Utagawa KUNISADA (1786-1864)

 Click here to view image full size. An exceptionally rare original double-sided woodblock. On one side is the key-block showing Ichikawa Danjuro VII as the strongman, “chikaramochi,” Ura no Kingo. On the other is the key-block showing Iwai Kumesaburo II as the female acrobat, “karuwazashi,” Tamamoto Kosan. The play is Fujikawabune noriai banashi performed at the Nakamura-za Theatre, 5 The block measures 8.5 x 10.75 x .75 in; 21.6 x 27.3 x 2 cms. The two images signed Gototei Kunisada ga. In very good condition but with obvious minor damage. Sold “as is.”   Status: Sold    Click here to view image full size.

Okumura MASANOBU (1686 – 1764)

 Click here to view image full size. A hosoban showing the fight between Ushiwaka Maru ( Yoshitsune ) and Benkei on Gojo Bridge ( 1170 ). Arguably the most influential figure in ukiyoe, reputedly being the innovator of colour printing. An urushi-e, coloured by hand in yellow, tan, lilac, gofun and heavy sumi over embossed lines. Published c 1725. Ex collections Tony Straus-Negbaur and Walter von Scheven ( 1878 – 1950 ) and purchased by him at Cassirer & Helbing, 1928, lot 64, ( from Tony Straus-Negbaur ). Extremely rare. Very good impression. Slight soil and small repaired edge wormholes. But generally very nice condition for such an example. Signed Okumura Masanobu hitsu. Status: Sold

Utagawa KUNIYOSHI (1797 – 1861)

 Click here to view image full size. Saito Toshimoto and a Chinese general struggling underwater. The second best design from Taiheiki yeiyu den, “Heroic Stories of the Taiheiki.” Published by Yamamoto-ya Heikichi, 1848-9. Robinson S62.31. Fine impression, colour and condition. Signed Ichiyusai Kuniyoshi ga. Status: Sold

Utagawa KUNIYOSHI (1797 – 1861)

 Click here to view image full size. Sasai Kyuzo Masayasu enveloped in smoke and avoiding musketry at the battle of Anegawa ( 1570 ). The best design from Taiheiki yeiyu den, “Heroic Stories of the Taiheiki.” Published by Yamamoto-ya Heikichi, 1848-9. Robinson S62.36. Fine impression, colour and condition. Signed Ichiyusai Kuniyoshi ga. Status: Sold

Utagawa KUNIYOSHI (1797 – 1861)

 Click here to view image full size. The battle of Miidera Temple. An early triptych, c. 1820-25. The temple became very prosperous but was at constant war with its rival, the Hieizan. Both temples kept armies of mercenaries. Published by Yamamoto-ya Heikichi. A later edition is illustrated in Utagawa Kuniyoshi, Exhibition to Commemorate the 200th Anniversary of Utagawa Kuniyoshi’s Birth, Nagoya City Museum et al, 1996, no. 5, p. 36. Probably Robinson T6. Very good impression, colour and condition. Signed Ichiyusai Kuniyoshi ga. Status: Sold

Torii KIYONAGA (1752 – 1815)

 Click here to view image full size. A chubby red Kintaro acting as an umpire for two battling tengu. Other tengu in baskets behind him and at his side a bear also watches. These tengu – winged, beaked and clawed creatures – lived in the mountains and forests. It is narrated that as a toddler he was observed shaking and tearing at a large tree in which there was a nest of tengu fledglings, which he took home in a basket. Kiyonaga designed at least 28 of these Kintaro prints, see Kiyonaga, Chie Hirano, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, 1939, nos. 979 – 1006 ( this being 1005, PLLXV ). Published by Nishimura, 1812. Rare. Very good impression and colour. Minor edge soil and signs of mounting au verso. Signed Kiyonaga hitsu. Status: Sold

Utagawa KUNIYOSHI (1798 – 1861)

 Click here to view image full size. Takatsuna’s greatest exploit: Shown here ( centre ) swimming with his horse across the swollen Uji River to attack Kiso no Yoshinaka. His rival Kagesuye ( left ) and Shigetada further off to the right. Published by Yenshu-ya Hikobei 1849. A wonderful design. Robinson T217. Superb impression. Very fine colour and condition. Signed Ichiyusai Kuniyoshi ga. Status: Sold

Tsukioka YOSHITOSHI (1839 – 1892)

 Click here to view image full size. Shows the young warrior said to be as strong as an ox Sen-Kanja Usjiwaka Saburo Yoshitora. From the fine chuban set of fifty prints Biyu Suikoden, “Handsome Heroes of the Water Margin” published by Omiya Kyujiro, 1866/7 ( this being 1867 ). Fine impression and colour. Very good condition. Signed Ikkaisai Yoshitoshi hitsu. Status: Sold

Tsukioka YOSHITOSHI (1839 – 1892)

 Click here to view image full size. Shows Ake Tamanosuke, a famous rider and archer with a wooden statue of his mentor Kansho behind him. From the fine chuban set of fifty prints Biyu Suikoden, “Handsome Heroes of the Water Margin” published by Omiya Kyujiro, 1866/7 ( this being 1866 ). Fine impression and colour with mica ground. Very good condition. Signed Ikkaisai Yoshitoshi hitsu. Status: Sold

Tsukioka YOSHITOSHI (1839 – 1892)

 Click here to view image full size. Shows the boisterous Koo-maru, also known as “Hyonosuke” the Leopard Kid. From the fine chuban set of fifty prints Biyu Suikoden, “Handsome Heroes of the Water Margin” published by Omiya Kyujiro, 1866/7 ( this being 1866 ). Fine impression and colour. Very good condition. Signed Ikkaisai Yoshitoshi hitsu. Status: Sold

Tsukioka YOSHITOSHI (1839 – 1892)

 Click here to view image full size. Shows Rokugi Suginosuke Norifusa, a robber-chief and magician, also known as Tengu-jiro as he could fly like the tengus. From the fine chuban set of fifty prints Biyu Suikoden, “Handsome Heroes of the Water Margin” published by Omiya Kyujiro, 1866/7 ( this being 1867 ). Fine impression and colour with mica. Very good condition. Signed Ikkaisai Yoshitoshi hitsu. Status: Sold

Tsukioka YOSHITOSHI (1839 – 1892)

 Click here to view image full size. Shows Akashi Shiganosuke, the notoriously strong Yokozuma sumo-fighter, holding an opponent at bay with one hand. From the fine chuban set of fifty prints Biyu Suikoden, “Handsome Heroes of the Water Margin” published by Omiya Kyujiro, 1866/7 ( this being 1867 ). Fine impression and colour. Very good condition. Signed Ikkaisai Yoshitoshi hitsu. Status: Sold

Tsukioka YOSHITOSHI (1839 – 1892)

 Click here to view image full size. Shows Oshima Tanzo, a member of the robber-chief Shindo Kajiro Nobuyuki’s tribe. From the fine chuban set of fifty prints Biyu Suikoden, “Handsome Heroes of the Water Margin” published by Omiya Kyujiro, 1866/7 ( this being 1866 ). Fine impression and colour. Very good condition. Signed Ikkaisai Yoshitoshi hitsu. Status: Sold

Tsukioka YOSHITOSHI (1839 – 1892)

 Click here to view image full size. Shows the robber-chief Shindo Kojiro Nobuyuki being asked by the monkey spirit of Shinohaza to avenge his murder by Inaba Taro. From the fine chuban set of fifty prints Biyu Suikoden, “Handsome Heroes of the Water Margin” published by Omiya Kyujiro, 1866/7 ( this being 1867 ). Fine impression and colour with strong burnishing. Very good condition. Signed Ikkaisai Yoshitoshi hitsu. Status: Sold

Tsukioka YOSHITOSHI (1839 – 1892)

 Click here to view image full size. Shows Kinezumi Konoshi Kaiden, the muscular monk, killing a monstrous wild cat that had tormented a village. From the fine chuban set of fifty prints Biyu Suikoden, “Handsome Heroes of the Water Margin” published by Omiya Kyujiro, 1866/7 ( this being 1866 ). Fine impression and colour. Very good condition. Signed Ikkaisai Yoshitoshi hitsu. Status: Sold

Tsukioka YOSHITOSHI (1839 – 1892)

 Click here to view image full size. Shows Sangoku Taro who travelled through India and China learning conjuring tricks. From the fine chuban set of fifty prints Biyu Suikoden, “Handsome Heroes of the Water Margin” published by Omiya Kyujiro, 1866/7 ( this being 1866 ). Fine impression and colour with mica ground. Very good condition. Signed Ikkaisai Yoshitoshi hitsu. Status: Sold

Tsukioka YOSHITOSHI (1839 – 1892)

 Click here to view image full size. Shows Satami Jirotaro Yoshishige collecting the head of his adversary Awa Katsegura that his faithful dog has retrieved. From the fine chuban set of fifty prints Biyu Suikoden, “Handsome Heroes of the Water Margin” published by Omiya Kyujiro, 1866 Fine impression and colour with gauffrage on the dog and mica ground. Very good condition. Signed Ikkaisai Yoshitoshi hitsu. Status: Sold

Tsukioka YOSHITOSHI (1839 – 1892)

 Click here to view image full size. The best design from the set Tsuki hyakushi, the “Hundred Phases of the Moon”. The set published between 1885 and 1892 ( this being 1886 ) by Akiyama Buemon. Shows Benkei, at the prow of the ship holding Yoshitsune, attempting to pacify the ghosts of the Taira warriors and hence calm the storm in Daimotsu Bay. Very good impression and colour. Full margins with extensive mica. Offsetting visible au verso, otherwise very good condition. Signed Yoshitoshi. Status: Sold

Taiso YOSHITOSHI (1839 – 1892)

 Click here to view image full size. The monkey battles Kinkaku Daio on a sea cliff from the rare set of eight prints: Tsuzoku Saiyuki, “A Modern Journey to the West.” Based on Wu Cheng’en’s ( 1500-1582 ) most famous novel, Journey to the West, which was translated and condensed by Arthur Waley and entitled Monkey. This is probably the finest design from this high quality set. Published by Fukuta, 10/1864 ( this design 2/1865 ). Superb impression. Fine colour and condition. Signed Ikkaisai Yoshitoshi ga. Status: Sold

Utagawa TOYOKUNI I (1769 – 1825)

 Click here to view image full size. A complete diptych showing Kagekiyo and Mihonoya no Shiro battling. This is an episode from the beginning of Chapter 5, “The Dropped Bow” in book 11 of the Heike Monogatari, “ Tales of the Heike.” This episode, which took place in 1184, has the Genji warrior Mihonoya no Shiro confronting the Heike Kagekiyo on the beach at Yashima. Published c 1815 by Yamamotoya Heikichi. Fine impression and in exceptional condition. Fine colour with large borders left and top. Signed Toyokuni ga. Status: Sold

Tsukioka YOSHITOSHI (1839 – 1892)

 Click here to view image full size. Lu Ta ( Lu Chi Shen ) demolishing the gate of the temple of the Five-Crested Mountain. A Chinese captain, he accidentally killed a man and to escape death he became a priest at the temple. The abbot cut his hair and renamed him Lu Chi Shen, “Lu of Deep Wisdom.” However, quickly disregarding priestly vows, he became violent again and drank heavily. Staggering back one night he shattered the temple gate fighting the huge wooden guardian figures. The abbot dimissed him and he reappears as one of the 108 heroes of the Suikoden. Published by Matsui 1887. Very fine impression of the earliest state of the first edition with blind printing and burnishing. This design was reprinted by Hasegawa with seal in upper left margin “Reproduction not permitted” and lacking date. Also, the lovely pigment used to colour the torso of the guardian figure ( which oxidizes ) is replaced with an inferior colour . There are also intermediate printings between first and Hasegawa version. Fine colour. Fine condition with left margin intact: These vertical designs must have the left border uncut as it often contains publication information. Signed Yoshitoshi. Status: Sold

Tsukioka YOSHITOSHI (1839 – 1892)

 Click here to view image full size. Sakata Kintoki asleep in Raiko’s chamber preparing to rid him of the monstrous spider. From Yoshitoshi manga, “Sketches by Yoshitoshi.” A fine set of seven diptychs published by Kobayashi 1885-86 ( this being 1886 ). Very fine impression of the first edition; the spider’s web printed in silver and with burnishing. Fine colour and as originally published with no backing paper, with the margins completely untrimmed ( often cut in this set ), and plenty of space for joining. Signed Yoshitoshi ga. Status: Sold

Tsukioka YOSHITOSHI (1839 – 1892)

 Click here to view image full size. Murai Choan murders his brother at the crossroads of Fudanotsuji from Shinsen azuma nishiki-e, “New Selection of Eastern Brocade Pictures.” Published 1885-9 by Tsunashima. Choan is a character in a Kabuki drama but there is no mention of him killing his brother – artistic license. Very fine impression of the first edition ( with three-colour cartouche and yellow borders ). Fine colour and as originally published with no backing paper, with the margins completely untrimmed, and plenty of space for joining. Signed Yoshitoshi. Status: Sold

Ichiyusai KUNIYOSHI (1797 – 1861)

 Click here to view image full size. A fine and very rare vertical triptych of Mongaku ( Endo Morito, c. 1120 – 1200 ) subjecting himself to three years penance as a Buddhist monk beneath the waterfall of Mount Nachi in Kii Province. Morito inflicted this punishment on himself because he had inadvertently cut off the head of Kesa Gozen, the wife of the palace guard Watanabe Wataru, with whom he was in love. At the top of the design is Fudo Myo-o, the guardian deity of waterfalls, and at the bottom and top right are Seitaka and Kongara ( doji of Fudo ). This subject lends itself to some wonderful designs: See this website for a rare horizontal triptych by Yoshitoshi , and there are many single sheets by various artists. The vertical triptych format is rare: It was more convenient to view prints in the horizontal and it was difficult to insert into albums, the top sheets having to be heavily trimmed to fit. ( This impression is as published – completely untrimmed. ) Published by Sumiyoshiya Masagoro, c. 1851. Ex B. W. Robinson collection. This impression illustrated in his book Kuniyoshi, The Warrior Prints, 1982, pl. 64 ( Robinson T253 ). Another example of the same state – ex Pulverer collection – is illustrated in Heroes and Ghosts, Robert Schaap, p. 1998, no. 87, p. 102. Fine impression and colour. Minor creases, otherwise very good condition. Untrimmed with extra paper for the sheets to join. There are two states of the print: As here with an extra block printing the waves at base of fall, and without. Both are known as fine impressions, although the version without appears to be slightly earlier. Signed Ichiyusai Kuniyoshi ga. Status: Sold  Click here to view image full size.  Click here…

Tsukioka YOSHITOSHI (1832 – 1892)

 Click here to view image full size. Shows Uesugi no Terutora, best known as Kenshin, riding into battle through clouds of smoke from the set Yoshitoshi musha burui, “Yoshitoshi’s Courageous Warriors.” He is best known for his long standing conflict with Takeda Shingen. For a time the two champions met every year, the campaigns always ending indecisively. Published by Kobayashi Tetsujiro, 1883 ( reprinted by Tsunajima Kamekichi ). Probably the best design from this excellent set. Very fine impression of the first edition with two small red seals in left margin, complete date, original publisher and three-colour cartouche. There are a number of later editions of this set. Very fine colour. Album backing, otherwise very good condition. Signed Taiso Yoshitoshi ga. Status: Sold

Ichiyusai KUNIYOSHI (1797 – 1861)

 Click here to view image full size. The otokodate Goshaku Somegoro playing a bamboo flute ( shakuhachi ) from Kuniyoshi moyo shofuda tsuketari genkin otoko, ” Typical Types of Manly Fellows in Kuniyoshi’s Style.” A fine set of portraits of chivalrous commoners published by Ibaya Kyubei, 1845. This is the actual impression illustrated in Heroes and Ghosts, Robert Schaap, 1998, no. 59, p. 81. Fine impression and colour. Minor trimming, otherwise very good condition. Signed Ichiyusai Kuniyoshi ga. Status: Sold

Ichiyusai KUNIYOSHI (1797 – 1861)

 Click here to view image full size. A fine and rare print showing the diving girl escaping with the Dragon King’s jewel. There were a number of prints designed by Kuniyoshi of this subject which lends itself to fine compositions. She is being chased by the Dragon, fish and octopuses. Published 1844 by Tsutaya. The first issue of this print by Tsutaya was around 1838 – 41 ( with the censor seal printed in black ). However, this is one of the rare examples where the reissue was superior to the original: With gradation on the Dragon and better colouration in the water. Very good impression and colour. Trimmed round and minor edge wormage. Signed Cho-o-ro Kuniyoshi ga. Status: Sold

Tsukioka YOSHITOSHI (1839 – 1892)

 Click here to view image full size. Wakashima Gonemon diving into a whirlpool to retrieve the ancient dragon-headed bell; it’s position indicated by two beams of light. The water god was unwilling to part with the bell. The finest design from Azuma no nishiki ukiyo kodan, published by Masudaya 1867 Second edition without kiri seal. Very good impression and colour. Trimmed slightly at bottom, otherwise very good condition. Signed Ikkaisai Yoshitoshi ga. Status: Sold

Tsukioka YOSHITOSHI (1839 – 1892)

 Click here to view image full size. The old hag of Adachi Moor. A gruesome tale of a high-ranking woman who kills young children to supply their blood to the local lord who suffers from an unknown disease. She is usually shown in a gourd vine-clad hut wielding a large knife. This design shows the actor Onoe Kikugoro V as the old crone in a revival of the Mokuami play in 1890. Published 1890 by Akiyama Buemon. Fine impression and colour. Minor edge creases, otherwise very good condition. Large margins for joining. Signed Okokkeidoju Yoshitoshi ga. Status: Sold

Tsukioka YOSHITOSHI (1832 – 1892 )

 Click here to view image full size. Lady Yodo, Yodo no Kimi, from the fine set Ikkai zuihitsu, “Essays by Yoshitoshi.” Lady Yodo ( 1567 – 1615 ) , the concubine of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, was installed at Yodo castle to the south of Kyoto. She bore him a son, Hideyori, in 1598 but the same year Hideyoshi died and Tokugawa Ieyasu staked his claim for political power. Lady Yodo fled to Osaka castle with her child where they eventually committed suicide. She is shown surrounded by smoke from the fire which destroyed the castle. Published by Masadaya, 1872 Fine impression. This is the first edition with red seals in right margin ( rather than black ) and a lightly printed background, rather than the dark ground of later editions. Fine colour. Very slight centre fold and minor edge soil, otherwise very good condition. Signed Ikkaisai Yoshitoshi hitsu. Status: Sold