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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

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An excessively rare triptych showing the interior of a large mansion where a private performance of Kabuki interlude plays is being performed. Some of the most famous actors of the day are shown: Bando Mitsugoro III, Iwai Hanshiro V, and Ichikawa Danjuro VII. One of Hiroshige’s earliest prints published c 1818-20 when Hiroshige was 22-24 years old. Two other impressions appear to be known: The Tamba impression illustrated in The Art of Hiroshige, Tsuneo Tamba, 1965, no.122, p.58; and the Suzuki copy illustrated in Utagawa Hiroshige, Juzo Suzuki, 1970, no.86, which is the impression shown in the Memorial Exhibition of Hiroshige, Number Eighteen, Ukiyo-e Art, The Japan Ukiyo-e Society, 1968, no.1.

Good impression and colour. Some small areas of expert restoration, otherwise good condition. Signed “By special request” Hiroshige ga.

Status: Sold

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Hamamatsu from the “Reisho” Tokaido. So-called because of the titles written in formal script. The best Tokaido set after the Hoeido. Shows a pilgrim standing centre with sea-weed gatherers on right. Some boats out in a choppy sea. Published by Marusei c 1851-2. One of the five best designs from the set.

Fine impression and colour. Two paper flaws top left border, otherwise very good condition. Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: Sold

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The Nunobiki waterfall in the Nikko mountains, Settsu Province, from the rare, early set: Honcho Meisho, “Famous Places of Japan.” Published by Fujiokaya Hikotaro, c 1837-9. Fifteen designs are known plus another three which were probably published around 1832. Compare with Keisai Eisen’s design of the same subject. A fine composition.

Fine, early impression. ( The example in Juzo Suzuki, Utagawa Hiroshige, 1970, no.139 appears to be a slightly later state with variant gradation on the waterfall. ) Fine colour. Expert repair top left corner outside image and slight thinning left margin. One small wormhole repaired, otherwise very good condition. Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: Sold

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Otsuki-no-hara, Kai, Otsuki field from the set Fuji sanjurokkei, the “Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji.” One of the most desirable designs from the set. Shows autumn grasses and flowers with a small brook and Fuji in the distance. Published by Tsutaya Kichizo, 1858.

Fine impression and colour. Minimal margin soil, otherwise very good condition. Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: Sold

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Geisha coming and going through the stone torii leading to the Yasake Shrine, popularly known as the Gion Shrine from the district it is located in. This being one of the major entertainment quarters of Kyoto. Gion-sha setchu, “Gion Shrine in Snow” from a fine set of ten prints: Kyoto meisho no uchi, “Famous Places in Kyoto,” published by Eisendo c1834. Extremely rare in this first edition state.

Very fine impression. The first state of the first edition: With subtle bokashi graded
either down ( as here ) or up on the roofs and with the publisher’s seal printed in blue
in right margin. Second state with much blacker bokashi and generally darker overall,
with blue publisher’s seal. Third state lacks bokashi but still has blue publishers’s
seal. Subsequent editions lack the publisher’s seal in right margin. Very fine colour.
Small printer’s crease top left corner, otherwise perfect condition. Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: Sold

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Fuchu from the “Reisho” Tokaido. So-called because of the titles written in formal
script. The best Tokaido set after the Hoeido. Shows travellers coming and going at the entrance to the licensed quarter of Fuchu, the old capital of Suruga Province, becoming Shizuoka City in 1868. Published by Marusei c1851-2. One of the five best designs from the set.

Fine impression, colour and condition. Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: Sold

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Hakone from the “Reisho” Tokaido. So-called because of the titles written in formal
script. The best Tokaido set after the Hoeido. Shows travellers holding pine-torches
climbing a mountain path at night. The Hakone Mountains were one of the most gruelling parts of the Tokaido, but at the same time one of the most relaxing with the hot springs, Lake Ashi and the fine cryptomeria trees. Published by Marusei c1851-2. One of the five best designs from the set and probably the masterpiece. The composition and use of kimetsubishi to show the woodgrain in the night sky and mountains makes it one of Hiroshige’s most beautiful prints.

Very fine impression. Fine colour and condition. Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: Sold

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Full moon at Takanawa. A bijin seated beside her palanquin at a tea house. A mitate set: Edo Murasaki meisho Genji, “Murasaki’s Genji in Famous Places of Edo.” Based on the Genji Monogatari with stylised clouds above and below in Yamato-e style. Published by Kinseido c1849-53. A very rare set: Late impressions being unknown.

Fine impression and colour. Light crease in left and right margin, otherwise fine
condition. Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: sold

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A rainstorm at Suhara. One of the most important compositions from the Sixty-nine
Stations of the Kisokaido. The set started by Eisen and published by Hoeido in 1835; but in 1837 Hiroshige took over and completed the series with the publisher Iseiri ( Kinjudo ). Suhara is located below Agematsu in the Kiso Valley and is subject to torrential rain in the summer months when humid air from the coastal plains hits the cooler air of the mountains. There are variant states of this design with differences in colour and gradation. This is an early impression.

Very good impression. Slight fading, otherwise very good colour and condition. Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: sold

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Bizen, Yukazan. A figureless snow scene and the best design from the set of twenty prints entitled: Sankai mitate sumo, “Mountains and Sea Contending like Wrestlers”. The title in an umpire’s fan used for wrestling matches, top right. The set published and sealed Horse 7 and 8 ( 1858 ) by Yamadaya. ( Happer lists it as the previous Horse Year 1846. ) The set is divided into ten designs of mountains and ten prints of harbours.

Fine impression of the first edition ( variegated cartouche ). Fine colour. Very slight centre fold and the usual oxidation, otherwise very good condition. Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: sold

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Autumn moon at Ishiyama, Ishiyama no shugetsu, from the set of eight prints: Eight Views in Omi Province published 1834 by Hoeido. “Eight Views” was borrowed from Chinese poetry and each print conveys, pictorially, the kyoka poem written in the square label at the top right. To the left, hidden in trees, is the temple where Murasaki Shikibu ( c 978 – c 1014 ) wrote her great novel Tales of Genji. The scene shows Lake Biwa, Seta Bridge and Mount Hira on the horizon. Hiroshige probably never surpassed the ethereal, figureless quality this set possesses.

Very good impression, colour and condition with good margins. The top-left mountain always shows slippage of the blue block on this design. The set was advertised as a “work in black and white, lightly coloured” and early states have a very limited palette. Later editions of this design incorporate green and brown into the cliffs on the left. Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: sold

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Mochizuki, one of the most important compositions, from the Sixty-nine Stations of the Kisokaido. The set was started by Eisen and published by Hoeido in 1835, but in 1837 Hiroshige took over and completed the series with the publisher Iseiri ( Kinjudo ). Mochizuki means full moon and this station was named thus because the horses of the imperial court, which were grazed in open pasture in the mountains above this spot, were returned to court on the fifteenth of August, the day of the first autumn full moon. Like other major designs in the set, there exist numerous states with differences in printing. Early editions should have gradation on the mountains to the right. There is scope for research on the differences on major designs in this set.

Fine early impression with strong wood grain showing in the sky. Fine colour. Almost invisible centre fold. Left margin trimmed close, otherwise very good condition. Signed Hiroshige ga

Status: sold

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Nagakubo, one of the most important compositions, from the Sixty-nine Stations of the Kisokaido. The set was started by Eisen and published by Hoeido in 1835, but in 1837 Hiroshige took over and completed the series with the publisher Iseiri ( Kinjudo ). Shows a full moon over the River Ida. Like other major designs in the set, there are numerous states with differences in printing. Early editions show the mountains subtly printed – and also the figures on the bridge – grading off to the right with crisp seals. Later editions lack the mountains and a darker sumi is used.

Very good, early impression. Very good colour. Centre fold, otherwise very good condition. Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: sold

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Seba from the Sixty-Nine Stations of the Kisokaido. The set was started by Eisen and published by Hoeido in 1835, but in 1837 Hiroshige took over and completed the series with the publisher Iseiri ( Kinjudo ). Seba literally means ‘washing the horse’ and this is the place where Minamoto no Yoshinaka ( 1145-84 ) was once supposed to have cleaned his horse in the River Narai which meanders through the plains near Lake Suwa. The men on boats appear to be trying to reach Seba before nightfall. The masterpiece from the set. Numerous states exist of this print and there is not enough room here to go into them all: Some impressions have grey/black clouds above, some blue; some have a red cloud across the moon; some have the sky printed yellow towards the left, etc. Later editions have the trees removed on the horizon and lack the stripes in the water.

Good impression; very good colour. Minimal edge soil, otherwise very good condition. Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: sold

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Oiso from the Fifty-Three Stations of the Tokaido. The set published by Hoeido and Senkakudo c 1833-4. Shows travellers entering the coastal village under rain and a yellow sky. Hiroshige’s title for this design: ‘The Rain of Tora’ is a reference to the tearful Kabuki play concerning a prostitute Tora and her child.

Very good impression and colour. Minimal edge soil and uneven trimming of margins. Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: sold

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‘Evening Rain at Kozumi’ Kozumi no yau from the early set Kanazawa hakkei, ‘Eight Views in Kanazawa’ published by Koshimuraya Heisuke, c 1835-6. This is an extremely rare and fine set and examples in good condition are very difficult to find. 31-syllable waka poem above.

Very good impression. ( Later states have a mountain range printed in the background and different colour scheme. ) Fine colour and condition with large margins. Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: sold

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Ueno sannai, Tsuki-no-matsu, ‘Moon Pine, Ueno Temple Precincts’ from Meisho 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. Slight toning, otherwise very good condition. Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: Sold

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Hira bosetsu, ‘Evening Snow at Mount Hira’ from the vertical Omi Hakkei set, ‘Eight Views of Omi [ Lake Biwa ]’, published by Uoya Eikichi, Snake 7, 1857.

Superb impression of the first edition. Fine colour. Several minor marks and lower margin trimmed slightly, otherwise fine. Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: Sold

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Karasaki yayu ‘Evening Rain at Karasaki Pine Tree’ from the vertical Omi Hakkei set, ‘Eight Views of Omi [ Lake Biwa ]’, published by Uoya Eikichi, Snake 7, 1857.

Superb impression of the first edition. Fine colour. Slight trimming of margin, otherwise fine condition. Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: Sold

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Yabase kihan, ‘Fishing Boats Returning to Yabase’ from the vertical Omi Hakkei set, ‘Eight Views of Omi [ Lake Biwa ]’, published by Uoya Eikichi, Snake 7, 1857.

Superb impression of the first edition. Fine colour. Slight trimming of margins, otherwise fine condition. Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: Sold

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Wada from the Sixty-nine Stations of the Kisokaido. The set was started by Eisen and published by Hoeido in 1835, but in 1837 Hiroshige took over and completed the series with the publisher Iseiri ( Kinjudo ). Wada is the highest point on the Kisokaido and Hiroshige shows travellers traversing the snow covered pass. One of the major designs from the set.

Very fine early impression. Fine colour. Slight moisture blemish at top edge and slight soil top right margin. Imperceptible centre fold and slight trimming of margins at left and right, otherwise a fine example of this design. Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: Sold

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A night view of Monkey Street, Saruwaka-cho, from The Hundred Views of Edo published Dragon 9, 1856, by Uoya Eikichi. This was the theatre district and the perspective and shadows makes this one of the most striking images from the set.

Very fine impression, colour and condition. The first edition. Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: Sold

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Tsukudajima hatsu kakko, ‘The First Cuckoo at Tsukudajima Island’ from Hiroshige?s first major landscape set of 10 prints with title Toto Meisho published by Shoeido c 1831-2. This is the rare first state: with ochre border; graded blue on water; and with the publisher’s name and address in right margin.

Fine impression and colour. Extremely light centre fold. Very full margins. ( The publisher’ name and address is often trimmed on right, eg even the Pulverer impression pl 6, Hiroshige, Matthi Forrer, 1997. ) Very good condition. Signed Ichiryusai Hiroshige ga.

Status: Sold

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Numazu from the Fifty-Three Stations of the Tokaido. The set published by Hoeido and Senkakudo c1833-4. One of the finest designs from the set and the only moon scene. Shows Buddhist pilgrims entering the village. This area was famous for its Forest of a Thousand Pines which stretched along the seashore.

Fine impression. Fine colour. Fine, impeccable condition. Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: Sold

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A rare triptych showing three bijin on the beach at Enoshima with title: Enoshima Benzaiten kaicho nagisa, which implies they are there to venerate Benten ( one of the Seven Lucky Gods ) whose shrine is at Enoshima. Published by Yamadaya Shobei, c1849.

Very good impression and colour. Slight creases. Small edge repair, otherwise good condition. Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: Sold

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Night snow at Kambara from the Fifty-Three Stations of the Tokaido. The set published by Hoeido and Senkakudo c1833-4. Together with Shono, the masterpice from the set and widely reproduced.

Good to very good impression with the red seals still crisp. Very good colour. Very slight centre fold only perceptible top and bottom otherwise very good condition. Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: Sold

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Saijo in Iyo Province from the Famous Places in the Sixty-Odd Provinces. Published by Koshimuraya Heisuke, Hare 9 ( 1855 ). First edition.

Superb impression of first edition. Perfect colour. Light album backing and two small blue spots, otherwise fine condition. Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: Sold

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Kwannon Temple, Abumon in Bingo Province from the Famous Places in the Sixty-Odd Provinces. Published by Koshimuraya Heisuke, Ox 12 ( 1853 ). A variant first edition to Pulverer copy. One of the most beautiful designs from the set.

Superb impression. Fine colour and 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. This is the rare first state: before the blue sky block was replaced with another.

Fine impression. Remargined on three sides but with black border intact. Otherwise very good condition. Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: Sold

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A triptych, ‘Moon’, from a series of ‘Snow, Moon, Flower’. ( The screen?s half-moon shape here representing the moon. ) Another nice touch are the shadows cast by the figures. Published by Dansendo 1848. One of Hiroshige’s best triptych designs.

Extremely good early impression; fine colour. Full size. Very good condition. Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: Sold

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Heavy wind and rain in Yamabushidani, Mimasaka Province from the Famous Places in the Sixty-Odd Provinces. Published by Koshimuraya Heisuke and dated Ox 12 (1853). The best design after the Whirlpool at Naruto. The very rare first edition.

Very fine impression; fine colour. Minor backed edge wormage, otherwise fine condition. After this first edition there are numerous variant states. Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: Sold