Catalog (119)

Ohara Koson
Three small birds on a twig of a red maple
Size: Approximately 17.5 x 12.5 cm. 6.75 x 4.875 inches.
Date: ca. 1910.
Koson signature and seal at lower left.
Publisher: Matsumoto (no. 440).
Reference: AK.18 in Crows, Cranes and Camellias: The Natural World of Ohara Koson (Reigle Newland).
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent. Slight wave in paper around original publisher's label at back.
An early and rarely seen design.

Ohara Koson
Two birds on thin twigs with red berries
Size: Approximately 16.8 x 11.8 cm. 6.625 x 4.625 inches.
Date: ca. 1910.
Koson signature and seal at lower left.
Publisher: Matsumoto (no. 436).
Reference: K35.18 in Crows, Cranes and Camellias: The Natural World of Ohara Koson (Reigle Newland).
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent. Slight wave in paper around original publisher's label at back.
An early and rarely seen design.

Sparrow on Hortensia (Blue Hydrangea) (aka. A Songbird Among Hydrangea)
Size: Kotanzaku. Approximately 19.4 x 9.6 cm. 7.75 x 3.75 inches.
Date: ca. 1910.
Publisher: Matsumoto (no. 106).
Kono Bairei seal at lower left. Bairei died in 1895, which, curiously, was before Matsumoto was in business. Matsumoto has also issued this print with a proper Koson seal. Please see an example in our last photo.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent. Pucker in paper...

Ohara Koson
Crow on Snowy Bough
Size: Approximately 6.25 x 4.25 inches.
Date: ca. 1930s.
Unsigned as originally issued.
Publisher: Daikokuya (Matsuki Heikichi).
Reference: #48b on page 72 of Crows, Cranes and Camellias: The Natural World of Ohara Koson (Reigle Newland).
Provenance: The Robert O. Muller estate.
"Made in Japan" stamped on back.
Condition: Excellent. Never displayed.

Ohara Shoson (Koson)
Kingfisher on Snow-Covered Reeds
Size: Approximately 7 x 4.75 inches.
Date: ca. 1930s.
Shoson seal at lower left.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Reference: AS.13 in Crows, Cranes and Camellias: The Natural World of Ohara Koson (Reigle Newland).
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.
Note: Embossed snow on this rarely seen design.

Ohara Koson
Eagle watching small bird (Eagle with outspread wings)
This example has a Matsumoto Print Works tag on the back (#105). The ca. 1910 Matsumoto catalog lists the print as "Eagle on a Tree."
Size: Ko-tanzaku. Approximately 7.75 x 3.75 inches.
Date: ca. 1900s-1923.
Koson seal at lower right.
References: Matsumoto #105. AK.11 in Crows, Cranes and Camellias: The Natural World of Ohara Koson (Reigle Newland).
Compare with our large Ohara111 K13.2 publishe...

Ohara Koson
Peafowl on flowering cherry
Size: ko-tanzaku. Approximately 7.75 x 3.75 inches.
Date: ca. 1900s-1923.
Koson seal at lower right.
Reference: AK.19 in Crows, Cranes and Camellias: The Natural World of Ohara Koson (Reigle Newland).
Compare with our large Ohara125 K38.13 published by Daikokuya.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent. Back lower corner has spot.

Ohara Koson
Small Bird on a Morning Glory
Size: Approximately 16.9 x 12 cm. 6.5 x 4.625 inches.
Date: ca. 1910.
Koson signature and seal at lower left.
Publisher: Matsumoto (no. 438).
AK.24 in Crows, Cranes and Camellias: The Natural World of Ohara Koson (Reigle Newland).
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: A couple of spots the lower sky.
An early and rarely seen design.

Ohara Koson
Two songbirds on a cherry tree
Size: Approximately 17 x 12 cm. 6.625 x 4.625 inches.
Date: ca. 1910.
Koson signature and seal at right.
Publisher: Matsumoto (no. 435).
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: A few foxing spots. Slight wave in paper around original publisher's label at back.
An early and rarely seen design not found in Crows, Cranes and Camellias: The Natural World of Ohara Koson (Reigle Newland).

Ohara Koson
Snipe at Waterside
Size: Approximately 17.0 x 12.2 cm. 6.625 x 4.75 inches.
Date: ca. 1910.
Koson signature and seal at lower left.
Publisher: Matsumoto (no. 448). The Matsumoto catalog calls this print Magpie Searching For Food at the Edge of a Marsh.
Reference: AK.14 in Crows, Cranes and Camellias: The Natural World of Ohara Koson (Reigle Newland).
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent with light creasing where original publ...

Ohara Koson
Quail in Moonlight
Size: Approximately 17 x 12 cm. 6.75 x 4.75 inches.
Date: ca. 1910.
Koson signature and seal at lower left.
Publisher: Matsumoto (no. 447).
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Faint foxing spots. Light creasing at top right edge.
An early and rarely seen design not found in Crows, Cranes and Camellias: The Natural World of Ohara Koson (Reigle Newland).

Ohara Koson
Heron (Egret) on a Willow Tree
Size: Approximately 17 x 12 cm. 6.625 x 4.75 inches.
Date: ca. 1910.
Koson signature and seal at upper right.
Publisher: Matsumoto (no. 437).
Reference: AK.12 in Crows, Cranes and Camellias: The Natural World of Ohara Koson (Reigle Newland).
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent. Slight wave in paper around original publisher's label at back. A few marks in sky.
An early and rarely seen desig...

Ohara Koson
Playing Monkeys
Size: O-tanzaku. Approximately 14.5 x 7.5 inches.
Date: 1920s-30s.
Reference: K41.17 on pages 57 and 200 of Crows, Cranes and Camellias: The Natural World of Ohara Koson (Reigle Newland).
Publisher: Daikokuya/Adachi.
Koson signature at lower left.
"Made in Japan" stamped on back.
Condition: Excellent. Uncirculated. Bend at tip of bottom left corner.
Provenance: The Robert O. Muller estate.
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Ohara Koson
Two monkeys, a butterfly above
Size: Approximately 12.0 x 5.5 inches.
Date: Pre-1936.
Bears Shoson signature and seal.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo (W36-259)
Reference: S41.6 in Crows, Cranes and Camellias: The Natural World of Ohara Koson (Reigle Newland).
Condition: Lighter area in upper left corner.
Note: This is the more rare creped version of this design.

Ohara Koson
Barn swallow in flight above water with large waves
Size: O-tanzaku. Approximately 14.5 x 7.5 inches.
Date: Early 20th century.
Reference: K28.8 in Crows, Cranes and Camellias: The Natural World of Ohara Koson (Reigle Newland).
Publisher: Daikokuya
Signed and sealed by the artist.
"Made in Japan" stamped on back.
Condition: Light foxing.
Embossed waves and splashes in this lively design.

Ohara Koson
Fishing Boats at Twilight
Size: Chuban. Approximately 10.5 x 8.25 inches.
Board measures 14.0 x 11.75 inches.
Date: ca. 1910.
Publisher: Daikokuya.
Koson signature and seal.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Reference: K44.26 and cataog image #132 in Crows, Cranes and Camellias: The Natural World of Ohara Koson (Reigle Newland).
Condition: Laid down to board. Some dots and light scratches in the sky
Note: This is the rarely seen chuba...

Ohara Koson (Shoson)
Group of Egrets
Size: Oban. Approximately 15.5 x 10.25 inches.
Date: 1927. This edition 1946-1957.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo. Watanabe 6 mm in lower right corner of image.
Shoson signature and seal.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Reference: S14.5 in Crows, Cranes and Camellias: The Natural World of Ohara Koson (Reigle Newland).
Features gauffrage embossing on the birds' bodies. Please see Enlargement 3 to view embossing.
C...

Ohara Koson
Torii with Lantern and Deer
Size: Yoko chu-tanzaku. Approximately 14.5 x 5.50 inches.
Date: 1900-1910.
Bears Koson signature and seal.
Publisher: Kokkeido. Bears Kokkeido seal.
Reference: K44.12 and plate 28 in Crows, Cranes and Camellias: The Natural World of Ohara Koson (Reigle Newland).
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Some foxing (stabilized). Four small wear holes visible when held to light.