From the block-printed labels on upper covers of Vols. I & II: Mitsu no nagame [one possible reading of the kanji: The View of the Beautiful City]; Vol. I sub-title label: [first characters indecipherable, but from another copy we know the word is Sumidagawa] no yuki [Snow at Sumida River]; Vol. II sub-title label: Musashino no tsuki [Moon of Musashino]; title at beginning of text: Hanakatsura nagame no gin sekai [Flowers on the Tree in [the Wintery] Silver World]

  • First Edition
  • Hardcover
  • Used
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Heritage seller

Seller: Jonathan A. Hill, Bookseller Inc., New York, NY, U.S.A.Jonathan A. Hill, Bookseller Inc.

5-star seller

AbeBooks seller since March 15, 1999

Association member: ABAAILAB

Hardcover

Condition: Used

£ 5,416.70

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Item description from seller

Vol. I: Illustrated "title-page," one double-page woodcut with foldouts to form a four-panel diptych, with the addition of a "trick super flap" depicting three female genitalia (young woman, mistress, & wife), six double-page woodcuts, & two single-page woodcuts, all color-printed; & three double-page black & white woodcuts. Vol. II: Illustrated "title-page," five double-page woodcuts, & two single-page woodcuts, all color-printed; & four double-page black & white woodcuts. Vol. III: Illustrated "title-page," four double-page woodcuts, & two full-page woodcuts, all color-printed; & three black & white double-page woodcuts. All leaves have color-printed borders. .5, 1 folding leaf of preface (color-printed), 13 folding leaves; .5, 13 folding leaves; .5, 12 folding leaves. Three vols. 8vo, orig. decorated semi-stiff patterned boards, with color-printed symbols of the moon, flowers, & snowflakes, orig. block-printed title labels on upper covers of Vols. I & II (lacking on Vol. III, but there is no evidence a label was ever there), new stitching. [Japan]: Preface dated 1850. First edition and very rare; we can find no copy in WorldCat or NIJL. Almost all of the techniques that make Japanese illustrated books so remarkable are utilized here. Finely illustrated and richly colored, this late shunga employs bokashi, the delicate variation of shading of pigment within the image; blind-embossing; and the very ample use of metallic pigments. The depicted garments are a mixture of extremely complex textures, colors, and patterns, all accentuated by blind-embossing and multiple woodblock impressions. In Vol. I, the folding woodcuts - which reveal a man and woman engaging in sex - open to reveal a fine and complex four-panel scene in which we see three couples also having sex: a young couple, a man with his mistress, and the same man with his wife. On the third panel from the right, a hidden "trick" flap is revealed, depicting and comparing the genitalia of these three women. This "trick" panel has the title printed with seven kanji characters (the first two are indecipherable): ".mitate setsugekka" [".Visual Puns of Snow, Moon, Flower"]. Each volume begins with a finely colored paste-down leaf, artistically depicting the themes of snow, moon, and flower, with poems. Facing each of these leaves is a portrait of a woman: mistress, young, and wife. All the black & white woodcuts also depict men and women engaging in sex and self-pleasuring. Koikawa (1821-1907), was a prolific artist. He illustrated as well as wrote numerous books, under various pen names. At the end of the Preface in Vol. I, we find "Insuitei," one of his pen names. Fine set, with fresh coloring. The four-panel diptych has several small burn holes on the right-hand side. One black & white illustration has been "heightened" with red ink in a very minor way. Slight thumbing and a few minor stains.…

Seller Inventory # 8347

Bibliographic details

Title
From the block-printed labels on upper covers of Vols. I & II: Mitsu no nagame [one possible reading of the kanji: The View of the Beautiful City]; Vol. I sub-title label: [first characters indecipherable, but from another copy we know the word is Sumidagawa] no yuki [Snow at Sumida River]; Vol. II sub-title label: Musashino no tsuki [Moon of Musashino]; title at beginning of text: Hanakatsura nagame no gin sekai [Flowers on the Tree in [the Wintery] Silver World]
Author
KOIKAWA (or INSUITEI), Shozan, artist
Binding
Hardcover
Edition
First Edition.
Seller catalogs
Art, Graphic Arts, Japan

Jonathan A. Hill, Bookseller Inc.

New York, NY, U.S.A.

5-star seller

AbeBooks seller since March 15, 1999

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Store description

Specializing since 1978 in rare and important books in the history of science, medicine, natural history; books on wine and bibliography, early printed books, technology, engineering, and Japanese and Chinese books, manuscripts, and scrolls

Specialty

Science, Bibliography, Natural History, Early Printed Books, Mineralogy, Japanese Books and Manuscripts, Medicine, Technology, Geology, Engineering, Astronomy, Chinese Books and Manuscripts

Association member

  • Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of America
  • International League of Antiquarian Booksellers
Members of these associations are committed to maintaining the highest standards. They vouch for the authenticity of all items offered for sale. They provide expert and detailed descriptions, disclose all significant defects and/or restorations, provide clear and accurate pricing, and operate with fairness and honesty during the purchase experience.

Seller's business information

Jonathan A. Hill, Bookseller Inc.

325 West End Ave., Suite 10B
New York, NY U.S.A. 10023

Jonathan A. Hill, Bookseller Inc.
Corporation
orders@jonathanahill.com
917 294 2678
325 West End Ave.
New York, NY, 10023
USA
Fed. ID: 13-3034390
Jonathan A. Hill