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The Lumberyard, Fukagawa, from Meisho Edo hyakkei, “The Hundred Views of Famous Places in Edo.” Shows snow falling on the timber yards lining a river. An umbrella in the foreground is inscribed Uo, “Fish” – a reference to the publisher Uoya Eikichi who published the set between 1856 – 1858 (this being 1856). There are 118 prints in the set plus a replacement design by Hiroshige II (see elsewhere on this update). A large supply of timber was needed for the world’s largest wooden city. However, in 1641 a fire destroyed not only houses but the lumber which was then stored in a central area causing the government to move the yards to Fukagawa.

Very good early impression (later editions have a dark sky). Very good colour and condition. Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: Sold

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Hida. Kago-watashi, “The Basket Ferry, Hida Province” from Rokuju yoshu meisho zue, “Famous Places in the Sixty-Odd Provinces.” The set published by Koshimuraya Heisuke between 7/1853 and 3/1856 ( this being 1853 ).

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

Status: Sold

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A distant view of Mount Daisen [ Oyama ] in Hoki Province. One of the best designs from Rokuju yoshu meisho zue, “Famous Places in the Sixty-Odd Provinces.” The set published by Koshimuraya Heisuke between 7/1853 and 3/1856 ( this being 12/1853 ). White rain ( printed with gofun ) falls on groups of peasants planting rice. A lovely design, the edges of the paddy fields zig-zagging into the distance. This is the rare first edition with blue and yellow diagonal bands on the sub-cartouche.

Fine impression with strong woodgrain showing. The second state of the first edition has the rain printed black (not using gofun as here).Very good colour and condition. Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: Sold

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A vertical oban diptych, Fujigawa no setchu, “The Fuji River in Winter.” Hiroshige records in his diaries that he commenced on a journey westwards from Edo on the fourth month Tempo 12 (1842). He walked the Koshukaido to Kofu in Kai Province and then on to Shimo-suwa. On the route to Kofu, he mentions visiting the Saruhashi, Monkey Bridge, and consequently must have crossed the upper reaches of the Fuji River to reach Kofu. On his return Hiroshige designed two kakemono-e, one of the Monkey Bridge for the publisher Tsutaya, and the design here of Fujigawa for the publisher Kikakudo (Sanoya Kihei). Both are considered masterpieces. The magisterial format perfectly conveys the wild landscape with a diminutive figure crossing the bridge above the gorge with boatmen on the river. Published c. 1842-44. There are many copies of these two kakemono-e. Genuine impressions of this design should have a small vertical block defect bottom right where the mountain meets the river, just to the left of the publisher’s seal. Extremely rare.

Fine impression. The slopes of the mountain top left are printed without outline and appear different on different impressions, also because the block for the sky was changed. Fine colour (although the colour scheme is almost monochromatic relieved by only the blue of the river and touches of brown and green). Very good condition: Full size with ample room for joining of the two sheets. These designs often come heavily browned as they were hung as substitute paintings. Signed Hiroshige hitsu.

Status: Sold

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Nihonbashi yukibare, “The Nihon Bridge, Clear Weather after Snow.” From Meisho Edo hyakkei, the “One Hundred Views of Edo.” The set published between 1856 and 1858 (this being 1856) by Uoya Eikichi. The bridge was completed in 1603 and was originally called Edo Bridge. All points are measured from this bridge (similar to our Charing Cross).

Fine impression of the first edition. There are slight variants of the first with some having red bokashi on the lower clouds but lacking the subtle gradation on Fuji and lower roofs. And also some have mica on the lower roofs. Fine colour and condition. Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: Sold

Shomyoji-no bansho, “Vesper Bells at the Shomyoji Temple” from the rare early set Kanazawa hakkei, “Eight Views of Kanazawa.” The temple was built in 1258 by Hojo Sanetoki; the environs are seen on the right with boats in the foreground. The distant hills are printed without key-block outlines giving a painterly quality. These Eight View sets were inspired by the Eight Views of Xiaoxiang in China, first painted in the 11th century and then brought to Japan in the 14 – 15th centuries. Kanazawa is across Japan from Tokyo on the north coast on the Japan Sea. Published by Koshimuraya Heisuke, 1835-6.

Very good impression and colour. Slight margin soil and small expert repair to bottom left corner. Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: Sold

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Winter from a set of four triptychs: Edo meisho shiki-no nagame Sumidagawa setchu no zu, “Views of the Four Seasons at Famous Places in Edo, Snow on the Sumida River.” A famous print. Published by Marujin, 1848-9. Shows beauties and ferry boats on the river, a tea-house on the left.

Fine impression. Slight fading, otherwise very good colour. Very good condition. The block for the centre panel had vertical cracks in it from the very start. These striations are evident to the left and right of the figures and are on all impressions, becoming more evident on later pulls. Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: Sold

Tadasugawara no yudachi, “Evening Shower on the bank of the Tadasu River” from the early set Kyoto meisho no uchi, “Famous Views of Kyoto.” The set of ten masterpieces was published by Eisendo, c 1834. Shows figures running in the rain to get to the tea-houses which lined the banks here where the Kamo River and Takamo River joined.

Very good impression. The extremely rare first state of this print has the publisher’s seal in red in the upper left margin. This early state has the kiwame seal in left margin. This was removed on later editions and the seal after Hiroshige’s signature has the characters reversed white on red. Very good colour. Imperceptible centre fold, otherwise very good condition. Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: Sold

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Kai Otsuki no hara, “The Otsuki Plain in Kai Province”. A meandering stream with flowers and pampas grass from Fuji sanjurokkei, “Thirty-six Views of Fuji” published by Tsutaya Kichizo, 1858. The set was started 5 months before Hiroshige’s death and early impressions were printed very carefully as a tribute to Hiroshige. One of the six best designs from the set.

Fine impression, colour and condition. Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: Sold

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Ishiyama no shugetsu, “Autumn Moon at Ishiyama” from a set of prints Omi hakkei no uchi, “Eight Views in Omi Province.” Shows Lake Biwa with Seta Bridge and Mount Hira in the distance. To the left is the temple where Murasaki Shikibu wrote her famous Tales of Genji. Published by Takenouchi, c. 1834-5. A guarantee label and seal au verso from the now deceased dealer M. Nakazawa.

Fine impression: There is a curious feature on this print in that the blue sky block is invariably printed short of the mountain, top left, giving a white gap around the mountain. This is one of the few impressions I have seen where it is barely visible. Fine colour. Slight edge soil, otherwise very good condition. Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: Sold

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The year-end festival, Toshi-no-ichi, at Asakusa, Edo. This Buddhist temple was dedicated to bodhisattva Kannon. From the set Rokuju yoshu meisho zue, “Famous Places in the Sixty-odd Provinces.” Published by Koshimuraya Heisuke between 1853-1856 (this being 1853). Thousands gathered at this time of year to pray one last time and to purchase New Year goods.

Extremely fine, early impression. Probably a variant first edition: without bokashi clouds as on Pulverer’s impression, but with the purple block partly printed over the trees left and right which is lacking on Pulverer’s. This maybe the earliest state. Fine colour and condition. Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: Sold

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Wakasa, gyosen karei ami, catching flatfish in Wakasa Province. From the set Rokuju yoshu meisho zue, “Famous Places in the Sixty-odd Provinces.” Published by Koshimuraya Heisuke between 1853-1856 (this being 1853). This province was famous for its flatfish caught in the offshore waters and was considered a winter delicacy.

Fine, early impression. Fine colour and condition.Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: Sold

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Tarui from Kisokaido rokujukyu-tsugi no uchi, “Sixty-nine Stations of the Kisokaido.” The set of seventy prints was first published by Hoeido in 1835 with Eisen, but in 1837 Hiroshige took over and completed the series with the publisher Iseya Rihei (Kinjudo). The conjecture is that Hiroshige was the better known and more commercial artist, reinforced by the fact that Eisen’s name was removed from the designs already published. Hence, only the first editions have his signature on those prints. Shows a daimyo’s cortege entering the station. On either side the villagers can be seen deferentially kneeling. This print is one of the few designs to show prints for sale. In this case on either side of the road, the shops doubling as teashops. The publisher’s mark Kinjudo can be seen on the left-hand shop.

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

Status: Sold

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Shiba Akabane no yuki, “Snow falling at Akabane in Shiba.” From a Toto meisho “Famous Sights of the Eastern Capital” set published by Kikakudo (Sanoki), the seal in red in right margin, c. 1832-35. There is confusion over how many prints belong to this series: The original set of twenty-one designs seem to have been extended to fifty-five in c. 1839-42. Shows the Akabane Bridge with the Zojo-ji Temple between trees above. To the right is Chancellor Arima’s mansion and above a tall fire-tower.

Fine, early impression. A very difficult design to find in early state. Later editions have the black seal of Sanoki in the right margin. Another first edition is in the Clarence Buckingham collection, The Art Institute of Chicago (1925.3464). A further interesting detail is that a block was specifically chosen with a wavy grain to print the water. Very good colour and condition. Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: Sold

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A snow scene showing the dramatic landscape around Mount Haruna: Kozuke, Haruna-san setchu, “Snow on Mount Haruna in Kozuke Province.” Shows the volcanic mount – one of three major mountains in the province – with Haruna Temple in the centre. The building housed a statue of a thousand-armed kannon, bodhisattva of mercy. One of the best designs from the set Rokuju yoshu meisho zue, “Famous Places in the Sixty-odd Provinces.” The set published by Koshimuraya Heisuke between 7/1853 and 8/1856 (this being 1853).

Fine, early impression. The most difficult print from the set to identify in the first edition. Most designs in the set have distinctive features in the first state such as variegated cartouches or extra gradation. The only indication here is that the sub-cartouche should have a brown-red colour. Fine colour and condition. Signed Hiroshige ga.

Status: Sold

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Ishiyama shugetsu, “Autumn Moon over Ishiyama Temple” from the vertical Omi hakkei no uchi, “Eight Views of Omi” set published by Takeuchi Magohachi and Yamamotoya Heikichi in 1857.

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

Status: Sold