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A design from the set Azuma nishiki ukiyo kodan, “Rough Tales of the Floating World.” Various publishers between 1867-1868, here Omi-Kyu in 1868. The prints interpret stories told by various well known storytellers, in this case Momokawa Enkoku. Shows the Monkey King (Son Goku) being catapulted into the air by the force of the large palm fan of Princess Iron Fan. (The fan was capable of creating strong winds and putting out fires.) She was a Rasetsunyo, a female protector of Buddhism. A comparatively rare set

Very good impression, colour and condition. Signed Ikkaisai Yoshitoshi hitsu.

Status: Sold

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Shows the young warrior said to be as strong as an ox Sen-Kanja Usjiwaka Saburo Yoshitora. From the fine chuban set of fifty prints Biyu Suikoden, “Handsome Heroes of the Water Margin” published by Omiya Kyujiro, 1866/7 ( this being 1867 ).

Fine impression and colour. Very good condition. Signed Ikkaisai Yoshitoshi hitsu.

Status: Sold

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Shows Ake Tamanosuke, a famous rider and archer with a wooden statue of his mentor Kansho behind him. From the fine chuban set of fifty prints Biyu Suikoden, “Handsome Heroes of the Water Margin” published by Omiya Kyujiro, 1866/7 ( this being 1866 ).

Fine impression and colour with mica ground. Very good condition. Signed Ikkaisai Yoshitoshi hitsu.

Status: Sold

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Shows the boisterous Koo-maru, also known as “Hyonosuke” the Leopard Kid. From the fine chuban set of fifty prints Biyu Suikoden, “Handsome Heroes of the Water Margin” published by Omiya Kyujiro, 1866/7 ( this being 1866 ).

Fine impression and colour. Very good condition. Signed Ikkaisai Yoshitoshi hitsu.

Status: Sold

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Shows Rokugi Suginosuke Norifusa, a robber-chief and magician, also known as Tengu-jiro as he could fly like the tengus. From the fine chuban set of fifty prints Biyu Suikoden, “Handsome Heroes of the Water Margin” published by Omiya Kyujiro, 1866/7 ( this being 1867 ).

Fine impression and colour with mica. Very good condition. Signed Ikkaisai Yoshitoshi hitsu.

Status: Sold

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Shows Akashi Shiganosuke, the notoriously strong Yokozuma sumo-fighter, holding an opponent at bay with one hand. From the fine chuban set of fifty prints Biyu Suikoden, “Handsome Heroes of the Water Margin” published by Omiya Kyujiro, 1866/7 ( this being 1867 ).

Fine impression and colour. Very good condition. Signed Ikkaisai Yoshitoshi hitsu.

Status: Sold

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Shows Oshima Tanzo, a member of the robber-chief Shindo Kajiro Nobuyuki’s tribe. From the fine chuban set of fifty prints Biyu Suikoden, “Handsome Heroes of the Water Margin” published by Omiya Kyujiro, 1866/7 ( this being 1866 ).

Fine impression and colour. Very good condition. Signed Ikkaisai Yoshitoshi hitsu.

Status: Sold

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Shows the robber-chief Shindo Kojiro Nobuyuki being asked by the monkey spirit of Shinohaza to avenge his murder by Inaba Taro. From the fine chuban set of fifty prints Biyu Suikoden, “Handsome Heroes of the Water Margin” published by Omiya Kyujiro, 1866/7 ( this being 1867 ).

Fine impression and colour with strong burnishing. Very good condition. Signed Ikkaisai Yoshitoshi hitsu.

Status: Sold

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Shows Kinezumi Konoshi Kaiden, the muscular monk, killing a monstrous wild cat that had tormented a village. From the fine chuban set of fifty prints Biyu Suikoden, “Handsome Heroes of the Water Margin” published by Omiya Kyujiro, 1866/7 ( this being 1866 ).

Fine impression and colour. Very good condition. Signed Ikkaisai Yoshitoshi hitsu.

Status: Sold

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Shows Sangoku Taro who travelled through India and China learning conjuring tricks. From the fine chuban set of fifty prints Biyu Suikoden, “Handsome Heroes of the Water Margin” published by Omiya Kyujiro, 1866/7 ( this being 1866 ).

Fine impression and colour with mica ground. Very good condition. Signed Ikkaisai Yoshitoshi hitsu.

Status: Sold

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Shows Satami Jirotaro Yoshishige collecting the head of his adversary Awa Katsegura that his faithful dog has retrieved. From the fine chuban set of fifty prints Biyu Suikoden, “Handsome Heroes of the Water Margin” published by Omiya Kyujiro, 1866/7.

Fine impression and colour with gauffrage on the dog and mica ground. Very good condition. Signed Ikkaisai Yoshitoshi hitsu.

Status: Sold

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The best design from the set Tsuki hyakushi, the “Hundred Phases of the Moon”. The set published between 1885 and 1892 ( this being 1886 ) by Akiyama Buemon. Shows Benkei, at the prow of the ship holding Yoshitsune, attempting to pacify the ghosts of the Taira warriors and hence calm the storm in Daimotsu Bay.

Very good impression and colour. Full margins with extensive mica. Offsetting visible au verso, otherwise very good condition. Signed Yoshitoshi.

Status: Sold

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Lu Ta ( Lu Chi Shen ) demolishing the gate of the temple of the Five-Crested Mountain. A Chinese captain, he accidentally killed a man and to escape death he became a priest at the temple. The abbot cut his hair and renamed him Lu Chi Shen, “Lu of Deep Wisdom.” However, quickly disregarding priestly vows, he became violent again and drank heavily. Staggering back one night he shattered the temple gate fighting the huge wooden guardian figures. The abbot dimissed him and he reappears as one of the 108 heroes of the Suikoden. Published by Matsui 1887.

Very fine impression of the earliest state of the first edition with blind printing and burnishing. This design was reprinted by Hasegawa with seal in upper left margin “Reproduction not permitted” and lacking date. Also, the lovely pigment used to colour the torso of the guardian figure ( which oxidizes ) is replaced with an inferior colour . There are also intermediate printings between first and Hasegawa version. Fine colour. Fine condition with left margin intact: These vertical designs must have the left border uncut as it often contains publication information. Signed Yoshitoshi.

Status: Sold

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Sakata Kintoki asleep in Raiko’s chamber preparing to rid him of the monstrous spider. From Yoshitoshi manga, “Sketches by Yoshitoshi.” A fine set of seven diptychs published by Kobayashi 1885-86 ( this being 1886 ).

Very fine impression of the first edition; the spider’s web printed in silver and with burnishing. Fine colour and as originally published with no backing paper, with the margins completely untrimmed ( often cut in this set ), and plenty of space for joining. Signed Yoshitoshi ga.

Status: Sold

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Murai Choan murders his brother at the crossroads of Fudanotsuji from Shinsen azuma nishiki-e, “New Selection of Eastern Brocade Pictures.” Published 1885-9 by Tsunashima. Choan is a character in a Kabuki drama but there is no mention of him killing his brother – artistic license.

Very fine impression of the first edition ( with three-colour cartouche and yellow borders ). Fine colour and as originally published with no backing paper, with the margins completely untrimmed, and plenty of space for joining. Signed Yoshitoshi.

Status: Sold

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Shows Uesugi no Terutora, best known as Kenshin, riding into battle through clouds of smoke from the set Yoshitoshi musha burui, “Yoshitoshi’s Courageous Warriors.” He is best known for his long standing conflict with Takeda Shingen. For a time the two champions met every year, the campaigns always ending indecisively. Published by Kobayashi Tetsujiro, 1883 ( reprinted by Tsunajima Kamekichi ). Probably the best design from this excellent set.

Very fine impression of the first edition with two small red seals in left margin, complete date, original publisher and three-colour cartouche. There are a number of later editions of this set. Very fine colour. Album backing, otherwise very good condition. Signed Taiso Yoshitoshi ga.

Status: Sold

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Wakashima Gonemon diving into a whirlpool to retrieve the ancient dragon-headed bell; it’s position indicated by two beams of light. The water god was unwilling to part with the bell. The finest design from Azuma no nishiki ukiyo kodan, published by Masudaya 1867/11. Second edition without kiri seal.

Very good impression and colour. Trimmed slightly at bottom, otherwise very good condition. Signed Ikkaisai Yoshitoshi ga.

Status: Sold

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The old hag of Adachi Moor. A gruesome tale of a high-ranking woman who kills young children to supply their blood to the local lord who suffers from an unknown disease. She is usually shown in a gourd vine-clad hut wielding a large knife. This design shows the actor Onoe Kikugoro V as the old crone in a revival of the Mokuami play in 1890. Published 1890 by Akiyama Buemon.

Fine impression and colour. Minor edge creases, otherwise very good condition. Large margins for joining. Signed Okokkeidoju Yoshitoshi ga.

Status: Sold

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Lady Yodo, Yodo no Kimi, from the fine set Ikkai zuihitsu, “Essays by Yoshitoshi.” Lady Yodo ( 1567 – 1615 ) , the concubine of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, was installed at Yodo castle to the south of Kyoto. She bore him a son, Hideyori, in 1598 but the same year Hideyoshi died and Tokugawa Ieyasu staked his claim for political power. Lady Yodo fled to Osaka castle with her child where they eventually committed suicide. She is shown surrounded by smoke from the fire which destroyed the castle. Published by Masadaya, 1872/3.

Fine impression. This is the first edition with red seals in right margin ( rather than black ) and a lightly printed background, rather than the dark ground of later editions. Fine colour. Very slight centre fold and minor edge soil, otherwise very good condition. Signed Ikkaisai Yoshitoshi hitsu.

Status: Sold

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Kiyohime from the fine set Wakan hyaku monogatari. “One Hundred Ghost Stories of China and Japan.” This famous story set in A.D.928 tells of unrequited love. It inspired a number of Kabuki and No plays and relates how Kiyohime’s love for the monk Anchin, who lived in the Dojo-ji temple on the banks of the Hidaka river, was repulsed due to his monk’s vows. To escape her attentions he hid in the great temple bell which happened to be placed on the ground. Kiyohime, swimming across the flooded river, saw the bell and transformed herself into a dragon which beat the bell and destroyed it and Anchin. Kiyohime is shown emerging from the river. Published by Daikin, 1865. This impression is from the rare first deluxe edition, on thick hosho and with fine burnishing to depict the water streaming off Kiyohime, and other special effects. Later editions lack these subtleties.

Superb impression. Extensive burnishing to clouds, hair and water.Very fine colour ( with deluxe red ). Minor edge thinning but with large margins. Signed Ikkaisai Yoshitoshi ga.

Status: Sold

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Shows Uesugi no Terutora, best known as Kenshin, riding into battle through clouds of smoke from the set Yoshitoshi musha burui, “Yoshitoshi’s Courageous Warriors.” He is best known for his long standing conflict with Takeda Shingen. For a time the two champions met every year, the campaigns always ending indecisively. Published by Kobayashi Tetsujiro, 1883 ( reprinted by Tsunajima Kamekichi ). Probably the best design from this excellent set.

Very fine impression of the first edition with two small red seals in left margin, complete date, original publisher and three-colour cartouche. There are a number of later editions of this set. Very fine colour. Fine condition. Signed Taiso Yoshitoshi ga.

Status: Sold

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A triptych showing a massive exploding mine throwing bodies into the air. Title: Taiheiki Masakiyo nansen no zu, “Masakiyo’s Difficult Battle from the Taiheiki Chronicles.” Published 10/1866 by Yamajin. Although set in the fourteenth century, in fact this is a comment on the recent ( spring of 1866 ) campaign of the Tokugawa Shogun Iemochi. He had temporarily defeated the dissident Choshu samurai who had shelled the Shogun’s palace in Edo in 7/1864. Sato Masakiyo on horseback is probably meant to represent the famous general Kato Kiyomasa. One of Yoshitoshi’s great designs and a similar composition is used by him in several of his picture books.

Fine impression and colour. Slight vertical centre folds strengthened au verso, otherwise good condition. Signed Ikkaisai Yoshitoshi hitsu.

Status: Sold

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The Heian courtier Fujiwara no Yasumasa playing the flute by moonlight. Based on a
painting Yoshitoshi exhibited at the Exhibition for the Advancement of Painting in the
autumn of 1882. The story relates that while Fujiwara no Yasumasa was playing on Ichihara Moor he was approached by the bandit Kidomaru who intended to kill him. Instead he was overcome by the beauty of the music and gave up his plan. Yoshitoshi’s painting was so well received, the subject was incorporated into a play with Ichikawa Danjuro IX playing Fujiwara no Yasumasa several months after the publication of the print. Published 1883 by Akiyama Buemon. Considered by cogniscenti to be Yoshitoshi’s finest design.

Superb impression of the utmost finesse. This appears to be the only illustrated example with the background clouds wiped from left to right. The “proof” impression in The Philadelphia Museum of Art is annotated “Please print the background colour this way” [ clouds wiped right to left ]. Fine colour. Minimal shaving bottom centre sheet and a slight discoloration on last sheet, otherwise fine condition with extra paper for joining. Signed Oju Taiso Yoshitoshi sha.

Status: Sold

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Snow from the set Setsugekka no uchi, “Snow, Moon and Flowers” published by Akiyama Buemon, 1890. Shows half-length portraits of famous actors, in this case Onoe Baiko V ( Onoe Kikugoro V, 1844-1903 ) as the priest Iwakura Sogen. Various versions of the story and play exist concerning Sogen’s infatuation with Irokotohime. First edition ( the second state titled “Iwakura Sogen in the Hermitage Scene from Hanafubuki” ).

Superb impression, colour and condition. Totally untrimmed with extra paper all round. Signed Yoshitoshi.

Status: Sold

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The best design from the set Tsuki hyakushi, the “Hundred Phases of the Moon”. The set published between 1885 and 1892 ( this being 1886 ) by Akiyama Buemon. Shows Benkei, at the prow of the ship holding Yoshitsune, attempting to pacify the ghosts of the Taira warriors and hence calm the storm. The finest impression of this design I have catalogued.

Superb impression, fine colour and condition with large margins. Strong wood grain evident and scattered mica. This impression, never having been in an album, avoids the offsetting which often spoils this design because of its position in album form. Signed Yoshitoshi.

Status: Sold

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Gikeiki gojobashi no zu. Shows Ushiwaka and Benkei duelling on Gojo Bridge. An episode from the Chronicles of Yoshitsune, 1881. This impression is unlike any other illustrated example: The moon does not have a printed outline and there are delicately wiped clouds across it.

Very good impression and colour. Slight trimming and retains original album backing. Signed Taiso Yoshitoshi ga.

Status: Sold

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Nippon ryakushi, “A Brief History of Japan”. Shows Susanoo no Mikoto killing the 8 – headed serpent at Hirokawa in Izumo Province. Published by Izawa Genjiro, 1887. Designed in the same format as the set Dai Nippon shiyaku zue, 1879. An extremely rare triptych.

Very fine impression and colour. Retains original album backing, otherwise very good condition. Signed Taiso Yoshitoshi ga.

Status: Sold

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Yoshitoshi’s masterpiece. Shows Mongaku ( Endo Morito c 1120-1200 ) subjecting himself to three years penance as a Buddhist monk beneath the waterfall of Mount Nachi in Kii Province. Morito inflicted this punishment on himself because he had inadvertently cut off the head of Kesa Gozen, the wife of the palace guard Watanabe Wataru, with whom he was in love. Published 1859 ( centre sheet ) and 1860 ( outside panels ) by Kadokin. Extremely rare: Another ( trimmed ) impression in the Baur collection, Geneve, Switzerland.

Fine impression, very good colour. Minor marks, otherwise very good condition. Extensive splashed gofun. Full size with extra paper around. Signed Ikkaisai Yoshitoshi hitsu.

Status: Sold

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A diptych showing Urashima Taro returning home from the palace of the Dragon King from the set Yoshitoshi manga, “Sketches by Yoshitoshi”. Published by Kobayashi, Meiji 19 ( 1/1886 ). First edition. ( It was republished by Hasegawa 1887.)

Very good impression and colour with margin for joining. Minor backed wormhole otherwise very good condition. Signed Yoshitoshi ga.

Status: Sold