BAKUMATSUYA
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Ichiro Gafu
Woodblock printed book by Gakutei [Japan] Lovely, Meiji era edition of woodblock printed illustrations by Gakutei (1786?-1868), who was known by numerous names, including Ichiro. The original edition of this book was published in 1823 and this undated edition is from around 1900. Nagoya. Kajita Kansuke. ND [c1900]. 22 leaves. 25 x 17.8cm. In very…
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Fifty-Three Views of the Tokaido in Potted Tray Landscapes
Very scarce, original printing [Japan] Wonderful book by Kimura Tosen with art by the little known Utagawa Yoshishige aka Nan’yusai. Hiroshige’s Fifty-Three Stations of the Tokaido was first published in the early 1830s. This work, obviously based on Hiroshige’s idea, is a fascinating work of art. Each stage of the Tokaido is shown as a…
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Hokusai Shashin Gafu
Lovely book showing nice selection of his art [Japan] With 20 lovely diptychs by Hokusai. A deluxe publication with most pages sprinkled with mica powder (kirazuri). Bound accordion style. Tokyo. Meguro Isaburo. 1891. 46pp. 24.2 x 16.9cm. In very good condition. Minor wear to covers. Internally very good. Small ownership stamp on front cover title…
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Ginko Manga
Lovely pair of woodblock printed books by Adachi Ginko [Japan] A very nice pair of colour, woodblock printed books by Adachi Ginko (1853 – ?). Ginko was sent to prison in 1889 for one year for publishing an illustration of the Meiji Emperor as a skeleton. These two books contain a nice selection of his…
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Group of three 19th Century Japanese Photography Publications
Illustrated catalogues and periodical [Japan] Interesting group of 3 photograph and photographic equipment related booklets. On the left is an illustrated catalogue of cameras and other equipment from Tokyo Shashinkwan – The Handy Photographic Instruments Seller from 1895 (16pp). In the centre is a price list (without illustrations but with lovely camera-themed cover) of camera…
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Shushu – Complete set of 3 volumes
Collection of 270 Woodblock Printed Envelope Samples [Japan] Wonderful selection of 270 different woodblock printed designs of actual envelopes used to hold gift money. The first volume was published in 1924 and each envelope is numbered from 1-90. The second and third volumes were published the following year in 1925 and each contain 90 unnumbered…
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Woodblock Printed Book of Fish and other Sea Creatures
Lovely work by Kitao Masayoshi (Kuwagata Keisai) [Japan] Wonderful, colour, woodblock printed book by Keisai (1764-1824) showing a very nice variety of fish and other creatures of the sea. Illustrations inclue a whale, flatfish, tuna, lobster, blowfish (fugu), stingray, octopus, eel, shellfish, and turtles. The book is dated 1802 at rear (when the first edition…
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Wonderful, illustrated scroll by Kano Naganobu
Birds and trees in the four seasons [Japan] An impressive, hand painted scroll measuring almost 7 metres in length, delicately drawn and coloured. Kano Naganobu (1775-1828) was one of the masters of the Kano school of artists. Born in Edo (Tokyo), he was also a master carpenter of folding screens as well as a master…
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Large Format Albumen Photo of Tattooed Man and Palanquin
[Japan] Impressive, large format, hand-coloured albumen photo showing two palanquin (kago) carriers with a lady and her female attendant. One of the palanquin carriers has a striking, full back tattoo. Numbered 11 at lower right in negative. Photographer unknown. Possibly Usui Shuzaburo. 25.2 x 20.1cm. In very good condition. Unmounted and with only minor age…
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Large Format Photo of Tattooed Man
[Japan] Impressive, large format, hand-coloured albumen photo of a tattooed Japanese man. He was most likely a betto or groom, who would lead and take care of horses for their owners/riders. Interestingly, he is holding a small bag with the characters for, ‘Hi no Yojin’ [‘Be wary of fires’], an expression still used today in Japan to…