[Shiba] Shin nigao-e (Published 1915)

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Five volumes complete: [Shibai] Shin nigao-e. Published in Tokyo Taisho 4 (1915) and illustrated by Natori Shunsen, Yamamura Koka, Torii Kotondo, Ishida Hakutei and others.

Volume one: 18.5 x 12.5 cm. Original covers, beige. The abbreviated title: Shin nigao and volume number are printed directly on the cover. On the right is the publication date, June 1, Taisho 4 (1915), and a note that subsequent numbers will be published on the first day of each month. Table of contents. Preface by Kinoshita Sataro. The fourteen colour woodcut portraits are by Natori Shunsen (5), Matsuda Seifu (4), Yamamura Koka (3), Torii Kotondo (1), and Ogawa Heibei (1). Block cutter: Igami Bonkotsu. Printer: Namamura Sanjiro. The text on actors and roles are mainly printed on tissue interleaves. Colophon page, dated June 1, Taisho 4 (1915). Compiler: Egawa Kinpei. Published by Nigao-do.

Volume two: 25.2 x 18.7 cm. Covers, light blue. The abbreviated title and volume number are printed directly on the cover. The first actor print is pasted to the cover, credited internally to Natori Shunsen. Front endpaper, table of contents. The forteen woodcut portraits are by Shunsen (4, including the cover), Koka (3), Terazawa Kotaro (2), Isshii Hakutei (2), Matsuda Seifu (2), Heibei (1). Colophon, dated July 1, Taisho 4; otherwise as Vol. one.

Volume three: 25.2 x 18.7 cm. Covers, beige. Title and volume number as for Vol. two. The first actor print is pasted to the cover, as above. The fourteen actor portraits are by: Shunsen (5), Seifu (3), Hakutei (3), Koka (2), and Heibei (1). Colophon dated August 1; otherwise, as above.

Volume four: 25.2 x 18.5 cm. Covers light blue in the same format as above. The fourteen actor portraits are by: Shunsen (5), Koka (4), Hakutei (2), Seifu (2), Heibei (1). Colophon dated October 1; otherwise, as above. Back cover, an ad for forthcoming special Coronation issue of Shin nigao.

Volume five: 25.1 x 18.6 cm. Covers, grey paper embedded with green fibres over stiff boards, bound with green silk tassels. The title, Shin nigao-kinen-go: Tairei Hoshoku gafu, “Shin nigao: Special Coronation Number” is printed directly on the cover. The format is basically the same, but two special sections have been added: five portraits of officials associated with Emperor Taisho’s coronation, and five portraits of geisha from Tokyo and Kyoto. The remaining eleven prints are of actors, for a total of twenty-one colour woodcuts: Shunsen (11), Heibei (3), Seifu (3), Ishizuka Kan (2), Kondo Hiroshi (1), and Koito Gentaro (1). Colophon dated November 1, Taisho 4 (1915), otherwise as above.

This set contains the earliest prints by Natori Shunsen and gave the impetus to have the larger actor portraits published. In slipcase. Very good condition.

Status: Sold