Click here to view image full size.

An iconic image from Hiroshige’s oeuvre: Mountains and Rivers on the Kiso Road, Kisoji no yamakawa. A majestic snow scene showing a rugged part of the Kisokaido Road. One of the oldest in Japan, becoming less important after the Tokaido Road was constructed, which was faster and easier. Although no series title this is from a trinity of designs depicting Snow ( as here ), Moon and Flowers. These were the last three great prints Hiroshige designed. All are rare, especially Snow and Moon. Published 1857 by Okasawaya Taheiji.

Fine impression and colour. Slight yellowing of the paper, otherwise fine condition. Completely untrimmed. Matching sheets with extra paper all round. ( These three designs are martyres to trimming. ) Signed Hiroshige hitsu.

Status: Sold

 Click here to view image full size.

Kameido Umeyashiki, “The Plum Garden at Kameido.” Umeyashiki is the name of the plum garden on the bank of the Sumida River behind the Tenman Shrine at Kameido. From Meisho Edo hyakkei, the “One Hundred Views of Edo” published by Uoei between 1856 and 1858 ( this being 1857 ). A famous design because of Van Gogh’s 1887 copy. The tree was called Resting Dragon Plum and the branches grew so long that they penetrated the ground resulting in new shoots.

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

Status: Sold

 Click here to view image full size.

Fukagawa Suzaki jumantsubo. The one hundred-thousand tsubo [ an area of measure ] plain, Suzaki, Fukagawa, from Meisho Edo hyakkei, the “One Hundred Views of Edo” published by Uoei between 1856 and 1858 ( this being 1857 ). An eagle hovers over the snowy coastal plain at Suzaki with Mount Tsukuba and the Chiba mountains in the distance. This and the other similar designs from the set with large foreground objects were of particular interest to the Post Impressionists, and indeed, this design was considered by many collectors at the turn of the 19th century to be the finest print from the set. It is still judged to be one of the major designs.

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

Status: Sold

 Click here to view image full size.

“Evening Rain at Kozumi”, Kozumi no yau from the early set Kanazawa hakkei, “Eight Views in Kanazawa” published by Koshimuraya Heisuke, c 1835-6. This is an extremely rare and fine set and examples in good condition are very difficult to find. Each print contains a classical 31-syllable waka poem above. Kanazawa sits on the Sea of Japan bordered by the Japan Alps. One of Hiroshige’s finest compositions.

Very good impression. ( Later states have a mountain range printed in the background and a different colour scheme. ) Fine colour and condition with large margins. The publisher’s mark and censor seal intact in right margin. Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: Sold

 Click here to view image full size.

“Evening Snow at Uchikawa”, Uchikawa bosetsu from the early set Kanazawa hakkei, “Eight Views in Kanazawa” published by Koshimuraya Heisuke, c 1835-6. This is an extremely rare and fine set and examples in good condition are very difficult to find. Each print contains a classical 31-syllable waka poem above. Kanazawa sits on the Sea of Japan bordered by the Japan Alps. One of Hiroshige’s finest compositions.

Fine impression and colour. Slight yellowing of the paper, otherwise fine condition. Completely untrimmed. Matching sheets with extra paper all round. ( These three designs are martyres to trimming. ) Signed Hiroshige hitsu.

Status: Sold

 Click here to view image full size.

Hira bosetsu, “Evening Snow at Mount Hira” from the vertical Omi Hakkei set of eight views of Lake Biwa. Published by Uoya Eikichi, Snake 7, 1857. Omi is the largest freshwater lake in Japan which serves as a reservoir for the cities of Kyoto and Otsu.

Superb impression of the first edition. Fine colour. Several minor marks and lower margin trimmed slightly, otherwise fine. Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: Sold

 Click here to view image full size.

Arai watashibune no zu, “Ferry Boats at Arai.” Shows ferry boats outside the barrier – seen on the far shore –which was one of the most important on the Tokaido. 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

Very fine impression ( first edition ? ) with beautiful bokashi. Slight centre fold, otherwise fine condition and colour. Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: Sold

 Click here to view image full size.

Ishibe Megawa no sato, “Megawa Village near Ishibe” 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 travellers and revellers passing a tea house. There are temples near Ishibe that date from the Nara Period ( 701 – 784 ).

Very fine impression of what must be the first edition with beautiful gradation. Minimal soil top left corner, otherwise fine condition and colour. The best example of this design I have ever seen. Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: Sold

 Click here to view image full size.

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

 Click here to view image full size.

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

 Click here to view image full size.

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

 Click here to view image full size.

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

 Click here to view image full size.

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

 Click here to view image full size.

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

 Click here to view image full size.

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

 Click here to view image full size.

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

 Click here to view image full size.

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

 Click here to view image full size.

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

 Click here to view image full size.

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

 Click here to view image full size.

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

 Click here to view image full size.

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

 Click here to view image full size.

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

 Click here to view image full size.

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