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Weather Clearing at Awazu, Awazu no seiran, 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.

Very good impression. Some slight fading, otherwise very good condition. Seal of Wakai Kenzaburo ( 1834-1908 ) bottom left corner. Wakai was a dealer and collector in Paris and Hayashi became his assistant. When Wakai retired in 1886 Hayashi went on to become the most successful dealer in France. Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: Sold

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Awa no naruto no fuha, “Rough Seas at the Whirlpools of Awa.” The best design from the Famous Places in the Sixty-odd Provinces published by Koshimuraya Heisuke, 1853 – 6 ( this design Hare 9 [ 1855 ] ). The area of water between Awa Province on the Island of Shikoku and the smaller island of Awaji where the waters of the Inland Sea and the Pacific Ocean meet was notorious for its whirlpools. ( See the triptych design of the same subject published two years later on this website. ) A famous design and justly popular.

Good impression with woodgrain showing on rocks and sky. The earliest impression I have seen was the Walter Amstutz copy ( ex Popper ), lot 207, Sothebys, 1991. Examination of that example shows that the narrow area of sea immediately below the distant hills differs and was obviously recut on all but this earliest state. Likewise, later impressions appear to have a different block for the sky as they do not show the distinctive woodgrain. Slight fading and marks, otherwise good condition. Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: Sold

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A rare tanzaku from a Toto Meisho set showing Nihonbashi in snow. Edo Castle and Mount Fuji in the background forming a clever zig-zag composition. Published by Shogendo c. 1837-8. Illustrated in colour in Tsuneo Tamba, The Art of Hiroshige, pl. 32.

Very good impression and colour. Small repaired wormage top right edge, otherwise good condition. Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: Sold

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Horikiri no hana shobu, “Flowering Irises at Horikiri” from Meisho Edo hyakkei, the “One Hundred Views of Edo” published by Uoei between 1856 and 1858 ( this being 1857 ). The village of Horikiri, situated up the Sumida River from Edo, was famous for growing irises, azaleas, morning glory and chrysanthemums. Large foreground images, such as the blooms here, was a popular compositional device used by Hiroshige and impressed and was picked-up by many French artists of the late 19th century. One of Hiroshige’s most popular prints.

Very good impression with strong woodgrain still evident in the sky and right iris. Fine colour and condition. Later editions have the right iris printed with solid colour. Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: Sold

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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. Imperceptible centre fold, otherwise very good condition. Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: Sold

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An extremely rare print with title: Genji monogatari Suma no maki, “The Suma Chapter from the Tale of Genji. “ Published by Maruya Seijiro, c 1832-4. Shows the salt water gatherers Matsukaze “Pine Wind”and Murasame “Drops of Rain” at Suma Beach. In the summer house is the courtier Yukihira who was banished to this lonely place in Settsu. This is the first edition: republished without clouds and title slip at right. ( See Tsuneo Tamba, The Art of Hiroshige, 1965, no. 131, p. 62. )

Good impression; very good colour. Centre fold. Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: Sold

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A vertical diptych showing a deep gorge covered in snow and the Fuji River which flowed to the left of Mount Fuji and eventually entered Suruga Bay. One of Hiroshige’s major designs and rare ( Strange: “One of the great landscapes of the nineteenth century.” ) Published by Sanoya Kihei, c 1840-2. It is not generally known that there are two distinct states of this print with a different block used for the sky and the two peaks top left with different outlines: See here and J. Hillier, Gale Catalogue of Japanese Paintings and Prints, Routledge, 1970, no. 280 and ( alternative ): Matthi Forrer, Hiroshige, Prestel, 1997, ( Baur collection, Geneva ), no. 118. Both appear to be similar impressions.

Very good impression, colour and condition. Full size. Signed Hiroshige hitsu.

Status: Sold

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Awa no naruto no fuha, “ Rough Seas at the Whirlpools of Awa.” The best design from the Famous Places in the Sixty-Odd Provinces published by Koshimuraya Heisuke, 1853 – 6 ( this design Hare 9 [ 1855 ] ). The area of water between Awa Province on the Island of Shikoku and the smaller island of Awaji where the waters of the Inland Sea and the Pacific Ocean meet was notorious for its whirlpools. ( See the triptych design of same subject published two years later on this website. ) A famous design and justly popular. An unidentified collector’s seal bottom left corner ( F.E. or T.E. ? ).

Extremely good, early impression with good woodgrain showing on rocks and sky. The earliest impression I have seen was the Walter Amstutz copy ( ex Popper ), lot 207, Sothebys, 1991. Examination of that example shows that the narrow area of sea immediately below the distant hills differs and was obviously recut on all but this earliest state. Likewise, later impressions appear to have a different block for sky as they do not show the distinctive woodgrain. Margins a little narrow on two sides, but otherwise very good condition and colour. Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: Sold

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Saruwakacho yoru no kei, “Night View of Saruwaka ( Monkey ) Theatre Street ” from The Hundred Views of Edo published Dragon 9, 1856, by Uoya Eikichi. One of the best prints from the set and a striking design with its deep perspective and shadows. The avenue was where Edo’s kabuki and puppet theatres were rebuilt after a fire in 1841. There were also tea-houses and restaurants. Various editions exist of this print and the easiest way of identifying them is by the block used for the evening sky: The earliest state has a distinctive woodgrain ( see this website also Kobijutsu, Special Issue, Hiroshige, March 1983, no. 414 ). The second state ( as here ) also has a distinctive, but different, woodgrain pattern, while the third and later states lack any prominent woodgrain in the sky ( see Hiroshige, Matthi Forrer, 1997, no. 98 ). The moon is also placed differently on first and subsequent editions together with other small changes in the lanterns and lights.

Fine, early edition with nice bokashi against the moon. Very good colour and condition. This state has sumi graded at the end of the street and emphasised shadows which gives a different feel from the first state. One’s preference is subjective. Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: Sold

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Shimabara deguchi no yanagi, “The Willow at the Gate of Shimabara” from the set of ten prints: Kyoto meisho no uchi, “Famous Places of Kyoto.” Published c 1834 by Eisendo. Shows the entrance to the walled brothel district of Kyoto with a night reveller being helped home. A courtesan with her attendants on the right. This is the rare first edition from this fine set with Eisendo’s blue seal and a blue kiwame seal in right margin. The second has just the kiwame seal, and the third has no seals.

Fine impression. Imperceptible centre fold. Fine colour and condition. Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: Sold

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Oyama, Roben no taki from Sankai mitate sumo, “Mountains and Sea Contending Like Wrestlers.” The set of twenty prints – ten of mountains and ten of harbours – has the title in an umpire’s fan used for wrestling matches. The Roben Waterfall was very popular with pilgrims visiting the shrine in summer. How popular can be judged by looking at Kuniyoshi’s triptych of this subject ( see Kuniyoshi, Juzo Suzuki, 1992, plate 12 ). This design is the second best, after the snow scene, from the set. The first edition with variegated cartouche. Published Horse 7 and 8, 1858 by Yamadaya.

Fine impression and colour. Imperceptible centre fold, otherwise very good condition. Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: Sold

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Ohashi, Atake no yudachi, ” Ohashi, Sudden Shower at Atake” from Edo hyakkei, “One Hundred Views of Edo.” A lovely example of this design which, apart from the Great Wave, is probably the best known Japanese print, and because of this, examples come onto the market often heavily revamped and/or restored and/or very late editions. It was copied by Van Gogh in oils, 1888 ( see Catalogue of the Van Gogh Museum’s collection of Japanese prints, no. 91, p. 99 ). Published Snake Year ( Ansei IV/9 ), October 1857 by Uoya Eikichi. Provenance: Sold by me in 1980.

Not first edition but a careful early impression, with the pillars of the bridge overprinted with light yellow to contrast with the grey of the struts. Numerous states exist of this design and they are well documented. ( Interestingly, the supposed earliest state [ with the silhouettes of two boats on far shore ] has an unattractive colour and gradation scheme – reminiscent of the later editions. This was quickly corrected. ) Fine colour. Slight discolouration in right margin, otherwise fine condition; full size. Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: Sold

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Atago shita Yabukoji, “Bamboo Lane below Atago Hill” from Meisho Edo hyakkei, the “One Hundred Views of Edo” published by Uoei between 1856 and 1858 ( this being 1857 ). A well known snow scene from the set.

Very good impression and condition. Fine colour. Totally untrimmed margins. Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: Sold

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An important preliminary sketch ( cartoon ) for a painting ( the finished version of which exists in Japan ). Shows a Daimyo’s procession through a pine grove at Totsuka on the Tokaido with Mount Fuji behind the trees. Totsuka – today part of Yokohama – was the point at which travellers spent their first night, presuming that they had made an early start in Edo. Extensive pentimenti. Sumi on paper. Image size: 41.1 x 52.7 cms; 16.5 x 20.75 inches. Mounted as a scroll with box. Good condition. Spurious signature copied from the finished version, but a genuine painting.

Status: Sold

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A snow scene entitled Toto sukiyagashi, “The Sukiya Bank of the Moat of Edo Castle in the Eastern Capital” from the set Fuji sanjurokkei, the “Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji.” One of the six best designs from the set. Published by Tsutaya Kichizo, 1858.

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

Status: Sold

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The pine beach at Miho in Suruga Province, Suruga Miho no matsubara from the set Fuji sanjurokkei, the “Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji.” One of the six best designs from the set. Published by Tsutaya Kichizo, 1858.

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

Status: Sold

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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.

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

Status: Sold

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Bakuro-cho Hatsune no baba, “The Hatsune Riding Grounds at Bakuro-cho.” In the foreground are bolts of drying cloth with a fire watch-tower in the near distance. From Edo hyakkei, the “One Hundred Views of Edo” published by Uoei between 1856 and 1858 ( this being 1857 ).

Very fine impression of the first edition. Fine colour. Minor creases in left margin, otherwise very good condition. Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: Sold

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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 paper, otherwise fine condition. Completely untrimmed, matching sheets with extra paper all round. These prints are extremely difficult to find without trimming, often well into the cartouche. Signed Hiroshige hitsu.

Status: Sold

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Fujikawa from the so-called “Upright Tokaido.” One of the two snow scenes from the set. Published by Tsutaya Hare 7, 1855.

Very good impression and colour. ( Later editions have a dark sky. ) Margins trimmed somewhat, otherwise very good condition. Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: Sold

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A design that hardly needs cataloguing as it is one of Hiroshige’s most famous. Shono – Sudden Rain, Shono-hakuu from The Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido Road, published by Hoeido, c. 1831-4. Some travellers are caught in a downpour near the town of Shono in Ise Province. Various changes were tried by the printers over a period of time: Altering the pigments and bokashi to achieve different atmospheric effects. This impression tallies mostly with 17(b) in Hiroshige, The Ukiyo-e Society of America, 1983 which gives states (a) to (e).

Good to very good impression and colour. Trimmed close but retaining black border. Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: Sold

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The Kinuta ( or Toi ) River in Settsu Province from the vertical Shokoku Mu Tama-gawa, the “Six Tama [ Crystal ] Rivers of Various Provinces.” ( So-called because these streams were noted for the purity of their water. ) Published by Marukyo, 11/1857. Shows two girls fulling cloth beneath a full moon. ( Toi is also the word for beating cloth. ) See the Shunman on this website in Beauties for another print of the same subject. The best design from the set and a beautiful composition.

Fine impression and colour. Some minimal soil in margins, otherwise fine condition. Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: Sold

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Shinmachi kukencho from Naniwa [ Osaka ] meisho zu, “Famous Views of Naniwa.” Shows parading courtesans in the licensed quarter. A set of ten prints published 1834 by Eisendo. Rare.

Fine impression. Very good colour and condition. Signed Hiroshige ga ( on the patterned border which is often trimmed off on this design ).

Status: Sold

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A view over the Naruto Strait of the whirlpools at Awa, Awa no naruto no fukei. Although no series title this is from a trinity of triptychs depicting Snow, Moon and Flowers, this being the last ( because the eddies and whirls were reminiscent of flowers [ nami no hana, “flowers of the waves” ] ). These were the last three great prints Hiroshige designed. All are rare, especially Snow and Moon. Published 1857 by Okasawaya Taheiji.

Very good impression. It is claimed that the first printings have a sliver of land on the far right horizon which is removed on later editions. However, there seems to be no discernable difference in quality between that state and very good impressions without. So, if true, this must have happened early on. Almost all impressions are without. Indeed, late impressions of this set of three triptychs are not known. Very good colour. Expertly repaired wormhole on centre sheet. Virtually untrimmed: These prints are extremely difficult to find without trimming, often well into the title cartouche. Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: Sold

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Station 13, Numazu, hikure, “Yellow Dusk” from the Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido. The set published by Hoeido and Senkakudo in 1834. One of the finest designs from the set showing travellers about to enter the village of Numazu beneath the huge orb of the moon. On each side are dark pines, and this station is famous for its forest which stretches along the seashore. One of the travellers is carrying a red tengu mask on his back, the mark of a pilgrim to the Shinto Shrine of Kompira.

Very good impression and colour. Several small expertly restored wormholes in left margin, otherwise good condition. This design is often coarsely printed – possibly the blocks were softer than normal. Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: Sold

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Horikiri no hana shobu, “Flowering Irises at Horikiri” from Meisho Edo hyakkei, the “One Hundred Views of Edo” published by Uoei between 1856 and 1858 ( this being 1857 ). The village of Horikiri, situated up the Sumida River from Edo, was famous for growing irises, azaleas, morning glory and chrysanthemums. Large foreground images, such as the blooms here, was a popular compositional device used by Hiroshige and impressed and was picked-up by many French artists of the late 19th century. One of Hiroshige’s most popular prints.

Very good impression with strong woodgrain still evident in the sky and right iris. Fine colour and condition. Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: Sold

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Kakuchu Shinonome, “Dawn in the Yoshiwara” from Edo hyakkei, the “One Hundred Views of Edo” published by Uoei between 1856 and 1858 ( this being 1857). One of the best designs from the set.

Fine impression of the first edition. Fine colour and condition. Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: Sold

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Fujikawa from the so-called “Upright Tokaido.” One of the two snow scenes from the set. Published by Tsutaya Hare 7, 1855.

Very good impression and colour. ( Later editions have a dark sky. ) Small corner repair outside image, otherwise very good condition. Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: Sold

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A chuban print showing a young woman on a rainy night. Karasaki from a set of prints: Eight Scenes of Meeting [ Omi ]. On her umbrella are the characters Mura and Ichi – the publisher Muraichi, published c 1847-1848. Extremely rare: I have not catalogued this set before. This appears to be the Suzuki impression, illustrated in his book, no.205, Utagawa Hiroshige, Juzo Suzuki, Tokyo 1970. Another impression in The Art of Hiroshige, Tsuneo Tamba, Tokyo 1965.

Very good impression and colour. Minor soil, otherwise good condition. Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: Sold

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A chuban print showing a young woman walking in the snow. Evening snow at Mount Hira from a set of prints: Eight Scenes of Meeting [ Omi ]. Published by Muraichi, c 1847-1848. Extremely rare: I have not catalogued this set before and cannot, as yet, locate another illustrated example.

Very good impression and colour. Minor soil, otherwise good condition. Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: Sold

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The second triptych from a set Ise Meisho, Futamigaura no zu. Young girls sightseeing on the beach at Futami. In the background are the “Husband and Wife” rocks. The tasseled ropes indicate this is a Shinto site. This area was a popular tourist attraction. Published by Sanoki, 1847-1852. Rare.

Very fine impression. Perfect colour. Very slight trimming, otherwise fine condition. Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: Sold

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Koganegahara, Shimosa Province from the set Fuji sanjurokkei, the “Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji.” One of the most popular designs from the set. Shows horses in a flower-strewn meadow with a brook and a distant view of Fuji. Published by Tsutaya Kichizo, 1858.

Extremely fine impression ( probably first edition ). Fine colour. Slight centre fold, invisible at front apart from margins, otherwise fine condition. Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: Sold

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Kameyama, yuki-bari, “Clear Weather after Snow” from the Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido. The set published by Hoeido and Senkakudo in 1834. One of the finest designs from the set showing a daimyo’s courtege moving up to the 16th century castle.

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

Status: Sold