TOYOKUNI. (Japanese Woodblock book)
Tokyo, 1868. Item #98-5966
Japanese woodblock pirnted novel ILLUSTRATED IN B&W AND COLOR BY UTAGAWA KUNISADA, 14 installments in 29 parts, each 7 x 4.5, string-tied wraps, approx 10 leaves each, overall wear and toning but most illustr still sharp (though some of the color illustr are faded and/or soiled), in folding silver over boards case with two "ivory" closers. Well illustr in b&w, but each installment part has a FULL PAGE COLOR ILLUSTR BY KUNISADA--FORMING A DYPTIC FOR EACH INSTALLMENT. Most parts have tipped-in typed label stating title, author and part number. Kunisada is also known as Toyokuni III, as he was the popular follower of the great Toyokuni. Another MS note included indicates that this was published by Kichizo Tsutaya, and written by Santei Shumma and Yanagitei Tenehiko. An incredible and rare display of masterly Japanese woodcut illustration in its original state.
Price: $3,000.00