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Suruga Miho no Matsubara. Shows the famous Pine Beech, Suruga Province. from Fuji sanjurokkei, “Thirty-six Views of Fuji” published by Tsutaya Kichizo, 1858. This was considered to offer one of the best views of Fuji.The set was started 5 months before Hiroshige’s death. Early impressions, as here, were printed very carefully as a tribute to Hiroshige. One of the six best designs from the set.

Fine, early impression. Perfect colour. Imperceptible centre fold and small soil in bottom right margin, otherwise fine condition. Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: Sold

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Kai Otsukinohara, the Otsuki Plain in Kai Province. A meandering stream with flowers and pampas grass from Fuji sanjurokkei, “Thirty-six Views of Fuji” published by Tsutaya Kichizo, 1858. This set was started 5 months before Hiroshige’s death. Early impressions, as here, were printed very carefully as a tribute to Hiroshige. One of the six best designs from the set.

Fine, early impression. Perfect colour. Imperceptible centre fold, otherwise fine condition. Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: Sold

The compound of the Tenman Shrine at Kameido, Kameido Tenmangu keidai no yuki. The best design from a Toto meisho set of 21 prints published by Kikakudo (Sanoki) c 1832-5 and then extended to 55 in c. 1839-42. Also one of the best known places in Edo with the Drum Bridge, koi ponds and wisteria which flowered in the Fifth Month. The main shrine is dedicated to the memory of Sugawara no Michizane (Tenjin), the father of Japanese learning and built in 1662. Hiroshige shows the shrine in winter under falling snow.

Fine early impression with the red publisher’s seal in right margin (later editions having the black seal of Sanoki). These later editions have a black sky and a block defect appears at the edge of the pond centre left. Fine colour. Small restoration bottom left corner, otherwise very good condition. Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: Sold

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Musashi Tamagawa, “Tama River, Musashi” Musashi Province. A view from Koganei with flowering cherry trees from Fuji sanjurokkei, “Thirty-six Views of Fuji” published by Tsutaya Kichizo, 1858. This set was started 5 months before Hiroshige’s death. Early impressions, as here, were printed very carefully as a tribute to Hiroshige. One of the six best designs from the set.

Fine, early impression. Perfect colour. Imperceptible centre fold, otherwise fine condition. Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: Sold

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Two tanzaku prints from a Toto meisho “Famous Places of the Eastern Capital” set that were printed two-to-a-sheet. They were cut down the middle but in this case the two prints were kept together which is extremely rare. On the left: Kanda Myoujin, “Kanda Shrine.” On the right: Shiba Akabane Zojoji, “Shiba Akabane Zojoji Temple.” Published c 1840.

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

Status: Sold

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Izu no sanchu, “In the Mountains, Izu” the Joren Falls flow down between hills from Fuji sanjurokkei, “Thirty-six Views of Fuji” published by Tsutaya Kichizo, 1858. This set was started 5 months before Hiroshige’s death. Early impressions, as here, were printed very carefully as a tribute to Hiroshige. One of the six best designs from the set.

Fine, early impression. Perfect colour. Imperceptible centre fold, otherwise fine condition. Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: Sold

Shiba Zojoji setchu, “Snow at Zojoji Temple” from a set Edo meisho mitu no nagame, “Three Special Views of Edo” published by Uoya Eikichi, c 1840-42. The temple, together with Kan’ei-ji, was the Tokugawa’s family temple. Rare.

Fine impression, colour and condition. Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: Sold

The compound of the Tenman Shrine at Kameido, Kameido Tenmangu keidai no yuki. The best design from a Toto meisho set of 21 prints published by Kikakudo (Sanoki) c 1832-5 and then extended to 55 in c. 1839-42. Also one of the best known places in Edo with the Drum Bridge, koi ponds and wisteria which flowered in the Fifth Month. The main shrine is dedicated to the memory of Sugawara no Michizane (Tenjin), the father of Japanese learning and built in 1662. Hiroshige shows the shrine in winter under falling snow.

Fine early impression with the red publisher’s seal in right margin (later editions having the black seal of Sanoki). These later editions have a black sky and a block defect appears at the edge of the pond centre left. Fine colour. Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: Sold

Soshu Enoshima Benzaiten kaicho mode Hongu Iwaya no zu, “Pilgrimage to the Cave Shrine of Benzaiten on Enoshima.” A triptych showing the back view of the island (the causeway being on the other side) with the Iwaya cave on the right. Groups of women from Edo schools of narrative chanting are seen with umbrellas (Benzaiten was a deity associated with music). The statue was displayed once every six years. Published by Sumiyoshi Masagoro, 1851.

Fine impression. Very good colour. Fine condition. Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: Sold

Midono from Kisokaido rokujukyutsugi no uchi , “Sixty-Nine Stations of the Kisokaido.” The set of seventy prints was published by Hoeido in 1835, but in 1837 Hiroshige took over and completed the series with the publisher Iseya Rihei (Kinjudo). The conjecture is that Hiroshige was the better known and more commercial artist, reinforced by the fact that Eisen’s name was removed from the designs already published. Hence only the first editions have his signature on those prints. Shows travellers in a field of pampas grass and a farm worker with a hoe to the left. On the hill above are torii gates leading to a Shinto shrine. The area here opens out after the narrow Kiso valley and is popular with walkers today. Provenance: Ex Grabhorn collection.

Fine impression of the earliest state with bokashi on the brow of the hill. Fine colour. Slight centre fold, otherwise very good condition. Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: Sold