Catalog (137)

Tsunenobu Kano (1636-1713)
Pheasant and Wildflowers
Date: 1900-1910s.
Size: 8.75 x 6.75 inches.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Residue at back. Light creasing.

Jun (Jun'ichiro) Sekino
Postscript Thoughts on "The Book of the Ghost". This very rare booklet with woodblock-printed covers is Sekino's reflections on having produced and self-published the 1950 woodblock-printed work, "The Book of the Ghost". The cover page reads, "Please Read this Little Booklet as a Personal Letter from Me."
Publisher: The artist's Sosaku Shuppan company.
The book is a single sheet folded into eight pages and has a wonderful T. Kato ex-libris inside.
Siz...

Josetsu (Jousetsu) 城雪
Cock and Hen with Chickens under a Plum-tree
Size: 7 x 4.75 inches.
Date: ca. 1910.
Publisher: Matsumoto Print Works. Cat. #164 tag on back.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print from a painting by Tokyo artist Josetsu.
Condition: A few marks. Slight waviness corresponding to location of tag on back.

Unsigned Japanese Woodblock Print
Woman in Purple on Balcony
Date: Early 20th century.
Size: 11.0 x 8.5 inches.
Provenance: From the collection of Canadian missionary Sybil Courtice, who was in Japan from the early 20th century up until WWII.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.

Artist: Unsigned
Ueno Lotus Pond in Tokyo
Date: ca. 1920s-30s.
Size: Approximately 5.25 x 3.25 inches)
Medium: Japanese woodblock print attached along its top edge only to an used holiday card with correspondence.
Condition: Print is excellent. Tiny dot in sky. Card correspondence has marks.

Title: Tokumochi
Artist's signature not read. The second kanji in the signature is read "haru" or "shun."
Print size: Approximately 5.125 x 3.375 inches.
Date: ca. 1930s.
Publisher: Takemura Hideo.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print tipped along its top edge onto a 6.625 x 4.75-inch greeting card containing a signed message.
Condition: Print excellent. Card is discolored.

Spring Field
Artist: Unidentified.
Size: Approximately 5.625 x 3.625 inches 14.2 x 9.2 cm
Date: ca. 1910.
Publisher: Matsumoto (No. 425).
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent. Wave in paper where original publisher's tag is attached to the back.
The Matsumoto catalog states, "Butterflies are flitting to and fro among the flowers."
An early and rarely seen design.

Puppies and Banana
Artist: Unidentified. This print is also known to have the unread artist's seal in our enlargement #3.
Size: Approximately 14.4 x 9.0 cm. 5.675 x 3.5 inches
Date: ca. 1910.
Publisher: Matsumoto (No. 416).
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.
An early and rarely seen design.

"Mandarin Ducks" and "Sparrows on Hedge"
Artist: Seals unread.
Size: Each approximately 5.625 x 3.625 inches 14.2 x 9.2 cm
Date: ca. 1910.
Publisher: Matsumoto (Nos. 427 and 424).
Medium: Japanese woodblock prints.
Condition: Ink marks as shown. Original fibers within handmade paper.
Early and rarely seen designs.

Ito Sozan
Peahen
Date: Pre-1923. Pre-earthquake.
Size: Tanzaku. 11.75 x 5.25 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Artist's double red square seal at lower right.
Reference: Attribution by Mauro Novelli as T-48 at itosozan.com.
Medium: Crepe (chirimen) Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Lightly foxed.

Ito Nisaburo
The Inns at Arima Hot Spring
Date: 1950s
Size: 18 x 11.5 inches. Full margins (shown in additional photos).
Publisher: Uchida Woodblock Printing Co., Ltd.
Artist's seal and publisher's seal at lower left.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent. Removed from original folder.

Ito Nisaburo
Osaka Dotonbori
Date: 1960s
Size: 17.75 x 12 inches. Full margins shown in additional photo.
Publisher: Uchida Woodblock Printing Co., Ltd.
Artist's seal and publisher's seal at lower right.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Toned back. Slight fading. Tape residue at top margin.
- Interesting signage and fashions. This is a rarely seen design by Ito. There is an example at The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto.

Ishiwata Koitsu (aka. Yoshimi) (1897-1987)
Water Wheel in Snow
Date: 1930s. Early postwar edition.
Print size: Approximately 5.5 x 3.75 inches.
Publisher:Watanabe Shozaburo.
Koitsu's "Yoshimi" signature at lower right.
Medium: Woodblock print attached top edge only to a holiday card from Japanese and US representatives.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.

Hishikawa Moronobu
Thunderstorm
Date: 1680
Size: 13 x 9.75 inches.
A book page depicting a thunderstorm from "A Collection of Japanese Paintings" (Yamato-e Zukushi - 大和絵つくし), which includes scenes from the Tale of Genji and Ise Monogatari as well as Noh chants.
Publisher: Urokogataya Sanzaemon.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Toned with marks and some creasing.
Note: The Library of Congress online collection has an example of this ...

Hiroshige Ando
Suidobashi, Surugadai (Suido Bridge and Surugadai)
Series: No. 48 from Meisho Edo Hyakkei (One Hundred Famous Views of Edo)
Date: Intercalary 5th month, 1857.
Size: Oban 14 x 9.75 inches.
Publisher: Uoya Eikichi.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Margin blanks and tears repaired by conservator. Soiling.

Hiratsuka Un-ichi (1895 ~ 1997)
Selected Woodcuts By Un-ichi Hiratsuka
Date: 1954
Publisher: Nippon Geijyutsu Hangasha
This rare book contains 30 lithographic plates (23 black-and-white, 7 color) by the renowned sosaku hanga artist. English and Japanese text.
Size: 14.25 x 10.5 inches.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Very good. Light toning and foxing.

Hans Frank, Austrian (1884-1948)
Venice II, 1925 (Venedig II, 1925)
Date: 1925.
Paper size: 17.5 X 13.25 inches (44.5 x 33.9 cm).
Window size: 16 x 12 inches (40.5 x 30.5 cm).
Signed and dated at lower right.
Medium: Color woodcut on laid Japanese paper.
Condition: Small crease at upper right corner. The odd small mark in image.
Attached with archival tape to top of a 24 x 20-inch matte).

Gyosui Suzuki
Two Egrets (Herons) Among Flowers with Moon
Date: 1930s.
Print size: Approximately 9.5 x 5 inches.
Publisher: Nishinomiya Yosaku (Stamp on verso).
Artist's seal lower left.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Back top edge has paper residue. Very light crease upper left (photo).
Note: Very rare. We could find no other example of this design.

Goats at Sunset Artist: Seal not read.
Date: Early twentieth century.
Size: 5.5 x 3.5 inches.
Publisher: Shmbi Shoin.
Medium: Japanese woodblcock print.
Condition: Excellent. Sent by Shozo Nakamura to Dr. and Mrs. Dr. Dawson.

Funazaki Kojiro (b. 1900)
Eboshi Rock in Kaiba Island
From the collection, "One Hundred New Views of Japan"
Size: Approximately 11.75 x 8.75 inches.
Date: 1940.
Limited edition of 150.
Block bears the Kojiro signature and title.
Publisher: Nihon Hanga Kyokai (Japan Print Association)
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Trimmed margins.

Eisho Narazaki (1862-1936)
Interior of Asakusa Kannon Temple
Size: Oban. Approximately 15.25 x 10.5 inches.
Date: 1932
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo. Watanabe C seal at left margin, indicating a first edition printed 1929-42.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Toned paper.
There is so much to look at in this lively, superbly printed image.

Biho Takahashi (Yoshikuni) (1873-)
Bee and Pink Hollyhock
Date: 1900-1910.
Size: Shikishiban. Approximately 9.75 x 9.5 inches.
Signed and sealed by the artist.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Chipped corner and light creasing.

Aoki Seiko (b. 1880)
Red Berries and Birds (aka. Waxwings)
Size: Approximately 9.75 x 4.75 inches (24.9 x 12 cm).
Date: ca. 1910.
Publisher: Matsumoto Print Works. Cat. #368 tags on back.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Upper left corner margin chip. Pinhole near signature.
- Rarely seen.
The Matsumoto catalog identifies the birds as kashidori, "a noisy, quarrelsome species of jay."

Aoki Seiko (b. 1880)
Quails Under the Moonlight
Size: 9.75 x 4.75 inches. 24.6 x 12 cm.
Date: ca. 1910.
Publisher: Matsumoto Print Works. Cat. #366 tag on back.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Slight bend at lower left corner.

Aoki Seiko (b. 1880)
Mt. Fuji and Sailboat (Fuji Yama)
Size: Kotanzaku. Approximately 24.8 x 12.0 cm. 9.75 x 4.75 inches.
Date: ca. 1910.
Artist's signature and seal at lower right.
Publisher: Matsumoto (No. 367). Original publisher's tag on back.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: A few marks in sky. Small bends at top and bottom edges.

Aoki Seiko (b. 1880)
Flying Cuckoo
Size: Approximately 9.75 x 4.625 inches. 24.8 x 11.8 cm.
Date: ca. 1910.
Publisher: Matsumoto Print Works. Cat. #360 tag on back.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Slight creasing where publisher's original tag is attached to back. Small dash mark indentation under bird.
- Rarely seen.

After Maruyama Okyo (1733-1795)
Carp and Pine
Date: ca 1910s-30s.
Size: 5.375 x 3.5 inches.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Top margin thinning.

Yoshijiro Urushibara
Stonehenge in Moonlight
Size: Oban. Approximately 14.75 x 9.75 inches.
Date: 1910s-20s.
Publisher: "Ken Hoshino & Co. 57-58 Chancery Lane, W.C." at lower margin.
Signed and sealed by the artist.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.
Please also see our Dawn view of this design (Urushibar016).

Yoshijiro Urushibara
Stonehenge at Dawn
Size: Oban. Approximately 14.75 x 9.75 inches.
Date: 1910s-20s.
Publisher: "Ken Hoshino & Co. 57-58 Chancery Lane, W.C." at lower margin.
Signed and sealed by the artist.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.
Note: Please also see our Moonlight version of this design (Urushibar016).

Yokouchi Ginnosuke (1870-1942)
Rain and Night Cherry Blossoms in Ueno Park
Date: September 1935
Size: Oban. Approximately 16.25 x 11.5 inches.
Edition: First and only. 91/300. Japanese-language limitation seal on back.
Signed and sealed by the artist.
Published by the artist.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Age toning. Faint matte line. Pencil note on back.
This rare woodblock print is one of only eight designs by the artist.

Yamamoto Shoun (1870-1965)
The Old Willow Tree
(Titled: "Snow Hamlet" in 2005 Museum of Kochi exhibit catalog, A View of Nostalgic Japan and the Beauties of Those Days: An Exhibition of Shoun Yamamoto's Work)
Date: ca. 1900-1910s.
Size: Approximately 17.4 cm 11.6 cm. 6.875 x 4.5 inches.
Artist's signature and seal at lower right.
Publisher: Matsumoto (No. 446).
Condition: Excellent. Brown dash mark near signature.
An early and rarely seen design. Note: ...

Uehara Konen (1878-1940)
Dock and sailboat at night
Size: 7.875 x 3.875 inches. 19.8 x 10 cm.
ca. 1910.
Published by Kobayashi Bunshichi. The publisher's shop and many works did not survive the 1923 earthquake.
Artist's seal, publisher's seal lower left.
Cartouche with number 333 in Japanese at lower left.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.

Uehara Konen (1878-1940)
Hirosaki Castle
Size: Mitsugiriban. Approximately 15 X 6.75 inches.
Publisher: Likely Watanabe Shozaburo.
Date: ca. 1920s-1930s.
Artist's seal at lower left.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print
Condition: Excellent.

Artist: Uchima (Aohara) Toshiko (1918-2000). Aohara would marry the renowned artist Ansei Uchima.
Scene: Girl in Costume.
Image area: 5.5 x 3.5 inches. A woodblock print tipped at the top to original cardstock.
Bears the "Aohara" seal.
Publisher: Kyoto Hanga-In.
Condition: Excellent.

Tsukioka Kogyo (1869-1927)
Quails and Full Moon
Date: 1900 or earlier.
Size: Shikishiban. 9.75 x 9.25 inches.
Publisher: Matsuki Heikichi (Daikokuya).
Sealed.
Edition: First/early.
Provenance: Purchased from family who acquired in Japan on a 1900 world tour.
Woodblock print is adhered to board.
Condition: Edge toning. Minor marks.

Tomioka Eisen
Rice Planting
Size: Approximately 18.2 x 11.6 cm. 7.25 x 4.5 inches
Date: ca. 1910.
Publisher: Matsumoto (No. 390).
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent. Wave in paper where original publisher's tag is attached to the back.
The Matsumoto catalog states, "They are planting the young-rice in the rain, singing a charming song as they work."
An early and rarely seen design.

Tomioka Eisen (1864-1905)
Honmoku
Size: Approximately 18.2 x 11.6 cm. 7.25 x 4.5 inches
Date: ca. 1910.
Publisher: Matsumoto (No. 391).
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Ink dot in sky. Wave in paper where original publisher's tag is attached to the back.
The Matsumoto catalog states, "Honmoku, the old village of the present Yokohama. This little hamlet has jumped to the first rank among harbour cities in Japan since it was opened by Commodore Perr...

Toko Shinoda (b. 1913)
Title: Autumnal
Size: Approximately 28.5 x 20.5 inches.
Date: 1990s-2000s.
Edition: 16/38.
Medium: Lithograph with brushstrokes.
Condition: A very slight difference in the tone of the white outside the image area. The print was once matted.

Artist: This signature has been read "Choka" or "Akiyo". These prints are sometimes attributed to Nishimura Hodo.
Boat On a River at Night
Publisher: Takemura Hideo. Red Takemura seal at lower left
Size: 10.0 x 7.25 inches.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Scuff at upper right. Small smudge on mountain.
- A rare print similar to Shoda Koho's Hasegawa night scene, "Country Scene with Moon".

Shodo Kawarazaki (1889-1973)
Magnolia (Mokuren)
Date: 1950s. Later edition.
Size: Oban. 16.0 x 11 inches.
Artist's seal lower right.
Publisher: Unsodo. Publisher, carver, and printer seals at left margin.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.

Shibata Zeshin
Crows in Flight at Sunrise
Date: 1900 or earlier.
Size: Shikishiban. 9.75 x 9.25 inches.
Publisher: Matsuki Heikichi (Daikokuya).
Signed and sealed.
Edition: First/early.
Provenance: Purchased from family who acquired in Japan on a 1900 world tour.
Woodblock print is adhered to board.
Condition: Edge toning. Minor marks.

Saito Hodo (aka Nishimura Hodo)
Street After Rain (雨後の街)
Date: 1920s-30s.
Size: Oban. 19.75 x 13 inches.
Publisher: Takemura Hideo.
Signed "H. Saito" by the artist.
Medium: Japanese watercolor.
Condition: Excellent.
Note: Paintings and woodblock prints variously signed as "H. Saito" (Saito Hodo) and "Nishimura Hodo" were published by Takemura Hideo. They are very likely by the same artist. Works with these signatures had similar style and at times ...

Saito Hodo (aka Nishimura Hodo)
Two women walking on a spring night
Date: 1920s-1930s.
Size: Oban. 15.5 x 10.25 inches.
Publisher: Takemura Hideo (label on back).
Signed "H. Saito" by the artist.
Medium: Japanese watercolor.
Condition: Excellent.
Note: Paintings and woodblock prints variously signed "H. Saito" (Saito Hodo) and "Nishimura Hodo" were published by Takemura Hideo. They are very likely by the same artist. Works with these signatures had similar...

Sadao Watanabe
Look at the Birds of the Air
From the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:26)
Stencil on momigami paper.
Date: 1968.
Edition: 40/50.
Signed and dated by the artist.
Image size: 21 x 17.75 inches. Paper size: 26 x 23 inches.
Condition: Paper edges wrapped to thin backing. Margin outer edges toned from previous framing.

Rei Yuki (1928-2003)
Coincidence (Guzen)
Edition: 4/60
Pencil signed, titled and numbered.
Not dated.
Paper size: 12.5 x 10.25 inches.
Condition: The back has light tape marks. The paper is thinner at the upper right corner margin.

Peerless Mount Fuji
Unsigned. Artist not identified.
Date: 1934.
Size: Oban. Approximately 13.75 x 10 inches.
Origin: Issued as a folded insert to an N.Y.K. Line publication called, "Glimpses of the East". The folds are vertical.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: A faint foxing spot at the upper left.
The composition of this print is reminiscent of the Fuji views of Tsuchiya Koitsu.

Paul Binnie
Snow at Asakusa (Shitamachi Snow, Moon, and Flower) Date: 1998
Size: Oban. Approximately 16.5 x 11.5 inches.
Edition no.: 36/100
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent. Circle in lower foreground is fiber within the paper.

Ota Masamitsu (Ota Gako) (1892-1975)
Nakamura Tokizo III as Shizuka Gozen
No. 7 from the shin hanga series: Leading Figures of the Modern Stage in Their Most Famous Roles (Gendai Butai Geika).
Date: 1955.
Size: Oban. Approximately 15.75 x 10.75 inches.
Publisher: Banchoro. Seal at bottom margin.
Printer: Miyake Koshodo. Seal at bottom margin.
Condition: Excellent.

Ohno Bakufu
Spiny Lobster
Great Japanese Fish Picture Collection (Dai Nihon gyorui gashu), Volume 1
Date: 1937-38.
Size: Approximately 15.5 x 11 inches.
Artist's signature and seal upper left.
Publisher: Nishinomiya Shoin
Publisher carver, and printer seals lower left.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Matte line near image edge. A few faint foxing spots.

Ohno Bakufu
Flying Fish (Tobiuo)
Series: Familiar Fishes of Japan (Dai Nihon gyorui gashu)
Size: Oban. Approximately 16 x 11.25 inches.
Date: 1938.
Edition: No. 260 (noted on back in pencil).
Publisher: Kyoto Hanga-in. Publisher's seals on back in English and Japanese.
Artist's signature and seal upper right.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print employing mica and gofun highlights.
Condition: Light toning to former matte edge. Verso toned. Top back center...

Ohno Bakufu
Brocade Carp (Higoi)
Series: Familiar Fishes of Japan (Dai Nihon gyorui gashu)
Size: Oban. Approximately 19.25 x 13.5 inches. Visible image: 15.25 x 10.25 inches.
Date: 1938.
Edition: No. 260 (noted on back in pencil).
Publisher: Nishinomiya Shoin/Kyoto Hanga-in.
Artist's signature and seal lower right.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print employing mica highlights.
Condition: Excellent color. Some foxing in the water. Print is sealed inside m...

Noel Nouet(1885-1944)
Kuromon, 1936. From the 24 Views of Tokyo series.
Size: Oban. Approximately 15.5 x 10.25 inches.
Publisher: Doi Hangaten. Carver: Ikeda, Printer: Yokoi. Bears the Doi watermark.
An early edition of rarely seen design.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.

Nishimura Hodo
Hirosaki Castle in the Spring
Date: 1933.
Size: Oban. 15.625 x 10.5 inches.
Publisher: Takemura Hideo. Stamp in left margin and label on back.
Sealed by the artist at lower left.
Edition: First and only.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Upper portion toned where not covered by former matte.
Note: RARE - The only other example we could locate is in the Honolulu Museum.

Nishimura Hodo
Bridge in Rain at Night
Date: 1930s.
Size: Mitsugiriban. Approximately 15.5 x 7.25 inches.
Publisher: Takemura Shokai (stamp in left margin). Takemura Hideo label on back.
Signed by the artist. Takemura seal below signature.
Edition: First and only.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Light, horizontal crease in sky. Toning in margin

Narazaki Eisho (1864-1936) (aka. Kyokudo, Fuyo, Shinjo)
Futagawa in Snow (Futagawa no Yuki)
Date: Early 20th century.
Size: Approximately 7.25 x 5.25 inches.
Signed and sealed "Kyokudo".
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
A very rare creped print.
Condition: Unframed. Excellent.
The uneven margin is due to the creping process.

Muto Katei (b. 1910)
Engakuji Temple in Kamakura
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo. Bears the Watanabe 6mm seal, indicating an early edition.
Date: 1954
Size: Oban: Approximately 15.5 x 10.5 inches.
Condition: Pristine. Never displayed. Removed from original folder for archival storage.
Muto Katei studied printmaking under Kawase Hasui.
The unusual color palette works beautifully in this image.

Utagawa Kuniyoshi
The Ghost of Oiwa (Oiwa no Bokon)
Series: Honne Onna (lit. "Bone woman" - Female ghosts that remain obsessed their beloved).
Date ca 1847 - 48.
Size: 14 1/2 x 10 in.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: This famous print is in rough shape. Please note the holes and other issues shown in the front and back photos.

Utagawa Kuniyoshi
Abalone diver resting on a rock with octopi nearby.
Date: ca 1843.
Series: No. 6 from Instructive Index of All Sorts of Proverbs (Tatoe-gusa oshie hayabiki).
Size: Oban. 14 x 9.75 inches.
Publisher: Arita-ya Seiemon.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Fading. Trimming at top edge. Hard crease at right with notches at top and bottom. Soiling.
Note: This striking print of a diver braiding her hair contains a poem by Ryukatei Ta...

Kobayashi Kiyochika
Shrouded Moon Over Takanawa, Ushimachi.
From the series Famous places of Tokyo (Tokyo Meisho).
Date: 1879. This edition 1896.
Signed by the artist in black at lower left.
"Shiba" collector's seal on verso.
Publisher: Fukuda Hatsujiro (successor to Fukuda Kumajiro).
Size: Oban. Approximately 13.25 x 9.25 inches.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Very good color and condition. Original center fold reinforced at back.
...

Kikuchi Yuichi (aka Tomokazu)
Shinano Taisho Pond
Date: 1954.
Size: Oban. Approximately 14.75 x 9.75 inches.
Publisher: Adachi. Seal on back.
Yuichi seal at lower left.
Condition: Slight fading. Flattened crease along top margin.
Most Kikuchi Yuichi prints are small. This oban-sized work is rarely seen.