yoshiwara Events or "Annals of the Green Houses". One of Utamaro's major books showing the annual events in the only government licensed brothel district in the city of Edo (Tokyo). Two volumes complete published Spring 1804 by Kazusaya Chusuke juo. Text by Jippensha Ikku. Original covers and title slips. Very fine copy: Fine impressions with very fine, completely unfaded colours. Slight stain affecting first few pages of text and a small wormhole within binding affecting the first few illustrations. Covers in very good  condition, some rubbing of title slips. Ex collections Theodore Duret (seals on last page of each vol.) and Tadamasa Hayashi (large square seals on first page of each vol.). Catalogue entry (lot 35) pasted onto inside of front cover: "Tres bel exemmplaire en parfait etat". Also labels identifying each scene in French lightly attached in margin of each design. Certainly one of the finest copies extant.