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Tsuchiyama haru no ame, “Spring Rain at Tsuchiyama” from Hiroshige’s most famous set: Tokaido gojusan tsugi no uchi, “The Fifty-Three Stations of the Tokaido.” The set jointly published by Takenouchi Magohachi ( Hoeido ) and Tsuruya Kiemon ( Senkakudo ), 1833-34. Shows a daimyo’s procession crossing the Tamura River in Suzuka Pass, east of Tsuchiyama. The area is famous for its green tea and infamous for the treacherous pass in winter.

Very good early impression. Imperceptible centre fold and paper flaw at bottom left edge. Very good colour. ( Interestingly, a different pigment was used for the seals on this design which oxidises to a brown colour, rather than the usual red. ) Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: Sold

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Heavy snow with geisha in front of the torii in the Gion district of Kyoto. From the set of 10 prints Kyoto meisho no uchi, “Famous Views of Kyoto.” Published by Eisendo c 1834. The first edition of this design has the publisher’s mark and kiwame seal in blue in right margin. This impression, although the second edition, is still much sought after and rare.

Very good impression and colour. Imperceptible centre fold and minor marks in margin, otherwise good condition. Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: Sold

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Arashiyama manka, “Cherry Trees in Full Bloom at Arashiyama” from the set of 10 prints Kyoto meisho no uchi, “Famous Views of Kyoto.” Published by Eisendo c 1834. Arashiyama, to the west of Kyoto, was the place to admire the cherry blossom. Shows men poling a large raft down the Hosu River. Numerous states exist of this design: some with variant gradation on the river, others with colour variations on the far bank.

Very good impression. Slight fading. Imperceptible centre fold. Minor marks in margin, otherwise good condition. Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: Sold

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Tamagawa no shugetsu, “Autumn Moon over the Tama River” from the early set Edo kinko hakkei, “Eight Views in the Environs of Edo.” The set was first privately printed for the Taihaido poetry club by Sanoya Kihei ( Kikakudo ) c 1837-8 with three poems on each design. For obvious reasons examples from this edition are of the utmost rarity. The set was then re-issued with one poem on each ( as here ). Even examples of these are rare. Shows dusk falling over the Tama River whose source was Mount Tanba. The river was full of freshwater trout and fishermen can be seen on the river bank. Unidentified collector’s seal bottom left.

Very good impression and colour. Tips of upper two corners repaired, otherwise very good condition. Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: Sold

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Mariko from Tokaido gojusan tsugi, “The Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido”. The so-called Reisho Tokaido. Published by Maruya Seijiro, c 1851-2. Although Mariko, it probably shows the mountain village of Utsunoya on the way to the next station, Okabe. In contrast to most snow scenes where the earliest states have light blue graduated skies, this is only known with a slate-grey sky.

Fine impression. Very good colour. Imperceptible centre fold, otherwise very good condition. Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: Sold

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Bizen, Yukazan. A figureless snow scene and the best design from the set of twenty prints entitled: Sankai mitate sumo, “Mountains and Sea Contending like Wrestlers”- one of the most poetic of his titles which is in an umpire’s fan used for wrestling matches, top right. The set published and sealed Horse 7 and 8 ( 1858 ) by Yamadaya. ( Happer lists it as the previous Horse Year 1846. ) One of Hiroshige’s last designs and rare. The set is divided into ten designs of mountains and ten prints of harbours.

Very fine impression of the first edition ( variegated cartouche ). Fine colour. Imperceptible centre fold and the usual oxidation, otherwise very good condition. Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: Sold

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Tsukudajima hatsu hototogitsu, “The First Cuckoo at Tsukudajima Island” from Hiroshige’s first major landscape set of ten prints with title Toto meisho published by Shoeido c 1831-2. Shows a few boats off the Island in the Bay of Edo as seen from Eitai Bridge. To the right the Shiba district and on the left the tip of Honju Fukugawa. This is the rare first state with ochre border, graded blue on the water, and with the publisher’s name and address in right margin.

Fine impression and colour. Imperceptible centre fold. Large margins with publisher’s name and address in right margin intact. ( It is often trimmed, eg the Pulverer impression, pl. 6, Hiroshige, Matthi Forrer, 1997. ) Very good condition. Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: Sold

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Autumn moon at Ishiyama, Ishiyama no shugetsu, from the set of eight prints: Eight Views in Omi Province published 1834 by Hoeido. “Eight Views” was borrowed from Chinese poetry and each print conveys, pictorially, the kyoka poem written in the square label at the top right. To the left, hidden in trees, is the temple where Murasaki Shikibu ( c 978 – c 1014 ) wrote her great novel Tales of Genji. The scene shows Lake Biwa, Seta Bridge and Mount Hira on the horizon. Hiroshige probably never surpassed the ethereal, figureless quality this set possesses.

Very good impression, colour and condition with good margins. The top-left mountain always shows slippage of the blue block on this design. The set was advertised as a “work in black and white, lightly coloured” and early states have a very limited palette. Later editions of this design incorporate green and brown into the cliffs on the left. Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: Sold

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Evening Bell at Miidera Temple, Mii no bansho, from the set: Omi hakkei no uchi, “Eight Views in Omi Province.” The series of eight prints was published by Hoeido and Eikyudo, c.1834-5. When first published it was advertised as a “work in black and white, lightly coloured,” and Hiroshige was never to surpass the ethereal quality that these figureless landscapes possess. The theme “Eight Views” was borrowed from Chinese poetry and each print conveys pictorially the poem written in the square label at the top right. Beside it, in a red label, is the series title. The designs for the set are known in various states and there are variations in colouring and gradation. Shows the temple hidden in the hills on the southern side of Lake Biwa.

Fine impression. The first edition without the break in the line-block on left next to the row of trees and the break on the lower side of the cartouche containing title. ( Both can be seen on the impression in the Honolulu Academy of Art. ) Fine colour. Minor thinning, otherwise very good condition. Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: Sold

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A giant wave thrown up by the sea at Satta. Suruga Satta kaijo, “Waves Off the Satta Pass in Suruga Province” from the set Fuji sanjurokkei, the “Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji.” The finest design from the set. The spume of a wave was thought to transmogrify into chidori ( a species of plover ) which can be seen here flying above the sea. Published by Tsutaya Kichizo, 1858. One of Hiroshige’s most popular prints.

Very good impression, colour and condition. Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: Sold

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Masaki yukibare, “Clearing Weather After Snow.” A Toto meisho set of 21 prints published by Kikakudo ( Sanoki ) c 1832-5 and then extended to 55 in c 1839-42. Shows the temple on the far shore with boatmen navigating the river in the foreground. The scene under heavy snow.

Fine impression of the first edition with red Kikakudo seal in right margin ( later editions have the black seal of Sanoki ). Fine colour. Trimmed close on right side. Imperceptible centre fold, otherwise fine condition. Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: Sold

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The Urami Falls, Mt. Nikko, Shimotsuke Province. Shimotsuke, Nikkozan urami no taki. One of the best designs from Rokuju yoshu meisho zue, “Famous Places in the Sixty-Odd Provinces.” The series published by Koshimuraya Heisuke between 7/1853 and 3/1856 ( this being 8/1853 ). The “Back-View” waterfall, so-called because it could be viewed from a path underneath.

Fine early impression with blind-printing on the water. The first edition has the falling water printed blue and other colour variations. ( See Pulverer impression in Rokujuyoshu Meisho Zue, Iwanami Shoten, Tokyo, 1996, no 27. ) However, this is one of those cases where the earliest state is not necessarily the preferred one. Fine colour. Slight edge soil, otherwise very good condition. Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: Sold

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Amanohashidate in Tango Province. One of the best designs from Rokuju yoshu meisho zue, “Famous Places in the Sixty-Odd Provinces.” The series published by Koshimuraya Heisuke between 7/1853 and 3/1856 ( this being 12/1853 ). The sandbank extended about three kilometres into the Sea of Japan. With Miyajima and Matsushima, considered to be one of the three most beautiful spots in Japan..

Fine early impression. The first edition has variations in the clouds. ( See Pulverer impression in Rokujuyoshu Meisho Zue, Iwanami Shoten, Tokyo, 1996, no 38. ) Fine colour and condition. Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: Sold

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The Yoro waterfall in Mino Province. Mino Yoro no taki. One of the best designs from Rokuju yoshu meisho zue, “Famous Places in the Sixty-Odd Provinces.” The series published by Koshimuraya Heisuke between 7/1853 and 3/1856 ( this being 8/1853 ). The fall was also depicted by Hokusai in his set of waterfalls.

Very fine early impression with strong woodgrain and blind-printing on the fall. The first edition has the falling water printed blue and other colour variations. ( See Pulverer impression in Rokujuyoshu Meisho Zue, Iwanami Shoten, Tokyo, 1996, no 23. ) The present state is preferred by some collectors. Fine colour and condition. Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: Sold

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Women bringing offerings to the great shrine in Izumo, Izumo, taisha hotohoto no zue. Hotohoto was a festival on the 14th day of the first month and children went around receiving rice cakes or small amounts of money. One of the best designs from Rokuju yoshu meisho zue, “Famous Places in the Sixty-Odd Provinces.” The series published by Koshimuraya Heisuke between 7/1853 and 3/1856 ( this being 12/1853 ). Izumo is the oldest shrine in Japan in the far south-east of Honshu. The colourful foreground figures contrast with the silhouettes of others and cryptomeria trees receding into the mist.

Fine early impression with nice wiped bokashi across the foreground ( missing on later editions ). The first edition has gradation on the gowns of two of the figures and the trees are hardly visible. ( See Pulverer impression in Rokujuyoshu Meisho Zue, Iwanami Shoten, Tokyo, 1996, no 42. ) Fine colour. Imperceptible centre fold. Very good condition. Signed Ichiryusai Hiroshige ga.

Status: Sold