Kabuki
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Toyohara Kunichika (1835-1900)- Various Scribblings on the Storehouse Wall (Kabe no mudagaki iroiro). 1867.
Oban diptych. Newland, Kunichika: Time Present and Time Past, no. 83; Kunichika yakusha kagami, plate 80. Fine impression, colour and condition. This is Kunichikas homage to Kuniyoshi with the latters famous series updated with contemporary actors. For a full list of the actors portrayed, see Newland (op. cit., page 83). Untrimmed examples, such as here, are rare.
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Torii Kiyonaga (1752-1815)- Sawamura Sojuro III as Sainenbo, Segawa Kikunojo III as Koito and Ichikawa Monnosuke II
as Renseibo with Chanters Koide Ichijuro and Shibata Kogenji and Accompanist Kineya Shojiro, in a Dojo-ji Dance in the Play Edo no hana Mimasu Soga. 1783. Oban. Hirano 467, plate LXXIX. Fine impression. Very good colour. Fine condition. Provenance: Tadamasa Hayashi, Robert and Isabelle de Strycker (acquired at Galerie Van Stockum in 1951), by descent. Other impressions can be found in the MFA, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Honolulu Museum of Art, and the Tsubouchi Memorial Theatre Museum, Waseda University.
$5,800- RESERVED
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Katsukawa Shunko - Nakamura Nakazo I. Circa 1780.
Hosoban. Fine impression. Very good colour and condition. According to Paul Griffith the character, with his travelling cap and backpack, seems to be an itinerant priest.
$2,800
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Katsukawa Shunsho (1726-1792)- Onoe Matsusuke I. Circa 1770.
Hosoban. Fine impression and colour. Very good condition.
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Katsukawa Shunsho (1726-1792)- Ichikawa Yaozo III Carrying a Large, Closed Umbrella. Hosoban. Circa early 1780s
Fine impression, colour and condition. The same blocks were re-used for another hosoban with the plugged-in face of Ichikawa Danjuro. An impression of this later version is at Harvard.
$5,200
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Toyohara Kunichika (1835-1900)- Ichikawa Sadanji I as the Fishmonger Fukashichi. From the series Jidai sewa haiyu kagami (Mirror of Actors in Tales of Modern History). 1883.
Oban. Newland, Kunichika: Time Present and Time Past, no. 91; Kunichika yakusha kagami, plate 74. Fine impression with metallicprinting. Fine colour and condition.
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Toyohara Kunichika (1835-1900)- Kawarazaki Gonnosuke as Daroku. From an untitled series of large head actor portraits. 1869.
Oban. Kunichika yakusha kagami, plate 12. Fine impression, colour and condition.
$2,700
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Toyohara Kunichika (1835-1900)- Nakamura Sagisuke II as Chugen Kanji (?).
From an untitled series of large head actor portraits. 1869. Oban. 37 x 24.8 cm. Kunichika yakusha kagami, plate 16. Fine impression, colour and condition.
$2,900
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Seiyosai Shunshi (Active 1820's)- Onoe Fujaku III as Kobayakawa Takakage. Mid 1820’s.
Oban. 39.6 x 26.7 cm. Fine impression, colour and condition. The only other impression we could locate is in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
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Toyohara Kunichika (1835-1900)- Bando Hikosaburo V as Nikki Danjo.
From an untitled series of large head actor portraits. 1869. Oban. 37.5 x 25.7 cm. Kunichika: Time Present and Time Past, no. 67; Kunichika yakusha kagami, plate 17. Fine impression, colour and condition.
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Toyohara Kunichika (1835-1900)- Sawamura Tossho II as Karukaya Doshin.
From an untitled series of large head actor portraits. 1869. Oban. 37.3 x 25.8 cm. Kunichika yakusha kagami, plate 14. Fine impression, colour and condition.
$2,000
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Toyohara Kunichika (1835-1900)- Kawarazaki Gonnosuke as Oboshi Yuranosuke Presenting Eighteen Justifications for the Raid in Chushingura.
From an untitled series of large head actor portraits. 1869. Oban. 37 x 25 cm. Kunichika: Time Present and Time Past, no. 66; Kunichika yakusha kagami, plate 15. Fine impression, colour and condition.
$2,000
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Toyohara Kunichika (1835-1900)- Ichikawa Danjuro IX as Banzuiin Chobei in a palanquin in the scene of Suzugamori.
From the play Gozonji Banzuiin Chobei. 1895. Oban triptych. 37.5 x 75.6 cm. Fine impression, colour and condition.
$1,900
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Utagawa Yoshitora (Active 1850-1880)- Fireworks at Ryogoku.
Evening Cool at Ryogoku (Ryogku yusuzumi). Oban triptych. 37.8 x 74.4 cm. Fine impression, colour and condition.
$2,300
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Utagawa Kunisada (1786-1864)- Matsumoto Koshiro V as Takechi Mitsuhide.
From the series Tosei oshi-e hagoita (Contemporary Pressed-Cloth Battledores). Circa 1823. Oban. 37 x 24.3 cm. Izzard, Kunisada’s World, no. 35. Fine impression and colour. Very good condition.
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Utagawa Kunisada (1786-1864)- Iwai Hanshiro V as Oshun.
From the series Tosei oshi-e hagoita (Contemporary Pressed-Cloth Battledores). Circa 1823. Oban. 37 x 24.3 cm. Masterful Illusions, Ann Van Biema Collection, no. 37, Clark, Sex and Pleasure in Japanese Art, no. 142. Fine impression and colour. Very good condition.
$2,500
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Shunkosai Hokushu (Active 1810-1832)- Sawamura Kunitaro II as Ayame no Mae and Arashi Kitsusaburo II as Gen Sanmi Yorimasa.
From the play Yorimasa nue monogatari. 1822. Oban. 38 x 25.7 cm. Kamigata yakusha-e shusei, vol. 3, no. 532. Fine impression on thick, deluxe paper with extensive use of metallic printing. Fine colour. Very good condition.
$4,900
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Kiyosada (Active circa 1848)- Jitsukawa Ensaburo I as Kojin (Filial son) Yojiro, a Monkey Trainer. 1848.
Chuban. 26.1 x 19 cm.
Fine, early impression with exquisite embossing. Fine colour and condition.
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Toyokawa Yoshikuni (Active 1813-1832)- Six Contemporary actors symbolizing the Rokkasen (Six immortal poets).
Arashi Kitsusaburo II as Bun’ya no Yasuhide, Ichikawa Ebijuro I as Sojo Heno; Nakamura Utaemon III as Kisen Hoshi; Nakamura Matsue III as Ono no Komachi; Nakamura Shikan II as Ariwara no Narihira and Ichikawa Danzo V as Otomo no Kuronushi. Circa 1827. Oban. Schwaab, Osaka Prints, no. 103. Very good impression, colour and condition.
$1,100
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Utagawa Kunisada (1786-1864)- Nakamura Kantaro as Iwaki Toma Reflecting in a Mirror. Poem by the actor inscribed above. From the series Imayo oshi-e kagami (A Mirror of Fashionable Pictures). 1859
Oban. 39.9 x 27.8 cm. Fine, early impression of the deluxe edition on luxurious paper. Brilliant colour. Fine condition. A very large sheet!
$900.
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Utagawa Kunisada (1786-1864)- Seki Hanasuke as Tanizawa Kazumanosuke Reflecting in a Mirror. Poem by the actor inscribed above. From the series Imayo oshi-e kagami (A Mirror of Fashionable Pictures). 1859.
Oban. 38.3 x 26.8 cm. Fine, early impression with over-printing on deluxe, paper. Fine colour and condition
$900
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Utagawa Kunisada (1786-1864)- Sawamura Tossho II as enya Hangan Takasada Reflecting in a Mirror. Poem by the actor inscribed above. From the series Imayo oshi-e kagami (A Mirror of Fashionable Pictures). 1859
Oban. 38.2 x 26.6 cm. Fine, early impression with extensive embossing on deluxe paper. Fine colour and condition.
$900
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Utagawa Kunisada (1786-1864)- Kawarasaki Gonjuro I as Momonoi Wakasanosuke Reflecting in a Mirror. Poem by the actor inscribed above. From the series Imayo oshi-e kagami (A Mirror of Fashionable Pictures). 1859.
Oban. 39 x 27.2 cm. Fine, early impression with extensive embossing on deluxe paper. Fine colour and condition.
$900
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Utagawa Kunisada (1786-1864)- Ichikawa Ebizo V as Usui Arataro Sadamitsu. From an untitled series of large head actor prints. 1863
Konjaku kabuki meiyu ten, no. 36, Schaap and Uhlenbeck, Kunisada, no. 106. Fine impression on thick, deluxe paper. Fine colour. Fold mark in right margin, otherwise fine condition. Surely, one of the most dramatic of all nineteenth century kabuki prints.
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Migita Toshihide (1863-1925)- Ichikawa Danjuro IX as Soga no Goro in the play Yanone Goro. 1893.
Oban. From the series Mimasu ai sugata (Danjuro in his various roles). Fine impression, colour and condition.
$1,400
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Utagawa Kunisada (1786-1864)- A pair of prints showing Ichikawa Kodanji IV as the archvillain NikkiDanjo Naonori and Ichikawa Danjuro VIII as the hero ArajishiOtokonosuke Terumitsu. The Yukashita scene from the play Kozottekuruwa mimasu no datezome. 1852
Oban. Fine impressions with strong woodgrain. Very good colour and condition.
$1,900
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Konishi Hirosada (1819-1865)- Nakamura Daikichi III as Toki Hime, Ichikawa Sukejuro as SasakiTakatsuna and Arashi Rikaku II as Miuranosuke. From the play Kamakura sandaiki.
From a complete album containing 55 chuban prints. Keyes, Philadelphia 63, Hirosada, Osaka Printmaker, no. 25 and front cover. Fine, early impressions with extensive metallic printing and embossing. Fine condition with brilliant colour. This chuban album, which contains a number of Hirosada’s greatest designs, is an excellent example of the technical brilliance of mid- nineteenth century Osaka printmaking and the finest example we have seen on the market since the 1980’s.
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Hasegawa Sadanobu (1809-1879)- Nakamura Tomijuro II as the Wet Nurse Shigenoi. From the play Koinyobo somewake tazuna. From the series Kyofuku tosei kurabe (AModern Competition for Mirror Covers). 1841.
Oban. Kamigata yakusha-e shusei, vol. III, no. 52 & front cover, Osaka Kagami, no. 104. Fine impression with metallic printing and embossing. Fine colour and condition.
$1,900
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Hasegawa Sadanobu (1809-1879)- Jitsukawa Ensaburo as Hotei Ichiemon. From the play Otokodate itsutsukarigane From the series Kyofuku tosei kurabe (A Modern Competitionfor Mirror Covers). 1841.
Oban. Kamigata yakusha-e shusei, vol. III, no. 45, Osaka Kagami, no. 102. Schwaab, Osaka Prints, no. 191. Fine impression. Very good colour and condition.
$1,280
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Utagawa Yoshitora (Active 1850-1880)- Ichikawa Ichizo III as Iwami Jutaro. From an untitled series of large head actor portraits. 1862.
Oban. Konjaku kabuki meiyu ten, plate 63, Schapp & Uhlenbeck, Kunisada, checklist 2, no. 4. Fine impression on thick, deluxe paper. Fine colour. Expertly re-margined at right, otherwise fine condition.
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Utagawa Kunisada (1786-1864)- Kawarasaki Gonjuro as Sano Genzaemon Tsuneyo. From an untitled series of large head actor portraits. 1863.
Oban. Konjaku kabuki meiyu ten, plate 53, Schaap & Uhlenbeck, Kunisada, checklist 2, no. 35. Fine impression with strong woodgrain and thick, deluxe paper. Fine colour. Expertly re-margined at left, otherwise, fine condition.
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Utagawa Kunisada (1786-1864)- Nakamura Shikan II as Fujiwara no Tokihira. Onagori (Kabuki's Autumn Season). From the play Tamukeyama momiji no mitegura. 1833.
Oban. Fine impression, colour and condition. Rare.
$1,100
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Utagawa Kunisada (1786-1864)- Nakamura Fukusuke I as Hakamadare Yasusuke. From the series Toyokuni manga zue (Toyokuni's Sketches). 1859.
Oban. Superb impression on thick, deluxe paper with extensive burnishing, over-printing and mica sizing. Fine colour and condition.
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Toyohara Kunichika (1835-1900)- Ichikawa Danjuro IX in His Dressing Room. From the series Shashingakuya kagami (A Mirror of Actor's True Likenesses Backstage). 1868.
Oban. 36.7 x 25.5 cm. Fine impression and colour. Very good condition.
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Hasegawa Sadanobu (1809-1879)- Katoka Gado II as Oguri Hangan. From the play Hime kurabe futabe ezoshi.1840.
Oban. Osaka Kagami no. 103, Osaka Prints, Schwaab no. 188. Matsudaira, Hasegawa Sadanobu Hanga Sakuhin Ichiran, no. 63. Fine impression on deluxe paper of the first edition with metallic printing and the hand-stamped seal beneath the signature and the publisher’s mark at lower right. Fine colour. Fold mark at right. Slight off-setting. Very good condition. The second state lacks the seals and is much less subtle in colouration.
$1,100.
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Shunkosai Hokushu (Active 1810-1832)- Nakamura Utaemon III as Ishikawa Goemon. From the play Keisei setsugekka (Courtesan: Sun, Moon and Flowers). 1830
Oban. Masterful Illusions: The Ann van Biema Collection, cover and no. 57, Osaka Prints, Schwaab, no. 137, Schatze der Kamigata, Luhl, no. 282. Fine impression with metallic printing. Brilliant colour with the red pigment particularly fine and fresh. Very good condition.
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Shunkosai Hokuei (Active 1824?-1837)- Iwai Shijaku I as Osuma no Kata and Bando Jutaro I as Sasaya Hanbei. From the play Honobonoto ura no asagiri (Daybreak Hidden by Morning Fogg on the Bay). 1832.
Oban diptych. Osaka Prints, Schwaab, no. 152. Fine impression with metallic printing and the hand-stamped seal of the carver, Kasuke. Fine colour. A fold-mark on the right-hand sheet; a few small stains. Very good condition. Schwaab illustrates the second edition with the mark of the publisher, but lacking Kasuke's seal.
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Shunkosai Hokuei (Active 1824?-1837)- Arashi Rikan II as Chinzei Hachiro Tametomo and Iwai Shijaku I as Neewanjo. From the play Shimameguri tsuki no yumihara. 1833.
Oban diptych. Keyes and Mizushima 45, Osaka Prints, Schwaab, no. 158. Fine impression with metallic printing. Fine colour. Fold mark on right-hand sheet. Very good condition. Impressions are known with the hand-stamped seals of Kasuke, the engraver and Matsubaya, the publisher.
$2,800
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Shunkosai Hokuei (Active 1824?-1837)- Arashi Rikan II as Miyagi Asojiro. From the play Keisei tsukushi no tsumagoto. 1832.
Oban. Osaka Prints, Schwaab, no. 148. Fine impression with metallic printing, embossing, the poem at top right and the hand-stamped seal of the engraver, Kasuke. Fine colour and condition. Later impressions (see Schwaab) are known which lack Kasuke's seal and the poem.
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Shunkosai Hokuei (Active 1824?-1837)- Nakamura Utaemon IV as the Wrestler Iwakawa Jirokichi. From the play Sekitori senryu nobori (The Rise of the One Thousand Ryo Wrestler). 1836.
Oban. Osaka Prints, Schwaab, no. 178. Fine impression on very heavy, deluxe paper with extensive metallic printing and the hand-stamped seals of the engraver and printer. Fine colour. Very good condition. This is Hokuei's final print and was published as his memorial. The publisher's inscription reads, “we publish this picture, the last work of the late Hokuei, designed on his sickbed, in hopes of adding a small tribute to his memory (Keyes & Mizushima, Appendix IX, p. 316).â€
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Toyohara Kunichika (1835-1900)- Ichikawa Danjuro IX as Mongaku Shonin. From the series Shin kabuki juhachiban no uchi (The New Kabuki Eighteen). 1896.
Oban triptych. Kunichika: Time Present and Time Past, no. 123. Fine impression and colour. Very good condition with the original album backing retained.
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Utagawa Kunisada (1786-1864)- Onoe Baiko as Minamoto Yorimitsu Chosin. From the series Imayo oshie kagami (A Mirror of Fashionable Pictures). 1859.
Oban. Fine, early impression of the deluxe edition on thick, heavy paper.
$900.
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Utagawa Kunisada (1786-1864)- Kataoka Nizaemon VIII as Saito Naizonosuke. From the series Imayo oshie kagami (A Mirror of Fashionable Pictures). 1860.
Oban. 39 x 27.3 cm. Fine, early impression of the deluxe edition on thick, heavy, over-sized paper. Fine colour and condition.
$900.
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Utagawa Kunisada (1786-1864)- Ichikawa Danjuro IX. From the play Shibaraku. 1864.
Oban. Fine impression. Very good colour and condition.
$1,280
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Utagawa Kunisada (1786-1864)- Ichikawa Kodanji IV as Arakawa Kurnado Hirotsuna. From an untitled series of actors with poems.1852.
Oban. Fine impression with burnishing and extensive gauffrage. Fine colour. Very good condition.
$380.
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Utagawa Kunisada (1786-1864)- Ichikawa Danjuro VIII as Hanakawado Sukeroku. Shin Yoshiwara. No. 8. From the series Edo meisho zue (Views of Famous Places in Edo). 1852.
Oban. Fine impression with extensive oxidation and the cherry blossoms embossed. Fine colour and condition.
$600.
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Utagawa Kunisada (1786-1864)-
Onoe Kikujiro II as Hitachi Kohagi Pulling a Small Cart with a Rope. Tsunada Kuruma-Hitachi Kohagi(The Rope-pulled Cart—Kohagi of Hitachi). From the series Na o Todoroku O-iri Kuruma (Famous and Succesful Carriages). 1858. Oban. Fine, early impression on deluxe paper. Fine colour and condition.
$580.
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Utagawa Kunisada (1786-1864)- Nakamura Fukusuke I as Tetsugake (above) and Kataoka Nizaemon VIII as Iwakawa (below). 1859.
Oban. From the play Sekitori Senryo Nobori. Fine impression with woodgrain and burnishing on thick, heavy paper. Fine colour. Very good condition.
$450.
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Katsukawa Shunko - Nakamura Denkuro as Suketsune Holding a Lantern. Circa 1785.
Hosoban. Fine impression with extremely fine, colour. Fine condition. This is the right hand sheet of a diptych. The left hand sheet shows Ichikawa Monnosuke II as Soga no Goro.
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Katsukawa Shunsho (1726-1792)- Segawa Kikunojo III, Iwai Hanshiro IV and Ichikawa Monnosuke II in a Theatrical Scene in a Boat. 1784. Hosoban triptych. The Theatrical Prints of the Katsukawa Masters, Riccar Art Museum, Tokyo, 1992, nos. 39-41 (this impression).
Fine impression, colour and condition. Unfaded hosoban actor triptychs are extremely rare on the market. A faded impression of the far right sheet is in the British Museum.
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Utagawa Kunisada (1786-1864)- Matsumoto Koshiro V as Ishikawa Goemon. From the series Mitate sanjurokkasen no uchi (An Imaginary Thirty-six Poets). 1852
Oban. Fine, early impression with oxidation, burnishing and extensive application of mica on heavy, deluxe paper. Fine colour and condition.
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Migita Toshihide (1863-1925)- Ichikawa Danjuro IX as Mongaku Shonin.
1893. Oban. 36.7 x 25.3 cm. Fine impression and colour. Very good condition.
$1,280
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Toyohara Chikanobu (1838-1912)- Ichikawa Danjuro IX as Mongaku Shonin Doing Penance Under theWaterfall.
1883. Oban triptych. 71.9 x 36.5 cm. Fine impression, colour and condition with the 3 sheets attached.
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Utagawa Kunisada (1786-1864)- Nakamura Shikan IV as Kobayashi no Asahina. From the series Toseimitate sanjurokkasen (Modern Parallels of Thirty-six Flowers).
1862. Oban. 38.6 x 26.3 cm. Fine, early impression of the first edition with strong wood-grain and embossing on thick, deluxe paper. Fine colour. Very good condition.
$1,500
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Utagawa Kunisada and Utagawa Hiroshige I (1786-1865 and 1797-1858)- Takeda Katsuyori at Koshuya. From the series Edo komei kaitei zukushi(Famous Restaurants in the Eastern Capital).
1852. Oban. 38.6 x 25.5 cm. Hiroshige: The Collected Edo Landscape Prints, no. 45. Extremely fine, early impression on thick paper with embossing, over-printing and burnishing. Brilliant colour. Fine condition.
$1,280
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Konishi Hirosada (1819-1865)- Konishi Ebizo V as Ono no Imoko and Jitsukawa Ensaburo as Hata noKawakatsu. From the playShitennoji Garan Kagami.
1849. Chuban diptych. 25.7 x 38.1 cm. Extremely fine, early impression with extensive metallic printing and extraordinary gauffrage. This is unusual amongst Osaka chuban prints in that they have never been bound in an album and thus have never been backed or trimmed.
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Katsukawa Shunko - Morita Kanya VIII
Circa 1786 1788. Hosoban. 32.8 x 14.2 cm. Fine impression, colour and condition. We have not been able to locate another impression of this design.
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Utagawa Kunisada (1786-1864)- Bust Portrait of the Edo hero, Benkei Tanzaemon. Otokodate Benkei Tazaemon. From a series showing backgrounds of unusual textile designs.
Mid 1840. Oban. Fine impression, colour and condition.
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Utagawa Kunisada (1786-1864)- Onoe Kikugoro III as Omatsuri Sashichi. From an untitled set of large-head actor portraits reflected in mirrors
Early 1830. Oban. Fine impression, colour and condition.
$800
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Natori Shunsen (1886-1960)- Ichikawa Sadanji as Naru Kami
Circa 1927. Oban. Fine impression with extensive blind-printing. Fine colour and condition.
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Utagawa Kunisada (1786-1864)- Ichikawa Danjuro VIII as Hanakawado Sukeroku. From the play Sukeroku kuruwa no hanamidoki.
1850. Fan print. 23 x 30cm. Fine impression, colour and condition.
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Hasegawa Sadanobu (1809-1879)- Jitsukawa Ensaburo I as Mashiba Hitsatsugu, Ichikawa Ebizo V as Ishida no Tsubone and Mimasu Daigoro IV Kobayakawa Takakage
1849. Chuban triptych. Fine impression with extensive metallic printing and embossing. Very good colour and condition. Album backing.
$800
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Konishi Hirosada (1819-1865)- Kataoka Gado II as Tamiya Gempachi and Nakamura Gizaemon as Horiguchi Gentazaemon
1849. Chuban diptych. Keyes, Hirosada, Osaka Printmaker, no. 16. Fine impression with metallic printing. Fine colour. Album backing. Slight restored wormage. Very good condition.
$680
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