Kitao SEKKOSAI ( TOKINOBU ) ( Active 1745-1780 )

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Three volumes complete Saishiki gasen,”A Selection of Coloured Drawings.” Of the utmost rarity and one of the technically most brilliant books using kappazuri ( stencil printing ), fuki-bokashi ( blown pictures whereby atomised pigments were sprayed onto the paper ), gold and silver. Volume 1, 14 pages, a 2 page preface dated Meiwa hinoto ( 1767 ), signed Sekkosai, 12 un-numbered sheets, a frontispiece, 22 pages of coloured illustrations , four of which cover double-pages. Volume 2, 12 un-numbered sheets, a frontispiece and 23 pages of coloured illustrations, 2 of which cover double-pages. Volume 3, 13 un-numbered sheets, a frontispiece and 23 pages of coloured illustrations, 11 of which cover double-pages. A final single page, a colophon on the back of the last sheet attached to cover giving the date Meiwa hinoto I toshi kugatsu ( 1767 ). Publishers Shibukawa Daizo of Osaka, Konan Shiroemon of Kyoto and Subaru Heisuke of Edo. Original grey-blue covers and title slips ( some damage ).Minor marks and thumbing but generally a fine example of this extremely rare book. Ex collections Hubert ( Paris, 1928, no. 36 ); Hachette ( 1954, no. 333 ) and Huguette Beres ( Paris, 27/11/2002, lot 204 ).

Status: Sold