Ukiyo-e Book / Japanese Woodblock Print / Kusazoshi (12/14/2008)

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Ukiyo-e Book / Japanese Woodblock Print / Kusazoshi

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Ukiyo-e Book / Japanese Woodblock Print / Kusazoshi

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Sold Date: 12/14/2008
Channel: Online Auction
Source: eBay
Category: Ethnic, Folk & Native American Art

The title of this two-volume kusazoshi , or ukiyoe graphic novel, appears to be "Jidai Kagami" ("Mirror of the Times", roughly, we think), and its two parts comprise Chapter 17 of a multichapter saga. Although it does not explicitly say the date it was published, on the last page of the second volume t is an ad for upcoming kusazoshi to be released in the Bunkyu 3, or 1863, and so this one is probably from 1862. When placed side-by-side, the covers of the two volumes form a single picture, as shown in the first sample pic.
The ukiyoe artist indicated on the cover is the ubiquitous Utagawa Kunisada (also known as Toyokuni III), but we are unable to read the name of the author, which may actually be Chinese. Kusazoshi were very popular in the 19th century, like a very early precoursor to the manga , and in content were very much like today's mass-market novels.
Almost every two-page spread is a black-and-white woodblock diptych like those shown in the sample pics, although the first two pages of the first volume have some blue in them as well, and the covers are in full color. Each volume has 12 page-leafs, including covers.

T is some wear-and-tear on the outsides of the books, but the bindings and all the pages are fully intact. The pages have almost no yellowing, but are not quite so bright as they may appear in the sample pics, although the covers are still pretty bright. The only significant damage is a little worming near the binding through the last few pages of one volume.

Each measures about W4 9/16" (116mm) X H7" (178mm) X D1/16" (2.5mm).

This item is set to ship via Air Mail, and should arrive within 7-14 days after being posted.

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