/Collection
  • A two-volume set in the contemporary full calf, imitating the editorial cloth binding. Vol. 1: SCÈNES | DE LA | VIE PRIVÉE ET PUBLIQUE | DES ANIMAUX | VIGNETTES | PAR GRANDVILLE. | — | ÉTUDES DE MŒURS CONTEMPORAINES | PUBLIÉES | SOUS LA DIRECTION DE M. P. – J. STAHL , | AVEC LA COLLABORATION | DE MESSIEURS | DE BALZAC. – L. BAUDE. – E. DE LA BEDOLLIERE. – P. BERNARD. – J. JANIN. | ED. LEMOINE. – CHARLES NODIER. – GEORGE SAND. | [VIGNETTE] | PARIS. | J. HETZEL ET PAULIN , ÉDITEURS , | RUE DE SEINE-SAINT-GERMAIN , 33. | 1842 Pagination: [2 blanks] [2 - ht. / imprim.] [2 - blank / frontis.] [2 - t.p. / blank] [4] [1] 2-386 [6 - table] [2 blanks], 96 whole-page wood-engravings after Grandville, vignettes within the text including head and tailpieces, together with a frontispiece. VOL. 2: SCÈNES | DE LA | VIE PRIVÉE ET PUBLIQUE | DES ANIMAUX | VIGNETTES | PAR GRANDVILLE. | — | ÉTUDES DE MŒURS CONTEMPORAINES | PUBLIÉES | SOUS LA DIRECTION DE M. P. – J. STAHL , | AVEC LA COLLABORATION | DE | MM. DE BALZAC, – L' HERITIER (DE L' AIN), – ALFRED DE MUSSET – PAUL DE MUSSET, | CHARLES NODIER, – MADAME M. MENESSIER NODIER, – LOUIS VIARDOT. | [VIGNETTE] | PARIS, | J. HETZEL , ÉDITEUR , | RUE DE SEINE-SAINT-GERMAIN , 33. | 1842 Pagination: [2 - ht. / imprim.] [2 - blank / frontis.] [2 - t.p. / blank] [1] 2-390 [6 - table], 105 whole-page wood-engravings after Grandville, vignettes within the text including head and tailpieces, together with a frontispiece. Size: Each volume 27 x 18 cm; In-4to (usually classified as 8vo, however, the numeric signatures provide for gathering in-quarto). Binding: Full burgundy calf, gilt embossed Grandville's characters to boards and spine, lettering to spine, white moire end-papers to vol. 1, and yellow end-papers to vol. 2, all margins gilt. Combination of the 1st and 2nd print-runs of the 1st edition. Ref.: L. Carteret, 1927: pp. 552-558. Wikipedia; Gallica; Hathi Trust. In: British Museum, MET, RISD Museum, Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco.
  • Ichikawa Ebizo V (1791 – 1859) a.k.a. Ichikawa Danjûrô VII was a great-great-great-son of Ichikawa Danjûrô I. He started his stage career in 1794, at the age of 4, playing in Shibaraku (the role he is depicted here). During his stage life, he played every role type. He was later banished from Edo for living too luxurious life for an actor. While in exile he flourished in Kioto and Osaka. Kichirei (Festive Annual Custom). Publisher: Takenouchi Magohachi (Hoeidô) Circa 1833. Description: 役者の舞台姿を描いた「舞台姿」シリーズと、日常図を描いた「千社詣」シリーズがあり、同じ役者が向かい合って対になる。(『五渡亭国貞』). Signed: Gototei Kunisada ga [五渡亭国貞画]. Censor's seal: kiwame 改印:極. Ref.: Shindo, Gototei Kunisada Yakusha-e no Sekai (1993), plate 88; Utagawa Kunisada, 150th Anniversary of His Death, Ota Memorial Museum, no. 169; MFA ACCESSION NUMBER 11.43128.
  • Comte de Tressan. L'évolution de la garde de sabre japonaise de la fin du XVe siècle au commencement du XVIIe (suite), 34 illustr. – pp. 7-35. // Bulletin de la Société Franco-Japonaise de Paris; №№ 19-20, Juin–Septembre 1910, 216 p. — Paris: Société Franco-Japonaise de Paris, Siège Social, 1910. Publisher's original green wrappers with black lettering: On top: Paraissant trimestriellement. | JUIN | SEPTEMBRE | } 1920 | XIX-XX | In the middle: BULLETIN | de la | Société Franco-Japonaise | de Paris | [—] Fondée le 16 Septembre 1900 | [device] | Bottom: Siège Social : | PALAIS DU LOUVRE — PAVILLON DE MARSAN | 107, RUE DE RIVOLI, 107 | Paris | 1910 | Prix : 4 fr 50 c || — Pp.: [4] [1-5] 6-216 [2 - errata / blank] [2 - imprim./ blank] [6]. Size: 27 x 17.5 cm.    
  • Magazine article by Edgar Jepson: The Iron Tsuba of Japan (Section: Oriental Art), published in volume Vol. 70 (September–December) of The Connoisseur: An Illustrated Magazine for Collectors, Vol. 70 (September–December); pp. 143-152 / C. Reginald Grundy [ed.] — London: Published by the Proprietor, W. CLAUSE JOHNSON, at the Editorial and Advertisement Offices of The Connoisseur, 1924. Owner's half black morocco, gilt lettering to spine, blue cloth boards. Two volumes bound together without original covers. Size 28.5 x 22 cm. Vol. 1: The Connoisseur | An Illustrated Magazine | For Collectors | Edited by C. Reginald Grundy | Vol. LXIX. | (MAY—AUGUST, 1924) | LONDON | Published by the Proprietor, W. CLAUSE JOHNSON, at the | Editorial and Advertisement Offices of The Connoisseur, | at 1, Duke Street, St. James's, S.W. 1 | 1924 || Pp.: [i-ii] iii-xviii [xix] [1, 2 - plate] 3-249 [250]. Vol. 2: The Connoisseur | An Illustrated Magazine | For Collectors | Edited by C. Reginald Grundy | Vol. LXX. | (SEPTEMBER—DECEMBER, 1924) | LONDON | Published by the Proprietor, W. CLAUSE JOHNSON, at the | Editorial and Advertisement Offices of The Connoisseur, | at 1, Duke Street, St. James's, S.W. 1 | 1924 || Pp.: [i-ii] iii-xxii [2 blanks] [1, 2 - plate] 3-261 [262]. The Iron Tsuba of Japan by Edgar Jepson The heart of Japan was in the sword. However admirable may be the paintings, the prints, the netsuke, the lacquer, or the bronzes of the Japanese masters, the supreme artistic achievements of Japan were the blades of Masamune, Muramasa, Sadamune, and Rai Kunitsugu. But not a little of the heart of Japan went also in the tsuba, the guard which protected the hand that wielded the blade, into the iron tsuba of the fighting Samurai. Beside the forgers of the iron tsuba of Japan the ironsmiths of the rest of the world have been mere children. The earliest tsuba were of bronze or copper, often gilded. It is probable that they were replaced by iron tsuba during the Kamakura period, the great fighting era, which lasted from A.D. 1185 to 1333. During the later half of the twelfth century leather tsuba, strengthened by thin iron plates or a metal rim, also replaced the bronze and copper tsuba. It was at this time that a family of armourers of the name of Masuda, and in particular Masuda Munesuke, the founder of the Myochin family, began to forge iron tsuba — thin, round plates of great hardness and density. But it is probable that no tsuba perforated with a view to decorative effects were forged before the end of the fourteenth century. These fourteenth-century tsuba are exceedingly rare in England. I have seen none in the museums, none in the famous collections that have been sold during the last ten years. Those photographed in Herr Oeder's book might easily be the fifteenth century. No. 1 is a curious cup-shape tsuba decorated with a bronze and copper inlay. No. 2, with its edges curiously twisted in the forging, looks like Myochin work. But it is not of the Myochin iron. The Myochin family produced some of the greatest ironsmiths of Japan. Armourers first of all, tsubasmiths, forgers of sake-kettles, articulated reptiles, crustacea, and insects — everything that can be done with iron they did; they pushed their medium to its limit. They were forging iron tsuba in 1160, and they were still forging them in 1860. And it was their own iron, or rather their own steel. They discovered the secret of it early, and they kept that secret in the family for all those hundreds of years. There is no mistaking a Myochin tsuba: balance it on your finger and tap it with a piece of metal, always it gives forth a clear bell-like ring that you get from the work of no other ironsmith, Japanese or European. Always the Myochin tsuba is before everything a protection to the hand of the swordsman; to that everything is, as it should be, subordinated. No. 3 is a Myochin tsuba of the fifteenth century, and probably of the early fifteenth century. No. 4, by Myochin Munetaka, perforated with a grotesque figure, is an example of that twisting and twisting of the iron in the forging till it forms a pattern like the grain of wood. The Myochin smiths invented these wood-grain tsuba, and no other smiths equalled them in their forging. In the sixteenth century, the fighting tsuba was probably at its best. It was a century of great tsubasmiths. Then the first Nobuiye, whose tsuba fetched £100 apiece, circa 1800, in Japan, and the first Kaneiye flourished. No. 5 is a tsuba forged by a great smith, Iyesada of Sotome, in the manner of Nobuiye I, decorated with the karakusa tendrils that Nobuiye delighted in, with lightning and clouds. No. 6 is a guard of Sanada Tembo, the chief smith of the Tembo family, stamped, punning fashion, with the character Tembo. Akin to the Tembo tsuba were those of the Kiami and Hoan smiths. Then also the Heianjo smiths and the Owari smiths, especially those of Nagoya and the Yamakichi family, forged their strongest tsuba. Those of the Yamakichi were tested after the forging by being pounded in iron mortars — at least, so the legend runs. But they were a sternly utilitarian family, and I have never seen a Yamakichi tsuba of any beauty. In the later half of the fifteenth century arose the fashion of decorating tsuba with an inlay, zogan, of bronze. The Heianjo tsuba, forged at Kyoto in the latter half of the fifteenth and the beginning of the sixteenth century, were often thus inlaid. The earliest of them were called "Onin", of which No. 7 is an example. In addition to the bronze inlay around the edge, it is inlaid with a representation, some say, of snow; others say, of the duckweed on a pond. No. 8 is probably a Heianjo tsuba, but I am not quite sure about it. The inlaid acacia branches might be very early Shoami work. But to judge by the iron, it is a fifteenth-century tsuba; and the authorities place the beginning of the Shoami school not later than early in the sixteenth century. No. 10 is an example of the Fushimi-zogan, a flat inlay of a light-coloured bronze. These tsuba took their name from the fact that they were first forged at Fushimi, in Yamashiro, in the sixteenth century. It is of the type known as Mon-zukashi, perforated with crests (mon) à jour. The Yoshiro-zogan tsuba were also first forged at Fushimi by Yoshiro Naomasa. They were distinguished from the Fushimi-zogan by the fact that their inlay was generally a little raised-not always-for the inlay of No. 9, a tsuba forged by a later nineteenth-century Yoshiro, is quite flat. It is an interesting tsuba, for, with its decoration grown florid and excessive, it marks the intermediate stage between the simple and delightful designs of the genuine fighting tsuba and the elaborate pictures in gold and silver on the tsuba of the eighteenth-century smiths of Awa and Kyoto, which have become mere ornaments of the goldsmith. The Gomoku-zogan (No. 11) tsuba were probably first forged earlier than the Fushimi and Yoshiro-zogan tsuba. This inlay, in slight relief, is a representation in a light-coloured bronze and copper of twigs caught in the eddies of streams. The seventeenth century and early eighteenth century were the great periods of perforated tsuba. The designs, and they are often admirable, are for the most part in plain fretwork; but they are also chased. No. 12, a crane under an acacia, is a tsuba of a Higo smith, great forgers of fighting tsuba during this period. These smiths also excelled in nunome zogan, a very thin gold and silver inlay, with which they further decorated their perforated guards. The smiths of the Umetada and Shoami families also forged iron tsuba during this period; but their designs, though sometimes pleasing enough, are rarely fine. The best work of Myoju Umetada is in sentoku, not iron. The Choshu smiths, coming later, surpass the perforated guards of both the Umetada and Shoami smiths in beauty of design. No. 13, a lotus in the round, not only fretwork, but also engraved, is a good example of the admirable balance they so often attained in their designs. It is a sufficiently realistic lotus, but yet of a delightful simplicity. In considerable contrast is No. 14, the dragon by Soheishi Soten — one of the only two authentic tsuba of his forging known — the first forger of hikone-bori tsuba, which were in extraordinary favour in Japan during the eighteenth century, and illustrated every important event in Japanese history. It is on the elaborate side, but fine, strong work, and an excellent guard to the hand, for the lighter and more open part, which gives the design its admirable balance, is on the inside, and not exposed to the full swing of an opponent's blade. A few years ago there was a tendency to decry the Namban tsuba as having sprung too directly from foreign sources. But though the original suggestion may have been Chinese, or, as some say, Portuguese, the Japanese made it entirely their own, as characteristically Japanese as anything can well be, but, it must be admitted, of a decadent period. The school took its rise at the beginning of the seventeenth century, and the early tsuba were forged of a specially hard iron, the Wootz, imported from Southern India. No. 15, the signs of the Zodiac, is an excellent tsuba from the fighting point of view. Both it and No. 16 are of quite charming, if elaborate, design, and both of them, with their delicate scroll-work, so astonishingly undercut, are the very last word in the work of the ironsmith-veritable iron lace. To return to the simpler perforated tsuba, the smiths of Akasaka, a suburb of Tokyo, produced probably the most charming designs. Their style derives considerably from the Higo smiths, and their earlier fighting tsuba are very like the Higo tsuba. But always their work was just a little lighter than that of the Higo smiths, and in the end they moved right away from them and became the forgers of very light guards indeed. No. 17, is a representation of the Hiyokudori, the fabulous double bird, in which were reincarnated the souls of the two lovers, Gompachi and Komurasaki; and No. 18, “the tsuba of a hundred ducks "— there are about forty — are characteristic designs of the school. In the work of the Akasaka smiths the balance, which makes the design of a good tsuba so admirable and delightful, attains its height. This admirable balance seems often to be obtained by a deliberate sacrifice of symmetry. About nine hundred and ninety-nine European ironsmiths out of a thousand would have made the right and left sides of the Hiyoku-dori line by line, and perforation by perforation, exactly alike; he would have cut out exactly as many ducks on the one side of “the tsuba of a hundred ducks” as on the other, and made each duck on the right side correspond exactly in position and attitude with a duck on the left side. By variations the tsubasmith attained a finer balance, almost a higher symmetry. No. 19, often called by collectors the "rose-window" tsuba, but really a stylised chrysanthemum, is a favourite design of the Akasaka smiths, but Hizen work and inlaid in the Hizen manner with gold nunome. No. 20 is a Satsuma tsuba of the middle period. The Satsuma smiths of the nineteenth century produced probably the most ornate of all the iron guards, for the most part calibashes and beans with their leaves and tendrils realistic in the extreme, but of charming design. Few crafts have been carried further than that of the tsubasmith; few crafts working in a difficult medium have handled more subjects with greater feeling for beauty or greater liveliness of fancy. It is interesting to note again and again how school influences school, and smith influences smith. But, as in all the applied arts, the finest tsuba were forged by men who never lost sight of the purpose of a tsuba, that it is before everything a protection to the hand, and never subjected that purpose to a passion for virtuosity. Illustrations: No 1. FOURTEENTH-CENTURY TSUBA, WITH BRONZE AND COPPER INLAY No. 2. FOURTEENTH-CENTURY TSUBA, RESEMBLING MYOCHIN WORK No. 3. MYOCHIN TSUBA, FIFTEENTH CENTURY No. 4. MYOCHIN TSUBA, NINETEENTH CENTURY No. 5. SIXTEENTH-CENTURY TSUBA No. 6. SIXTEENTH-CENTURY TSUBA BY IYESADA OF SOTOME BY SANADA TEMBO No. 7. ONIN TSUBA No. 8. HEIANJO (?) TSUBA No. 9. YOSHIRO TSUBA, NINETEENTH CENTURY No. 10. FUSHIMI-ZOGAN, NINETEENTH CENTURY No. 11.- GOMOKU-ZOGAN, SIXTEENTH CENTURY No. 12. HIGO TSUBA, SEVENTEENTH CENTURY No. 13. CHOSHU TSUBA, SEVENTEENTH CENTURY No. 14. SOTEN TSUBA, SEVENTEENTH CENTURY No. 15. NAMBAN TSUBA, EIGHTEENTH CENTURY No. 16. NAMBAN TSUBA, NINETEENTH CENTURY Nos. 17. AND 18. AKASAKA TSUBA, EIGHTEENTH CENTURY No. 19. HIZEN TSUBA, EIGHTEENTH CENTURY No. 20. SATSUMA TSUBA, EIGHTEENTH CENTURY    
  • Title: Emblemata | Florentii Schoon~ | hovii I. C. Goudani, | Partim moralia | partim etiam Civilia. | Cum latiori eorundem ejusdem | Auctoris interpretatione. | Accedunt et alia quædam | Poëmatia in alijs Poëma | tum suorum libris non | contenta. | Amstelodami. | Apud | Joannem Janßonium •1635• Size: 20 x15.5 cm, small 4to Edition: 3rd edition (the first two editions being by Burier, Gouda, 1618 and by Elzevir, Leiden, 1626. Collation: ¶/*6, A-Z4, Aa-Ff4, Gg2. Pagination: [2] - enrgaved t.p. / blank, [6] - dedication, [2] - lectori benevolo, [2] - in commend. / frontis. engraved portrait of  Gerardus Traudenius – academic/intellectual; author/poet (Dutch, fl. 1615 – 1623), 1-235. Illustrated with engraved title, portrait of dedicatee, and 74 engraved emblems by Crispijn van de Passe the Younger (1594/5 – 1670). Binding: bound in full contemporary Dutch blind-stamped parchment over thin boards, laced case construction, inked title to spine, no flyleaves, signature washed from the title, the blank margin of title trimmed away at head, slight marginal water stain to the first signature, front bottom board corner bumped.  
  • Vol. 1 title: OVID'S | METAMORPHOSES | IN LATIN AND ENGLISH, | TRANSLATED BY | THE MOST EMINENT HANDS. | With HISTORICAL EXPLICATIONS | Of the FABLES, | WRITTEN IN FRENCH BY | The ABBOT BANIER, | MEMBER OF THE ACADEMY OF INSCRIPTIONS | AND BELLES LETTRES. | TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH. | Adorned with Sculptures, by B. Picart, and other able Masters. | VOLUME THE FIRST. | [Device] | AMSTERDAM, | Printed for the WETSTEINS and SMITH. | MD CC XXII || — Pagination: [26 – Half-title, frontis., t.p., dedic., The Bookseller's Preface To This Edition, Mr. Banier's Preface To The French Translation, Contents], [1] 2-247 – Text of books 1-7, with illus., [1 blank]. Vol. 2 half-title: OVID'S | METAMORPHOSES | IN LATIN AND ENGLISH | TWO VOLUMES || — Pagination: [2 – half-title / blank], 249-524 – Text of books 8-15, with illus., incl. 3 leaves of pl., [4 – Index]. Three leaves between pages 264 and 271 are included in the pagination as pp. [265-70] but do not carry page-numbers or letterpress text. They each carry two prints on their rectos and are blank on the verso. Vol. II without the engraved title page. The names of the translators are given in the list of Contents as Dryden, Addison, Eusden, Arthur Mainwaring, Croxall, Tate, Stonestreet, Vernon, Gay, Pope, Stephen Harvey, Congreve, Ozel, Temple Stanyan, , Catcot, Rowe, Samuel Garth, Welsted. The frontispiece is signed as made by B. Picart. The six plates on pages [265, 267, 269] are all signed as painted by C. Le Brun and engraved by Iakob Folkema. Of the 124 illustrations, most are unsigned by a draughtsman, but some are signed as designed by G. Maas, one as designed by Jul. Romain, two as designed by G. Maas and drawn by J. de Wit, one as drawn by 'HA', one as painted by C. le Brun, one as made by B. Picart, one as designed by P. Testa and drawn by B. Picart, one as designed by S. Le Clerc, one as designed by B. Picart. Many are signed by their engravers - Philip à Gunst (one as directed by B. Picart and engraved by Phil. à Gunst), J. Vandelaar (or I. Wandelaar), Martin Bouche, Jan Schenck, 'MB', Petr. Paul. Bouche, Iakob Folkema, W. Jongman, Fred. Bouttats. The title-page vignette of Volume I is signed as drawn by B. v. Overbeke and engraved by F. Mulder. Many tailpieces are signed 'VLS'. The book is dedicated by the publishers, R. and J. Wetstein and W. Smith, to the Countess of Pembroke. [Description is cited from the Royal Academy of Arts] Physical description: Two large 4to volumes, first title page printed in red and black, added engraved title in the first volume; half-title in the second volume; illustrated throughout with copperplate engravings in text; text printed in parallel columns in Latin and English; three leaves extraneous to collation each with two engravings in the second volume; bookplate pasted to the front endpaper in each volume: Ex Libris Theodore C. Tebbetts (Theodore Charles Tebbetts, American, 1871 – 1920) designed after Francis Carruthers Gould (British, 1844 – 1925); pages 517-520 of the second volume torn with loss of bottom blank corners and a word or two; original full leather, spines tooled elaborately in gilt; some boards detached, endcaps and corners rather worn, contents bright and fresh. Size: Large 4to; 47.5 x 31 cm.
  • Title page: Text engraved within a vignette with two naked female torses in garlands: Plãs et profilz | des principales villes de | la prouince de L'ISLE DE | FRANCE, auec la carte gene~ | rale & les particulieres de chaf~ | cun gouuernement d'icelles. Below handwritten pencil inscription by a previous owner: "par ... Tassin ... 1634". Size: 17.6 x 23.7 cm, Binding: Italian style, green half-vellum, burgundy morocco title label with vertical gilt lettering to spine, peacock marbled boards. Pagination: Two blank flyleaves in the front and two in the back; 18 numbered engraved plates, including:
    1. Title page
    2. Table of Contents
    3. Normandie
    4. Environs de Paris
    5. Folding map of Paris – a simplified copy of Mathieu Merian's 1615 perspective plan, with minor updates, notably on the current housing estate of Ile Saint-Louis.
    6. Paris
    7. Gouvernment de Soissons
    8. Soissons
    9. Gouvernment de Beauvais
    10. Beauvais
    11. Gouvernment de Compiègne
    12. Compiègne
    13. Gouvernment de Noyon
    14. Noyon
    15. Gouvernment de Coussi
    16. Coussi
    17. Gouvernment de Senlis
    18. Senlis
    Bookplate of Ansar to front pastedown – Selim Hippolyte Ansart (1829-1897), commissar of police in the Second Empire and shortly after. Regarding our copy's dating: The same unusual spelling on the title is at Getty's Library (Library's copy lacks no. 5 of the Isle de France section, i.e. plan of Paris).
  • Artist: Utagawa Toyokuni I [歌川豊国] (1769–1825). Publisher: Ibaya Senzaburō [伊場屋 仙三郎] (fl. 1815 – 1869). Signed: Toyokuni ga [豊国 画]. Publisher's seal: Ibaya Sensaburō (Marks 08-067 | 127b). Date-aratame seal: Bunsei 3 (1820). Size: Uncut fan print (uchiwa-e), 224 x 254 mm. Ichikawa Ebijūrō I as Nuregami Chōgorō [濡髪の長五郎], Nakamura Daikichi as Hanaregoma Oseki [放駒のお関], and Ichikawa Danjūrō VII as Hanaregoma Chōkichi [放駒長吉] in a kabuki play Futatsu Chôchô Kuruwa Nikki [双蝶々曲輪日記] (A Diary of Two Butterflies in the Pleasure Quarters (see: LIB-0879.2015 | Brandon, James R., Leiter, Samuel L.  Kabuki Plays on Stage: Brilliance and Bravado, 1697-1766 (Volume 1). — Honolulu: University of Hawai'i Press, 2002.) The play was performed at Kawarasakiza (Edo) in May of 1820. Actors: Ichikawa Ebijūrō I [市川鰕十郎] (Japanese, 1777 – 1827); other names: Ichikawa Ichizō I [市川市蔵], Ichinokawa Ichizō [市ノ川市蔵]. Nakamura Daikichi I [初代中村大吉](Japanese, 1773 – 1823); other names: Fujikawa Daikichi [藤川大吉]; poetry name Hajō [巴丈]; pen name Naruo Yatarō [藤川大吉]. Ichikawa Danjūrō VII 市川団十郎 (Japanese, 1791 – 1859); other names: Ichikawa Ebizō V, Ichikawa Hakuen II, Ichikawa Shinnosuke I.    
  • Title: FABLES | DE | M. DE FLORIAN , | de l’académie françoise, de celles de Madrid , | Florence, etc. | — | Je tâche d'y tourner le vice ridicule , | Ne pouvant l'attaquer avec des bras d'Hercule. | La Font. Fables , liv. V , I. — | [publisher's device ] | A PARIS, | DE L'IMPRIMERIE DE P. DIDOT L'AINÉ, | 1792. Pagination: ffl, [2 - h.t. / Imp.] [2 - blank / frontis.] [2 - tp. / blank] [5] 6-224 [2 - advert. / blank], bfl. Collation: numbered 1(5), 2-18(6), 19(3); engarved frontispiece portrait of Florian after François Hüet-Villiers, 5 engraved plates by Longueil, Delignon, and Gaucher after Flouest. Binding: Contemporary full mottled calf, all margins red, gilt floral ornaments to flat spine, red label with gilt lettering. Catalogue raisonné: Cohen, de Ricci 1912: p. 398-9.
  • Title page: LES | BAISERS , | PRÉCÉDES | DU MOIS DE MAI, | POËME. | [vignette] | A LA HAYE , | Et se trouve à Paris | Chez Lambert , Imprimeur, rue de la Harpe. | Et Delalain , rue de la Comédie Françoise. | M. DCC. LXX Size: 8vo; 24.5 x 15.5 cm; Binding by Hippolyte Duru – stamp at the back of the front end paper DURU, 1855; full red calf, boards decorated in gilt, raised bands and gilt decorations in compartments, gilt lettering, AEG, peacock marbled end papers, text and illustrations printed on Holland paper. Collation: 2 ffls, engraved half-title by N. Ponce after Ch. Eisen, frontispiece by  Etienne Fessard after Claude-Jean-Baptiste Hoin (French, 1750 – 1817) w/guard tissue, t.p. by J. Aliamet after Ch. Eisen, Réflexions préliminaires: A8, B4; 'Le Mois de Mai' half-title, imprim. note on verso, frontispice by De Longueil after Ch. Eisen w/guard tissue, A4 C-F(8) H4; 2bfls. Frontispiece by Etienne Fessard is unique in this edition. Pagination: [2] 3-24, [27]/28, 5/6, 31/32 31/34 11/12 37-119 [120], 22 head-pieces after Ch. Eisen and 22 end-pieces after Marillier, engraved by Baquoy, Binet, Delaunay, Lingée, De Longueil, Masquelier, Massard, and Née. Mistakes in pagination likely confirms first printing first edition. Catalogue raisonné: Cohen, De Ricci (1912): 308-311). Artists: Charles Eisen (French, 1720–1778); Clément Pierre Marillier (French, 1740–1808), and Claude-Jean-Baptiste Hoin (French, 1750–1817). Engravers: Jacques Aliamet (French, 1726–1788); Jean Charles Baquoy (French, 1721–1777); Louis Binet (French, 1744–about 1800); Nicolas Delaunay (French, 1739–1792); Etienne Fessard (French, 1714–1777); Charles Louis Lingée (French, 1748–1819); Joseph de Longueil (French, 1730–1792); Louis Joseph Masquelier (French, 1741–1811); Jean Massard (1740–1822); François Denis Née (French, 1735–1818); Nicholas Ponce (French, 1746–1831).
  •   Title page: RECUEIL | DE CONTES | ET | DE POEMES, | PAR M. D**. | CI-DEVANT MOUSQUETAIRE. | TROSIÉME ÉDITION | AUGUMENTÉE | DE L'HERMITAGE DE BEAUVAIS. | [device] | A LA HAYE, | Et se trouve à Paris, | Chez Delalain, Libraire, rue de la Comédie | Française. | — | M. D. CC. LXX. IRZA | ET MARSIS , | POËME, includes: L'isle merveilleuse, Poëme, Chant 1re et Chant 2nd, Invocation a La Fontaine, and Alphonse, Conte – Cohen and De Ricci (#317) describe 2nd edition by the same publisher, 1769, 77 p., with similar illustrations after Charles Eisen: (1) engraved title by Louis Claude Legrand (2) L’Isle 1er: Frontispiece by Joseph de Longueil, (3) headpiece and (4) tailpiece by Emmanuel de Ghendt, and (5) L’Isle 2nd: Frontispiece by Jean Massard, (6) headpiece by Emmanuel de Ghendt + (7) tailpiece unsigned. Les Cerises et la Méprise, Contes en vers – Cohen and De Ricci (#311) also describe the 2nd edition of 1769, with the same (8) frontispiece by De Longueil after Eisen. Sélim et Sélima, Poeme imité de l'allemand; L'hermitage de beauvais, Conte –Cohen and De Ricci (#322) describe edition of 1769 by Sébastien Jorry, with the same (9) frontispiece by Emmanuel de Ghendt after Eisen. Size: 18.6 x 12.3 cm, small 8vo. Binding: polished, multi-coloured stained calf with gilt triple fillet border to boards; gilt floral arabesque and gilt lettering to flat spine: "Oeuvres de Dorat | Contes"; all edges gilt; blue-and-white marbled endpapers. Pagination: ffl, [2] IRZA ET MARSIS engraved half-title / blank, [1-2] - RECUEIL title page / blank, 3-8 (avis sur cette édition); [1 - L'Isle...] 2-184, bfl; Illustrations (copperplate engravings): 5 plates, 2 headpieces and 2 tailpieces. Collation: Octavo; a8 (title and avis sur cette édition); A-L8, M4. Author of the text: Claude Joseph Dorat, (French, 1734 – 1780) Artist: Charles-Dominique-JosephEisen (French, 1720 – 1778) Engravers: Emmanuel Jean Nepomucène de Ghendt (French, 1738 – 1815) Louis Claude Legrand (French, 1723 – 1807) Joseph de Longueil (French, 1730 – 1792) Jean Massard (French, 1740 – 1822)  
  • Artist: Utagawa Kuniyoshi [歌川 國芳] (Japanese, 1798 – 1861).

    Title: Suzume fukube [美人団扇絵] (Sparrow and gourds).

    Series: Kacho awase [花鳥合] (Collection of flowers and birds).

    Publisher: Aritaya Seiemon [有田屋 清右衛門] (Japanese, fl. c. 1830 – 1862); Seal: Marks 17-011 | 014d.

    Signed: Ichiyosai Kuniyoshi ga in a red cartouche and sealed with paulownia crest (kiri mon).

    Size: Uchiwa-e (untrimmed fan print) 296 x 230 mm.

    Double nanushi censor seals: Kinugasa & Watanabe, Kaei 2-3 (1849–50).

    Ref.: Kuniyoshi Project.
  • Ogata Gekkō [尾形月耕] (Japanese, 1859 – 1920). An uchiwa-e (fan-print) of advertisement of tobacco of Kagoshima Prefecture, c. 1890 (Meiji Period). Barefoot Tengu* is sitting on a torii (entrance to a Shinto shrine), smoking a cigarette through a mouthpiece. _______ * Tengu [天狗] (heavenly dog) is a type of legendary creature found in Japanese folk religion and are also considered a type of Shinto god (kami) or yōkai (supernatural beings).
  • Artist: Utagawa Sadahide [歌川 貞秀], a.k.a. Gountei Sadahide [五雲亭 貞秀] (1807 – c. 1878/9). Publisher: Iseya Ichiemon [伊勢屋市右衛門] (Japanese, fl. c 1823 – 1864), seal name Kaku-Tsuji [角辻]. Signed: Gountei Sadahide ga [五雲亭貞秀画] Censor's seal: kiwame, date seal: Tenpō 3 (1832). Size: Uncut fan print (uchiwa-e); 218 x 282 mm. Portrait of a young woman dressed in a green kimono decorated with arabesque (karakusa) and flowers, her black obi adorned with a dragon, in a western-style frame, on a blue background; and a painting of a parrot on a pomegranate tree. A similar design was used by Sadahide in 1860, described in detail by Sebastian Izzard in his Japanese Prints of the Mid-Nineteenth Century: 1830–1865, September 20–October 24, 2006 exhibition: Picture of a Curio Shop in Yokohama: reverse painting on glass of a crimson parrot, coloured copperplate engraving of a mother and child (Yokohama urimono mise no zu: gyokuban abura-e, doban-e saishiki). Colour woodblock print: oban tate-e, 143/8 x 93/4 in. (36.5 x 24.8 cm.); Man-en I/3 (3/1860) Series: Picture of Goods for Sale in Yokohama (Yokohama urimono zue no uchi) Signature: Gountei Sadahide ga, double toshidama seal Publisher: Daikokuya Kinnosuke.
  • From the series of prints 'Prospectum Ædium Viarumque Insigniorum Urbis Venetiarum'. Inscribed below image left: "Jo. Bap. Moretti et Filii del. e Pinx."; right: "Jo. Baptista Brustoloni sculp."; in lower margin centre: "Nocturna populi exultatio in pervigilio Sancti Petri Apostoli prope limina Patriarchalis Ecclesiæ, vulgò Sancti Petri de Castello. / Apud Ludovicum Furlanetto supra Pontem vulgo dictum dei Baretteri C.P.E.S.". The third state, published by Teodoro Viero; the numbering on plate lower right, next to the inscription in Latin is cancelled as indicated by bibliography.

    The subject is taken from a drawing by Giovanni Battista Moretti (Italian, active Venice, 1748-75) which in turn derives from a Canaletto painting. The print comes from the most important of Brustolon’s series, Prospectuum Aedium Viarumque Insignorum Urbis Venetiarum, dedicated to the Doge Marco Foscarini, from drawings by Canaletto, Moretti and sons and others, published for the first time by Ludovico Furlanetto in 1763 and later by Teodoro Viero. Giambattista Brustolon (1712–1796) was a famous Venetian engraver, a pupil of Joseph Wagner; whose talent is best displayed in his famous nocturnals: ‘riesce a dare il meglio di sé … nei famosi notturni’ (Succi).

    Plate: 324 × 458 mm Sheet: 350 × 471 cm

    References: The British Museum 1944,1014.209.48; The Metropolitan Museum of Art 60.611.29(4) (first state); Dario Succi, Da Carlevaris ai Tiepolo, 1983, pp.81-93, n. 55; William George Constable, J. G. Links, Canaletto: Giovanni Antonio Canal. 1697–1768. Oxford, 1989, vol. II, cat. no. 10, p. 674.

    Condition: a very slight central fold, slight foxing and a very slight stain to the top, four small pinholes in corners, not affecting the engraving; else a well-margined copy in good condition.

  • Description: One volume, collated 4t0, 27.3 x 20 cm, bound in contemporary quarter black chagrin, gilt ornaments and lettering to spine (reliure à l'époque romantique), marbled end-papers; printed on wove paper (vélin fort). Title-page (red): UN | AUTRE MONDE | TRANSFORMATIONS, VISIONS, INCARNATIONS | ASCENSIONS, LOCOMOTIONS, EXPLORATIONS, PÉRÉGRINATIONS | EXCURSIONS, STATIONS || COSMOGONIES, FANTASMAGORIES, RÈVERIES, FOLATRERIES | FACÉCIES, LUBIES || MÉTAMORPHOSES, ZOOMORPHOSES | LITHOMORPHOSES, MÉTEMPSYCHOSES, APOTHÉOSES | ET AUTRES CHOSES | PAR GRANDVILLE | [device] | PARIS | H. FOURNIER, LIBRAIRE-ÉDITEUR | RUE SAINT-BENOIT, 7 | M DCCC XLIV Pagination: ff, [2] half-title in red / imprim., [2] blank / frontis. in black, [2] title page in red / blank, [1] 2-295, [1] explication and erratum, bf, illustrations. Collation: 4to, (1)-(37)4 with frontispiece, 133 woodcut vignettes, 15 full-page black woodcuts, and 36 hand-coloured plates. Catalogue raisonné: Carteret (p. 285) describes the book as 'in-8', but the collation is actually in quarto (in-4, or 4to) with series signed in Arabic numerals. Ray (French): p. 275-7. The publication is anonymous, however, Grandville reveals the author's name (that's Taxile Delord) on the vignette on p. 292 at the bottom of the plate (under ICI).  
  • Artist (attributed, no signature): Suzuki Harunobu [鈴木 春信] (Japanese, c. 1725 – 1770). The title is taken from [LIB-1478.2013] Gian Carlo Calza, Stefania Piotti. Poem of the pillow and other stories. — Phaidon Press, 2010; pp. 148-9. Alternative title: Man sucking woman's breast and a cat sitting under a bonsai tree. The open book beside the couple reads 子春 (Koharu). Woodblock print from the series Mirror Picture of Japan (Wakoku kagami);  Size: Horizontal chuban; 21 x 26 cm.  
  • A shunga (erotic) print by Suzuki Harunobu  [鈴木 春信] (Japanese, c. 1725 – 1770) depicting a woman making love with a man in the palanquin (のりもの/乗り物) while the other woman "ties a sash about her hips below her obi."  The sheet is not signed; however, it is attributed to Harunobu. A reference image can be found in the Metropolitan Museum (NY) collection, Accession Number JP1635:

    http://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/45071

    According to the MET "the palanquin ... has carried these courtesans to the shore for a spring outing". Some time ago, a similar print was sold by Richard Kruml (description: A chuban shunga print showing the occupant of a kago in flagrante with one of the porters, having seized the opportunity of a stop on the journey. Published late 1760s. Rare). Another copy was sold at Sotheby's in Paris for €3,360 on November 27, 2002 (Lot 24), with a reproduction of the print's detail and description on p. 39: Suzuki Harunobu (1725 – 1770) | Shunga: couple dans un palanquin, vers 1768-1770, non-signe, cachet non identifé, cachets Charles Mitchell, Huguette Berès, Format chuban, 20.1 x 28.6 cm | 3000 – 4000 € | Il s’agit probablement de trois voyageurs, l’un d’entre eux debout près du palanquin faisant mine d’ignorer la scène. Bibliographie: Delay p. 87. Reference: [LIB-3121.2022] Sotheby's: Collection Huguette Berès – Estampes, dessins et livres illustrés japonais / 2 volumes; vol. 1. — Paris: Sotheby's, 2002.
  • Actor Ichikawa Danjuro VII as Soga Goro Tokimune (one of the Soga brothers). Ichikawa Ebizô V held the name of Ichikawa Danjûrô VII from the 11th lunar month of 1800 to the 2nd lunar month of 1832. Artist: Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III) [歌川 国貞] (Japanese, 1786 – 1865) Publisher: Uemura Yohei (Japanese, 1750 – 1832). Date: 1830 Size: Vertical ōban Signatures/Marks: Gototei Kunisada ga. Publisher's seal: Uemura Yohei. Censor's seal: Kiwame
  • Artist: Horst Graebner positively attributes the drawing to Utagawa Kunisada II [歌川国貞] Japanese, 1823 – 1880) a.k.a. Toyokuni IV, though Israel Goldman attributes it to Utagawa Kunisada [歌川 国貞] (Japanese, 1786 – 1865) a.k.a. Utagawa Toyokuni III. Title: Geisha with a watch / Preparatory drawing for a fan print. Media/Technique: Ink and colour on paper. Signed: Toyokuni hitsu [豊国筆].
  • Artist: Utagawa Kunisada [歌川 国貞] a.k.a. Utagawa Toyokuni III [三代歌川豊国] (Japanese, 1786 – 1865). Publisher: Matsumura Tatsuemon [松村辰右衛門] (Japanese, fl. c. 1793 – 1832). Year: c. 1820–22 (Bunsei era). Signed: 五渡亭国貞画 – Gototei Kunisada ga. Censor's seal: kiwame 改印:極
    Utagawa Kunisada, a.k.a. Toyokuni III . Twelve Hours of a Modern Clock (Imayo tokei jûniji) 1824

    SVJP-0179-6.2014

    The Hour of the Dragon, Fifth Hour of Day (Tatsu no koku, Hi no itsutsu toki), from the series Twelve Hours of a Modern Clock (Imayo tokei jūniji) 「今世時計十二時 辰ノ刻 日ノ五つ時」 MFA impression: 11.15315.
    Utagawa Kunisada, a.k.a. Toyokuni III . Twelve Hours of a Modern Clock (Imayo tokei jûniji) 1824

    SVJP-0179-1.2014

    The Hour of the Rabbit, Sixth Hour of Day (U no koku, Ake muttsu toki), from the series Twelve Hours of a Modern Clock (Imayo tokei jūniji) 「今世時計十二時 卯ノ刻 明六つ時」. MFA impression: 11.15317
    Utagawa Kunisada, a.k.a. Toyokuni III . Twelve Hours of a Modern Clock (Imayo tokei jûniji) 1824

    SVJP-0179-2.2014

    The Hour of the Monkey, Seventh Hour of Day (Saru no koku, Hi no nanatsu toki), from the series Twelve Hours of a Modern Clock (Imayo tokei jūniji) 「今様時計十二時 申ノ刻 日ノ七つ時」 MFA impression: 11.39692
    Utagawa Kunisada, a.k.a. Toyokuni III . Twelve Hours of a Modern Clock (Imayo tokei jûniji) 1824

    SVJP-0179-8.2014

    The Hour of the Horse, Ninth Hour of Day (Uma no koku, Hi kokonotsu toki), from the series Twelve Hours of a Modern Clock (Imayo tokei jūniji) 「今世時計十二時 午ノ刻 日九つ時」. MFA impression: 11.15314
    Utagawa Kunisada, a.k.a. Toyokuni III . Twelve Hours of a Modern Clock (Imayo tokei jûniji) 1824

    SVJP-0179-4.2014

    The Hour of the Boar, Fourth Hour of Night (I no koku, Yoru yottsu toki), from the series Twelve Hours of a Modern Clock (Imayo tokei jūniji) 「今世時計十二時 亥ノ刻 夜四つ時」. MFA impression: 11.15552
    Utagawa Kunisada, a.k.a. Toyokuni III . Twelve Hours of a Modern Clock (Imayo tokei jûniji) 1824

    SVJP-0179-3.2014

    The Hour of the Tiger, Seventh Hour of Night (Tora no koku, Yoru nanatsu), from the series Twelve Hours of a Modern Clock (Imayo tokei jūniji) 「今世時計十二時 寅ノ刻 夜七つ」. MFA impression: 11.15313 Ref.: Izzard. Kunisada’s world [LIB-2970.2022].
    Utagawa Kunisada, a.k.a. Toyokuni III . Twelve Hours of a Modern Clock (Imayo tokei jûniji) 1824

    SVJP-0179-5.2014

    The Hour of the Ox, Eight Hour of Night (Ushi no koku, Yoru no yattsu toki), from the series Twelve Hours of a Modern Clock (Imayo tokei jūniji) 「今世時計十二時 丑ノ刻 夜ノ八つ時」. MFA impression: 11.26906
    Utagawa Kunisada, a.k.a. Toyokuni III . Twelve Hours of a Modern Clock (Imayo tokei jûniji) 1824

    SVJP-0179-7.2014

    The Hour of the Rat, Ninth Hour of Night (Ne no koku, Yoru kokonotsu toki), from the series Twelve Hours of a Modern Clock (Imayo tokei jūniji) 「今世時計十二時 子ノ刻 夜九つ時」. MFA impression: 11.15312
     
  • Title: Lyon Collection: Genji, Chapter 21, the maiden (otome - 乙女): the nine-tailed fox woman (kayō-fujin [花陽夫人]) terrorizing Prince Hanzoku (足王) and his servant from the series Japanese and Chinese parallels to Genji (wakan nazorae genji - 和漢准源氏). British Museum: Otome 乙女 (Maiden) / Waken nazorae Genji 和漢准源氏 (Japanese and Chinese Comparisons for the Chapters of the Genji). Schaap: Prince Hanzoku terrorized by a nine-tailed fox; Series: Wakan nazorae Genji (Japanese and Chinese parallels to Genji) Artist: Utagawa Kuniyoshi [歌川 國芳] (1798 – 1861). Publisher: Iseyoshi [伊勢芳] (Marks 25-013 | U095); seal [イせ芳]. Block carver: Hori Shōji [彫庄治] (Lyon Collection; BM); Hori Takichi [彫多吉] (Schaap). Date-aratame seal: Ansei 2, 7th month (1855). Ref: Jack Hillier. Japanese prints and drawings from the Vever Collection (3 volumes). — New York: Sotheby Parke Bernet & Rizzoli International, 1976; vol.3, p. 868, pl. 847. Robinson (1982): p. 161, S88, № 21. Schaap (1998): p. 115, № 107. SOLD
  • Artist: Utagawa Kuniyoshi [歌川 國芳] (Japanese, 1798 – 1861). Publisher: Ibaya Senzaburō [伊場屋仙三郎] (Japanese, c. 1815 – 1869). Published in c. 1845 (no seal). Possibly, from the "Untitled series of beauties reflected in mirrors", see Kunisada Project. However, this print does not have the seal of the censor Tanaka [田中].
  • Artist: Utagawa Kuniyoshi [歌川 國芳] (Japanese, 1798 – 1861). Publisher: Izuzen (fl. c. 1800s – 1840s) (Marks 06-029|U103b). Signed: Ichiyosai Kuniyoshi ga in a red cartouche and sealed with paulownia crest (kiri mon). Double nanushi censor seals: Fuku & Muramatsu, 1849-51 (Kaei 2 – Kaei 4). Young woman in front of the western-style framed portrait of Soga Tokimune, who is depicted after having his kusazuri ripped off by Asahina Saburō. The series of fan prints A Collection of Pictures in Modern Style [今様額面合] (Imayô gakumen awase) can be found at Kuniyoshi Project. Soga Tokimune, a.k.a. Soga no Gorō [曾我時致] (Japanese, 1174 – 1193), a historical figure and a character of an epic tale Soga Monogatari [曽我物語] (A Tale of Soga Brothers). Asahina Saburō [朝比奈 三朗], a.k.a. Asahina Yoshihide [朝比奈 義秀] is also mentioned in the Soga Monogatari. Kusazuri [草摺] (くさずり) – tassets on a suit of a samurai's armour. Another Kuniyoshi's print with the same characters: Goro Tokimune and Asahina Saburo; Series: The Tale of Soga Brothers; Publisher: Ibaya Senzaburō; Date: 1843-1845; Size: Vertical Ōban: 359 x 245 mm.
  • Artist: Utagawa Kuniyoshi [歌川 國芳] (Japanese, 1798 – 1861). Publisher: Ibaya Senzaburō [伊場屋仙三郎] (Japanese, c. 1815 – 1869), no publisher's seal on this print. Another title of this image provided by Sebastian Izzard is Acrobats becoming animals. The series Brother Pictures for Comparison [絵鏡台合かゝ身] (e-kyôdai awase kagami) can be found at Kuniyoshi Project: "This series consists of pairs of fan prints, with one print of each pair being a silhouette of the other. The series is not listed in Kuniyoshi by Basil William Robinson (Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 1961)". The series is attributed to c. 1840. Signed: Ichiyosai Kuniyoshi ga. Size: Size: Uchiwa-e (untrimmed fan print) 227 x 299 mm.
  • Artist: Utagawa Sadahide [歌川 貞秀], a.k.a. Gountei Sadahide [五雲亭 貞秀] (1807 – c. 1878/9). Signed: Gountei Sadahide ga [五雲亭貞秀画] Pubisher: Ibaya Senzaburō [伊場屋仙三郎] (Japanese, 1815 – 1869) Date-aratame seal: Bunsei 13 / Tenpō 1 (1830). Ref: Ritsumeikan University # Z0172-587. Title: Yukari no Edo-zakura [ゆかりの江戸桜], often translated into English as 'The Flower of Edo', is a one-act kabuki play Sukeroku, written by Tsuuchi Han'emon (fl. 1701 – 1743) under the supervision of Tsuuchi Jihei II (1673 – 1760 ) at the beginning of the 18th century. From the beginning of the 19th century, the play was performed in the style of katōbushi. 助六所縁江戸桜(すけろくゆかりのえどざくら。「助六」– one of the main melodies in katōbushi (河東節) type of jōruri [浄瑠璃]. For a detailed explanation in Japanese, see also HERE). Plot: In search of the stolen  Minamoto clan's precious sword called Tomokirimaru, Soga Gorō (historical Soga Tokimune [曾我時致], 1174 – 1193) came to a Yoshiwara brothel under the disguise of a debaucher named Hanagawado Sukeroku. His elder brother, Soga Jūrō (historical Soga Sukenari [曾我祐成], 1172 – 1193) ), has assumed the guise of a wine vendor Shinbei. The character who had the Tomokirimaru sword was Ikyū (historical Iga no Heinaizaemon, a Tiara clan's ally), see SVJP-0164.2014. A series of three prints is dedicated to a katōbushi performance of the Soga-themed plays.
    Yukari no Edo-zakura The tatami night robe of Iwao Tangled Hair and the Evening Braided Hat
    They all have a background of hail patterns (Arare-ko-mon) [霰小紋], similar to Kunisada’s Iwai Kumesaburō II as An no Heibei [SVJP-0304.2019], see below. Utagawa Kunisada, a.k.a. Toyokuni III . Kabuki actor Iwai Kumesaburō II as An no Heibei 1829
  • Artist: Utagawa Kuniyoshi [歌川 國芳] (Japanese, 1798 – 1861). Publisher: Enshuya Matabei [遠州屋又兵衛] (Japanese, fl. c. 178 – 1881) – no seal, ref: Kunisada Project. Title: A Summer Evening [夏乃夕暮] (Natsu no Yūgure). A young woman in purple kimono decorated with cranes and waves catching a firefly among yellow and purple flowers. Signed: Ichiyosai Kuniyoshi ga [一勇斎 国芳 画] in a red cartouche and sealed with paulownia (kiri mon). Date seal and double nanushi censor seals: Fuku & Muramatsu, 1853 (Kaei 6, 2nd month). No publisher's seal. Size: Uchiwa-e (untrimmed fan print) 228 x 296 mm. The yellow flower is probably Patrinia scabiosifolia (ominaeshi) [女郎花]. The purple flower seems to be Platycodon grandiflorus or Balloon Flower (kikyō) [桔梗]. Besides, there are visible panicles of  Miscanthus sinensis, or Japanese pampas grass (susuki) [薄]. These three are part of the Seven Grasses of Autumn (aki no nanakusa) [秋の七草].  
  • Utagawa Kunisada [歌川 国貞]; a.k.a. Utagawa Toyokuni III [三代歌川豊国] (Japanese, 1786 – 1865). Signed: Toyokuni ga [豊国 画] in a red toshidama cartouche. Publisher: Mikawaya Heiroku [三川屋平六] (Japanese, fl. c. 1848 – 1856); seal: Mihei [三平] (Marks 11-016 | 325a) Block carver: Yokokawa Takejirō [横川竹二郎] (Japanese, fl. 1845 – 1863), seal: 彫竹 – Hori Take. Date seal and aratame censor seal: [辰正] Ansei 3, 1st month (1856). Inscriptions: Right cartouche: Three good fortunes of the present day [当世三福対] (Tosei sambuku tsui) Center cartouche: Ubuge no Kintaro [産毛の金太郎] (うぶげのきんたろう)  According to Horst Graebner, the play is Tomigaoka koi no Yamabiraki (or Tomioka Koi no Yamabiraki [富岡戀山開], according to kabuki21.com, common title Ninin Shinbē [二人新兵衛]); Kintarō might be Nakamura Fukusuke I [中村福助], the female role might be Mikuni Kojorō [三国小女郎] (or Mikuni no Kojorō). Nakamura Shikan IV [中村芝翫] (Japanese, 1831 –  1899); other names: Nakamura Fukusuke I, Nakamura Masanosuke I, Nakamura Komasaburō, Nakamura Tamatarō I.
  • Artist: Utagawa Kunisada [歌川 国貞]; a.k.a. Utagawa Toyokuni III [三代歌川豊国] (Japanese, 1786 – 1865). Signed: Toyokuni ga [豊国 画] in a red toshidama cartouche. Publisher: Ibaya Senzaburō [伊場屋仙三郎] (Japanese, fl. C. 1845 – 1847), seal: San [三] (Marks 11-001 | 127c). Block carver: Matsushima Fusajirō [松嶋房次郎] (Japanese, fl. 1843 – 1850); seal [彫工房] – Hori kō Fusa. Double nanushi censor seal: Kunigasa & Watanabe (1849-50). Actor: Ichikawa Danjūrō VII [市川団十郎] (Japanese, 1791 – 1859); other names: Ichikawa Ebizō V [市川海老蔵], Ichikawa Hakuen II, Ichikawa Shinnosuke I. Play: Yukari no Hana Iro mo Yoshiwara [紫花色吉原], performed at the Kawarazaki Theater (Edo) from the 5th day of the 5th lunar month of Kaei 3 (1850) (see Kabuki Playbill at MFA (Boston) № 11.27996). Sano Jirōzaemon [佐野次郎左衛門] – provincial commoner who killed a famous Yoshiwara courtesan named ManjiyaYatsuhashi [万字屋 八ツ橋] (on the second sheet of the pair):

    SVJP-0298.2019: Ichikawa Ebizō V as Sano Jirōzaemon.

    SVJP-0297.2019: Iwai Kumesaburō III as Manjiya Yatsuhashi

    Another Kunisada's print with the same characters in the same play and same performance can be seen at MFA (Boston) № 11.40190. One more example can be seen at the two upper images in Waseda University Cultural Resources Database, № 006-2707:  
  • Utagawa Sadahide, a.k.a. Gountei Sadahide (Japanese, 1807 – c. 1878–1879), 五雲亭 貞秀, 歌川 貞秀, Yamaguchiya Tōbei, Yokohama kōeki seiyōjin nimotsu unsō no zu - Western traders loading cargo in Yokohama - 横浜交易西洋人荷物運送之圖, 1861, Woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper, Horizontal Ōban Pentaptych: 5 x (37 x 25.5 cm), Alternative title: Picture of Western Traders at Yokohama Transporting Merchandise (Cat. Reisonée: Yokohama ukiyo-e, Yurindo, 1979: №50). Japanese pentaptych print shows an American ship in the harbor at Yokohama, Japan; small boats ferry cargo which is being carried up a gangplank contributing to the bustle of activity on the main deck. April, 1861. SOLD
  • Artist: Utagawa Kunisada, a.k.a. Toyokuni III (Japanese, 1786 – 1865) [歌川 国貞]. Publisher: Ibaya Senzaburō [伊場屋仙三郎] (Japanese, fl. C. 1845 – 1847). Date aratame seal: Bunsei 12 (1829). Signed: Gototei Kunisada ga [五渡亭国貞画]. Media: Fan print (uchiwa-e), 272 x 235 mm. Actor: Iwai Hanshirō VI (Japanese, 1799 – 1836); other names: Iwai Hanshirō VI, Iwai Kumesaburō II, Iwai Hisajirō I, Baiga [梅我] (poetry name), Shūka (poetry name). The background is Arare-ko-mon [霰小紋] hail pattern. Kabuki actor Iwai Kumesaburō II in the role of An no Heibei [安の平兵衛] in the drama Otokodate Itsutsu Karigane [男作五雁金] (Play, 7 acts. Produced 1742/09). From Lyon collectionThe real An no Heibei (ca. 1672-1702): "In a gang with Kaitate no Kichiemon, Hote no Ichiemon, Mippiki Jihei and others as of the Seventh Month of 1697. Attacked people with a sword on the sixth day, Seventh Month, 1699, which he then secreted with Kichiemon. On the evening of the sixth day, Sixth Month, 1701, stabbed Kibei, an employee of Kawachiya Gohei of the residential quarter Kyuhoji, in the side with a dagger. A subsequent police investigation resulted in Heibei's arrest the following day. Beheaded at the execution grounds located at Sennichi Mae on the twenty-sixth day of the Eighth Month, 1702." Note: According to Horst Graebner, the actor's name below the series title in the cartouche is Baiga (梅我), the poetry name of Iwai Kumesaburō II. On the other prints in this series, the actors are also named on the other prints with their poetry names. In the red cartouche at the top left is the series title "Edo no hana – itsutsu Karigane" (江戸の花 五雁金), to be translated as "Flowers of Edo - the five Karigane blood-brothers" (or "the five Karigane gang members"). "Since there was no performance with the Karigane brothers from 1829, these must be mitate prints", states Mr Graebner.
  • Artist: Utagawa Sadahide [歌川 貞秀], a.k.a. Gountei Sadahide [五雲亭 貞秀] (Japanese, 1807 – c. 1878-9). Publisher: Ibaya Senzaburō [伊場屋仙三郎] (Japanese, c. 1815 – 1869). Date-kiwame seal: 1831 (Tenpō 2). Size: Uchiwa-e, 298 x 232 mm. Pair of uncut fan prints (1) with the god of wind and (2) with the god of thunder meant to be pasted on two sides of a fan.
    Utagawa Sadahide, a.k.a. Gountei Sadahide . Pair of uncut fan prints (1) with the god of wind and (2) with the god of thunder. 1862 Utagawa Sadahide, a.k.a. Gountei Sadahide . Pair of uncut fan prints (1) with the god of wind and (2) with the god of thunder. 1862
  • Le Grelot / journal illustré politique et satirique, №21, dimanche, 3 septembre 1871. Artist: Caporal (signed in the lower-left corner) Engraver/Printer: J. Lefman (signed LEFMAN SC in the lower-right corner) Title: LE COUP D'ÉTAT DU 4 SEPTEMBRE  1871. The Coup d'Etat of September 4th 1871. The artist equalled the 4th of September revolution when Napoleon III was ousted and the Second Empire collapsed, to a coup d'Etat. Although the number is marked September 3, it is dedicated to the events of September 4th. This was a usual French newspaper practice to postdate their issues. That's why they almost always operated with categories such as "today", "yesterday", and "tomorrow" instead of definitive calendar dates. "Le Grelot" means "The Sleigh Bell". Personages: Ratapoil – fictional personage invented by Honoré Daumier (French, 1808 – 1879), a Napoleon III caricaturized figure. Ratapoil is addressing the audience holding up Napoléon Bonaparte's tricorn cocked hat. Pietri – Joseph Marie Piétri [Joachim Piétri] (French, – is sitting in the first row, taking notes. Rouher – Eugène Rouher (French, 1814 – 1884), president of the Senat. Canrobert – François Marcellin Certain de Canrobert (French, 1809 – 1895), French Marshal, captured by the Prussian army in Metz with Marshal Bazaine during the surrender of Metz on October 28, 1870. Ollivier – Olivier Émile Ollivier (French, 1825 – 1913), head of the government. Hiding behind the theater decoration are: Napoleon III (Lui!), his wife Eugénie (Elle!), their son Prince Imperial (Le P'tit!), and Pierre Bonaparte (L'Autre). Sitting in the theatre box facing the scene: Adolphe Thiers (French, 1797 – 1877), Jules Favre (French, 1809 – 1880), Louis-Jules Trochu [Le General Trochu] (French, 1815 – 1896), and the other members of the "Government of National Defence". On the gallery: youngsters and two men in sans-culottes hats. An unidentified person on a ladder holding to an eagle figure is having a paintbrush and a bucket with 'tender green' paint. Ref: Musée Carnavalet
  • The 103rd Bon Bock Dinner Invitation

    Artist: François Avenet a.k.a. Alexandre Ferdinandus (French, 1850 – 1888).

    Bismarck à Alphonse

    Alphonse, cher poissure! Roi pschutt du monde u’lan! Je te fais Colonel des pillards de pendules! Si cela fait rager le Bon-Bock et les Jules Tant mieux! Mais garde bien to Trône Basque-Uhlan. O. Pradels.

    Cher monsieur, Le 103ème Dîner du Bon-Bock aura lieu mardi prochain / à 7h précises aux Vendanges de Bourgognel / 14, rue Jessaint (place de la Chapelle). Si vous nous faites le plaisir d’y assister : Veuillez écrire à Mr. E. Bellot, / 37 rue St Marc, au plus tard lundi soir. Votre réponse / est absolument obligatoire pour faire mettre votre couvert (nos camarades des théâtres exceptés.) L’affirmative entraine le paiement de la cotisation présence ou absence. / Programme de notre dernière soirée. 1e H Covin (piano) une valse de sa compo- / sition. 2e de Courment : Le Chanteur du roi (1ère série) par l’auteur. / 3e Dulin de l’o.p.e. Rondeau de la petite mariée 4e Doublemard : / souvenir de la Plage La baigneuse 5e "la famille des Saltimbanque" / 6e C. Maubant Romance de la Traviata. 7e Ct. Carjat Toast à l’Alsace-/Lorraine vers par l’auteur. 8e Guillabert de l’ap. de Nantes : le Pressoir mud. de / Faure . 9e Ch. Delacour : le Poete, Sonnet. 10e if. le Duc Jean if. 11e / Fromentin. Panurge (Mus. d’Hervé) 13e A. Claris la Haine vers par l’aut. / Benty : mon p’tit neveu : paroles d’Po Clouvier. mus. de Darcier. 15e Charles / Delacour : la leçon d’Arithmétique. 16e J.B. Collegnon Fanchette, romance/ par l’auteur. 17e Doublemard : le Cocher (monologue de P. Marzin) 18e / Dulin : le Cor musique de Flégier. 19e J. M. Collignon : Elle s’appela/ Marguerite par. De L. Baillet mus de Collignon. 20e L. Bellot / annonce de l’exposition des arts incohérents sous la direction de / Jules Féry. Tous nos remerciements à Mr. Henri Covin qui a tenu le/ piano toute la soirée et a nos Camarades Ferdinandus pour son / croquis qui est absolument v’lan et à O. Pradels pour son quatrain/ des plus pachutt. // Recevez, cher Monsieur, nos salutations bien Cordiale / E. Bellot, G durater E. Cottin, R. Géner, L. Bocilart, H. Héger comba / assistaient au Dernier Dîner Mrs : Henner, Jean Brenner, Et. Carjat / Margue, Dulin, Fromentin, H. Stéger, A . Stéger, eh. Delacour, G. Mayer, Sanzel/ Denis Poulot, Bricaire, Doublemard, Vigneron, T. Boulart, L. Mayeur, Mayeur/ flle, Magnan, E. Maubant, Guillabert, H. Corin. ___ Lebreton, Tucy, Blangarnon. / Comt. Vallée, Dr Pourbain, Latapie, E. Colleville, Roumier, Hoffer, Ollivier / Verchère, Delhaye, Dr Deschamps, Ch. Hofer, Dr Geneirp, Péginissel p, et F. , Pierson, Guérin, Cronnot, de Courmont, Eliot, Fasquelle et filsm Malasamy, Guillaume fils /G Caux, Dabert, Michel p, et f.s, ___Rey. Vaundremer, Girau, general Lipovvski, Ballin, Ersetemenn, Délivré, Lepéné, de Bouillanne, V. Roser, Delbroueth. Pasquet, Treterre, / A. Claris, Thoniel, du Castaings, Pingray, Benjamin, I. Petit, Champon, Destape, Viotlat, F. Percheron, Dr Hubert, A. Aubin, Zimmermann, Vannes, A. Heulard, / Gourlet, Coppin, Hubner, laprandie, Samuel, Séguin, Ménard, Cougoul, J. B. Collignon, Beri L. Besnier, Gillandi. // 9e Année 103e Diner du Bon-Bock (Les 2e Mardi de Chaque Mois). Cotisation 5h50 / Cette invitation est strictement personnelle / Paris 3 8bre 83.
    Bismarck to Alphonse Alphonse, dear annoyance! King shushh from the Uh'lan world I name you Colonel of the looters of pendulums! If this makes the Bon-Bock and Jules angry All the better! But protect your Basque-Uhlan throne well. O. Pradels.
    Dear sir, The 103rd Dinner of the Bon-Bock will take place next Tuesday at 7 pm precisely at the Grape Harvest of Bourgognel, 14, Jessaint street (la Chapelle plaza). If you would do us the honour of coming: Please write to Mr E. Bellot, 37 St Marc street, on Monday night at the latest. Your answer is absolutely mandatory to prepare the place settings (our friends from the theatres excluded.) The 'yes' comes with a payment of the due whether or not you end up attending. Program for our last evening. 1st – H. Covin (piano) a waltz composed by him. 2nd – Courment: Le Chanteur du roi (King's singer) (1st series) by the author. 3rd – Dulin: Rondeau from opera "Le petite mariée" (The Little Bride) 4th – Doublemard: Memory of the bather's beach 5th – "The Saltimbanque family" 6th – Maubant: Romance of "La Traviata". 7th – Étienne Carjat Toast to the Alsace-Lorraine, verses by the author. 8th – Guillabert from the opera "Nantes: le Press mud" by Fauré. 9th – Charles Delacour: the Poet, Sonnet. 10th – "Duke Jean" 11th – Fromentin. Panurge (Mus. of Hervé) 13th – A. Claris "The Hatred" verses by the author, Benty: my lil’ nephew: lyrics by Clouvier, music by Darcier. 15th – Charles Delacour: the lesson in arithmetic. 16th – J.-B.Collegnon, "Fanchette", romance by the author. 17th – Doublemard: the Coach driver (monologue by P. Marzin). 18th – Dulin: the horn music by Flégier. 19th – J.-B. Collignon: "Her name was Marguerite", lyrics by L. Baillet music by Collignon. 20th  – L. Bellot, an announcement from the incoherent arts exhibition curated by Jules Férry. All of our thanks to Mr Henri Covin who played the piano all night and to our Friends Ferdinandus for his sketch that is absolutely bam and to O. Pradels for his quatrain among the most pazazz worthy. We send you our most cordial salutation, Monsieur. E. Bellot, G. Durater, E. Cottin, R. Géner, L. Bocilart, H. Héger, Henner, Jean Brenner, Et. Carjat, Margue, Dulin, Fromentin, H. Stéger, A . Stéger, Ch. Delacour, G. Mayer, Sanzel, Denis Poulot, Bricaire, Doublemard, Vigneron, T. Boulart, L. Mayeur, Mayeur daugter, Magnan, E. Maubant, Guillabert, H. Corin. Lebreton, Tucy, Blangarnon. Comt. Vallée, Dr Pourbain, Latapie, E. Colleville, Roumier, Hoffer, Ollivier, Verchère, Delhaye, Dr. Deschamps, Ch. Hofer, Dr. Geneirp, Péginissel père et fils, Pierson, Guérin, Cronnot, de Courmont, Eliot, Fasquelle et fils Malasamy, Guillaume fils, G. Caux, Dabert, Michel père et fils,  Rey. Vaundremer, Girau, General Lipovvski, Ballin, Ersetemenn, Délivré, Lepéné, de Bouillanne, V. Roser, Delbroueth, Pasquet, Treterre, A. Claris, Thoniel, du Castaings, Pingray, Benjamin, J. Petit, Champon, Destape, Viotlat, F. Percheron, Dr. Hubert, A. Aubin, Zimmermann, Vannes, A. Heulard, Gourlet, Coppin, Hubner, Laprandie, Samuel, Séguin, Ménard, Cougoul, J. B. Collignon, Berti, Besnier, Gillandi. 9th Year 103rd Dinner of the Bon-Bock (The 2nd Tuesdays of Each Month). Due 5:50 pm. This invitation is strictly personal. Paris 3 October 1883. Bismarck hands a certificate for the title of colonel along with a lance, an Uhlan helmet (Polish cavalry) and a sword to a joker. The joker wears a traditional Polish folk hat inscribed with 'XIV' and holds a guitar. ______ Comments: Émile Bellot [L. Bellot] (French, the second half of the 19th century) – engraver, model for a painting by Édouard Manet "Le bon bock", the founder of Le Bon Bock Dinner. Covin, Henri (French, 1845 – 1887) – Musician, arranger. Étienne Carjat (French, 1828 – 1906) – Journalist, caricaturist and photographer. Charles Delacour (French, 18.. – 1898) – Composer. Jean-Baptiste Collignon (French, 18..-1906) – Composer. Ange Flégier (French, 1846 – 1927) – Composer. Joseph Darcier (French, 1819 – 1883) – Composer, singer and actor. Le petite mariée (The Little Bride) – a three-act opéra-bouffe, music by Charles Lecocq, libretto by Eugène Leterrier and Albert Vanloo. La plage de la Baigneuse – beach of Saint Jean de Monts in the Vendée department in the Pays de la Loire region in western France. La Famille du Saltimbanque: L'Enfant Blessé – The Family of Street Acrobats: the Injured Child – painting by Gustave Doré (French, 1832 – 1883) produced in 1873. Henri-Polydore Maubant (1821-1902) – actor, vocalist (baritone) Gabriel Urbain Fauré (French, 1845 – 1924) – French composer, organist, pianist, and teacher. Hervé [Louis Auguste Florimond Ronger] (French, 1825 – 1892) – French singer, composer, librettist, conductor and scene painter, inventor of the genre of operetta in Paris.  
  • Artist: André Gill [real name Louis-André Gosset] (French, 1840 – 1885). L'Esclave Ivre [The Drunken Slave] was a  Parisian weekly, published in 1881, 4 issues total. Léon Gambetta (French, 1838 – 1882) stands arm in arm with Marshal Patrice de MacMahon (French, 1808 – 1893). Dead bodies of communards lie in the midground and a landscape is faintly perceived in the background. 1871 is written on the hill on the left. L'Esclave Ivre, Issue 1. Entre Amis. Text below the image: - Qu'est-ce que je veux, moi? Faire notre affaire. / - Bien sûr! Moi aussi. / - Comme il me comprend cet animal-là, et on ne veut pas que je le gobe! [In between friends / - What do I want? To make a deal. / - Of course! Me too. / - How well this animal understands me, and we do not want me to swallow him!]
  • Artist: James (nothing else is known). According to Maurice Quentin-Bouchart (p. 95), this is sheet №2 of only two known caricatures by James except for Collection Wentzell (publisher) of 14 sheets. Text: De bien jolies bottes, ces Prussiens, mais quelle odeur!..... [What beautiful boots these Prussians have, but what an odour!.....] Two women from the bourgeoisie stand in front of a line of Prussian officers. One covers her nose with a handkerchief and hides what she is saying from the men with her fan.
  • L'Éclipse : journal hebdomadaire, №94, 07-11-1869. La Bataille de Louqsor, par Job. [The Battle of Louqsor, by Job]. Le père Gagne, monté sur l'Obélisque, s'écrie: — Citoyens, du bas de ce monument, quatre-vingt mille…..parapluies me contemplent. [The father Gagne mounted on the Obelisk, cries out: — Citizens, from the bottom of the monument, eighty thousand….umberellas contemplate me]. Étienne-Paulin Gagne, known as Paulin Gagne (French, 1808 – 1876), holding a hat with a tricolour cockade and umbrella with the head of a devil on its grip straddles the obelisk of Luxor at the centre of the Place de la Concorde with marching scarabs on it. A spider dangles from his heel. In the background is The Palais Bourbon, a meeting place of the French National Assembly. The ground is made out of open umbrellas. Paulin Gagne was a graphomaniac poet, essayist, lawyer, politician, inventor, and eccentric, and a perpetual candidate for the Assembly. Ref.: Gallica; Bibliothèque nationale de France, département Philosophie, histoire, sciences de l'homme, FOL-LC13-114
  • La vénus espagnole et le prince de Joinville par Zut [The Spanish Venus and the Prince of Joinville, by Zut]. Empress Eugénie poses naked for the Prince de Joinville holding a cigarette in her hand. He stares at her intently from his easel.
  • Charges sur le Communisme, le socialisme et sur les idées de ce genre par les dessinateurs du Charivari. Binding: original cardboard. Catalogue raisonée: Hazard & Delteil 1904 / Catalogue raisonné de l'oeuvre lithographié de Honoré Daumier [LIB-2176.2019 in this collection], p. 267: 20 illustrations by Daumier, Cham, Vernier, Ed. de Beaumont. Sticker: Vendu par Francois, Grande-Rue №33, à Rouen. Bought in Paris, seller claimed 1848, first edition. Similar title here : #31. Charges sur le communisme Le socialisme et sur les idées de ce genre par les dessinateurs. Paris, Chez Aubert & Cie., Éditeurs du Journal pour rire, sans date (vers 1865). Relié, plein cartonnage vert décoré et illustré de l'éditeur, in-folio (34,5 x 26 cm) de 20 planches lithographiées. 250 €. Caricatures par Cham (11), Gustave Janet (1), ADC (1), sans nom (3), Daumier (1), Lorentz-Jean-Paul Laurens (3). Nous trouvons pour ce même cartonnage des recueils différents à diverses périodes ; le nôtre doit dater des années 1865-67, moment où Jean-Pierre Laurens fut condamné par la justice du Second Empire pour son anticléricalisme.  
  • A book of sixty-eight copperplate engravings (burin and etching) by various artists after Anthony van Dyck, and one engraving by Lucas Vorsterman I, printed in black on laid paper, bound in full calf with a blind-stamped double-fillet ruling to the boards, spine with raised bands, gilt floral lozenges in compartments, gilt lettering "RECUE DE FIGUR", all margins sprinkled red, marbled end-papers. Engravers: Adriaen Lommelin (French engraver, 1637 – c. 1673) : 12 plates: №№ 3, 17, 18, 20, 21, 24, 25, 26, 28, 30, 35, and 48. Anthony van Dyck (Flemish, 1599 – 1641) : partially engraved himself 1 plate: № 53. Antoine Couchet (Flemish, 1630 – 1678) : 1 plate № 30. Conrad Waumans [Woumans] (Flemish engraver, 1619 – after 1675) : 6 plates: №№ 5, 32, 36, 57, 64, and 66. Cornelis Galle the Younger (Flemish engraver, 1615 – 1678) : 5 plates: №№ 2, 7, 10, 29, and  33. Hendrick Snyers (Flemish engraver, 1611 – 1644) : 1 plate: № 9. Jacob Neefs, or Neeffs (Flemish engraver, 1610 – after 1660): 4 plates:  №№ 1, 16, 45, and 67. Johannes [Jan] Meyssens (Flemish engraver and publisher, 1612 – 1670) : engraved 6 plates: №№ 4, 22, 31, 51, 61, and 62. Lucas Vorsterman the Elder (Flemish engraver, 1595 – 1675) : engraved 7 plates: №№ 11, 15, 55, 58, 59, 65, and 69. Michael Natalis, or Noël (Flemish engraver, 1610 – 1668) : 1 plate: № 34 Paulus Pontius (Flemish engraver, 1603 – 1658) : 2 plates: №№ 37 and 52. Peeter Clouwet (Flemish engraver, 1629 – 1670) : 3 plates: №№ 13, 27, and 49. Peeter van Lisebetten (Flemish engraver, 1630 – 1678) : 1 plate: № 56. Pieter de Bailliu (Flemish engraver, 1613 – after 1660) : 4 plates: №№ 8, 14, 44, and 54. Pieter de Jode II (Flemish, 1606 – 1670/74) : 7 plates: №№ 12, 19, 23, 46, 47, 50, and 60. Richard Gaywood (British, fl. 1644 – 1668) : 1 plate: № 63. Robert van Voerst (Dutch, 1597 – 1636) : 1 plate: № 6. Schelte Adamsz. Bolswert (Flemish, c. 1586 – 1659) : 2 plates: №№ 18 and 68. Wenceslaus Hollar (Bohemian, 1607 – 1677) : 6 plates: №№ 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, and 43. Publishers: 36 prints were printed/published by Johannes [Jan] Meyssens (Flemish, 1612 – 1670) : (2), (4), (5), (7), (8), (9), (10), (12), (14), (22), (29), (31), (32), (33), (34), (36), (37), (39), (40), (41), (42), (43), (44), (45), (46), (51), (53), (54), (56), (57), (60), (61), (62), (64), (66), (67). Gillis Hendricx (fl. 1640 – 1677) published 11 prints, including the title page: (1), (13), (18), (26), (30), (47), (48), (50), (59), (65), (68). N. Burgund. Cons. Brab : (20); John Overton (British, 1639/40 – 1713) : (63); Hendrik van der Borcht II (Dutch, 1614 – c. 1690) : (38); Peter Stent (British, fl. c. 1637 – 1665) : (63). Description of plates:
    1. Engraved title page by Jacob Neeffs in 1646. On the slab supporting the bust, left: “ANT. VAN DYCK”, right: “Ant. van Dyck fecit aqua forti”. On the face of pedestal: “PRINCIPVM | VIRORVM DOCTORVM, | PICTORVM CHALCOGRAPHORVM, | STATVARIORVM NEC NON AMATORVM | PICTORIÆ ARTIS NVMERO CENTVM | AB | ANTONIO VAN DYCK, | PICTORE AD VIVVM EXPRESSÆ | EIVSQ: SVMPTIBVS ÆRI INCISÆ.” In cartouche: “ANTVERPIÆ | Gillis Hendricx excudit | Anno 1645” (corrected by hand “1646”). At lower left margin: “Iac. Neeffs Sculpsit.” The print with cut off margins pasted to the bound-in leaf. Size of the print: 24.3 x 15.8 cm.
    2. Ferdinand III, Holy Roman Emperor and King of Hungary and Bohemia (1608 – 1657); engraved by Cornelis Galle the Younger (Flemish, 1615–1678) in 1649. Inscription: “FERDINANDUS III. DEI GRAT. IMPERATOR ROM.SEMP.AUGUST. | GERM. HUNG. BOH. REX: ARCHIDICUX AU ST. DUX BURGUND. ETC.”. Below: “Ant. van Dÿc pinxit” <–> “Corn. Galle Iunior sculp∫it.”<–> “…excudit Antuerpiæ A.o 1649”. Second state with Meyssens’ name burnished.
    3. Charles I, King of England, Scotland, and Ireland (British, 1600 – 1649); engraved by Adriaen Lommelin (French, 1637 – c. 1673). Inscription: “CAROLVS DEI GRATIA MAGNÆ BRITANNIÆ, FRANCIÆ ET HIBERNIÆ REX”. Below: “Ant. van Dÿc pinxit” <–> “Adr. Lommelin sculpsit”.
    4. Charles I, King of England, Scotland, and Ireland (British, 1600 – 1649); engraved by Johannes [Jan] Meyssens (Flemish, 1612 – 1670). Inscription: “CAROLVS DEI GRATIA MAGNÆ BRITANNIÆ, FRANCIÆ ET HIBERNIÆ REX”. Below: Antonius Van Dÿck eques pinxit” <–> “...excudit”. Meyssens’ name burnished. [See similar print №61 with Ioannes Meysens name present].
    5. Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange, Count of Nassau (Dutch, 1584 – 1647); engraved by Conrad Waumans [Woumans] (Flemish, 1619 – after 1675). Inscription: “FREDERICVS HENRICVS, D.G. PRINCEPS ARAVSIONENSIVM, COMES | NASSAVIÆ, ETC. | MARCHIO VERÆ ET FLISSINGÆ, BARO BREDÆ GRAVÆ, | DIESTÆ ETC.” Below: “Antonius van Dÿck pinxit” <–> “Conraet Waumans sculpsit” <–> “…excudit”. Meyssens’ name burnished. [Similar to №57, but with Ioannes Meyssens name in place].
    6. Count Ernst von Mansfield (German, 1580 – 1626); engraved by Robert van Voerst  (Dutch, 1597 – 1636). Inscription: “ERNESTO PRINCIPI ET COMITI MANSFELDIÆ, MARCHIONI | CASTELLI-NOVI ET BUTIGLIRIÆ, BARONI AB HELDRUNGEN, GENERALI ETC.” Below  “Ant. Van Dÿck pinxit” <–> “Robertus van Voerst Sculpsit”.
    7. Engelbert Taye, Baron of Wemmel (Flemish, ? – 1638); engraved by Cornelis Galle the Younger. “DOMINVS ENGELBERTVS TAIE EQVES, BARO WEMMELIVS ETC.A | DEPVTATVS ORDINARIVS INTER NOBILES STATVS BRABANTIÆ.”. Below: “Antonius van Dyck pinxit”, “Cornelius Galle iunior ∫culpsit” <–> “…excudit Antuerpiæ.”. Second state, with “Ioannes Meyssens” erased.
    8. Antoine de Bourbon, comte de Moret (French, 1607 – 1632); engraved by Pieter de Bailliu (Flemish, 1613 – after 1660). Inscription: “ATHONIVS BOVRBONIVS, COMES MORETANVS, ET ABBAS S.TI STEPHANI | CAENTINI, FILIVS NATVRALIS, HENRICI MAGNI ET JACQVELINÆ BVEILANÆ | COMITISSÆ MORETANÆ,”. Below: “Antonius van dyck pinxit.” <–> “Petrus de Ballu sculpsit.” <–>“… excudit Antverpiæ.”. Second state with “Ioannes Meyssens” erased. Antoine de Bourbon was the illegitimate son of Henri IV, Roi de France and Jacqueline de Bueil, Comtesse de Moret.
    9. Prince Rupert of the Rhine (German, Bohemian, 1619 –1682); engraved by Hendrick Snyers (Flemish, 1611 – 1644). Inscription: “ILLVSTRISSIMVS PRINCEPS ROBBERTVS, COMES PALATINVS RHENI, EQVES | ORDINIS S.TI GEORGII. HIPPARCHVS SVÆ MAI.TIS MAGNÆ BRITANNIÆ. ETC.A”. Below: “Antonius van Dyck pinxit” <–> “Henricus Snyers sculpsit” <–> “...excudit Antuerpiæ.”. Second state with “Ioannes Meyssens” erased.
    10. Gottfried-Heinrich, Count of Pappenheim; engraved by Cornelis Galle the Younger. Inscription: “GODEFRIDVS-HENRICVS COMES DE PAPENHEIM CONSILIARIVS AVLICVS | SVÆ CES. MAIES. EIVSQ³ EXERCITVVM MARESCHALLVS GENERALIS.” Lettered with production details below: “Ant. van Dyck pinxit” <–> “C. Galle ∫chulpsit.” <–> “…excudit”. Second state with “Ioan. Meyßens” erased.
    11. Thomas Howard, 14th Earl of Arundel (British, 1585 – 1646); engraved by Lucas Vorsterman the Elder (1595–1675). Inscription: “Illustri∫∫imus Dñs. D.Thomas Howardvs, Comes Arundeliæ et Surreiæ, Primus Angliæ Comes, Dominus | Howardi, Maltrauers, Mowbray, Segraue, Breus, Clun et O∫estriæ, Comes Mare∫callus Angliæ, Nobilißimi | Pericelidis ∫iue Garterij ordinis Eques, et Serenißimo Regi Carolo, Magnæ Britaniæ, Franciæ et Hiberniæ | Regi ab intimis Consilijs, Liberalium artium Mæcenas, et promotor omnion virtutum Actione et Laude.”. Below: “Ut donum hoc, mantenque probes qua consecro, Amori | Sufficit hocci tuo: Hic Magnvs ARONDELIVS”, “C.O.Q.D.A. VAN DYCK D. Vor∫termani.”, “Cum priuile.”. Third state with ‘Opera Vorstermanni’ burnished and two lines of Latin added below the four lines of the title.
    12. Jan van Montfort [Jean de Montfort] (Flemish, 1567 – 1648); engraved by Pieter de Jode II (Flemish, 1606 – 1670/74). Inscription: “D. IOANNES DE MONTFORT SERENISSIMORVM ARCHIDVCVM ET PRINCIPVM BELGII | ALBERTI ET ELISABETHÆ AVLARVM PRIMARIVS CONSTITVTOR ET EXORNATOR, NEC | NON REGIS CATHOLICI MONETARVM CITRA MONTES CONSILIARIVS, ET MAGISTER. | GENERALIS, NOBILIVMQ3 DOMINARVM PALATII SERENIS.MÆ ELISABETHÆ INVIOLATVS CVSTOS.” Below: “Antonius van Dyck pinxit.” <–> “Petrus de Iode sculpsit.” <–> “…excudit Antuerpiæ”. Second state with “Ioannes Meyssens” erased.
    13. Henry Rich, 1st Earl of Holland (British, 1590 – 1649), engraved by Pieter Clouwet (Flemish, 1629 – 1670). Inscription: “HENRICVS RICHE COMES HOLLANDIÆ BARO DE KENSINGTON NOBILISSIMI | ORDINIS GARTERII EQVES CAROLI. LOREGIS MAGNÆ BRITANIÆ A CONSILIIS. ETC.”. Below: “Ant. van Dÿck pinxit.” | “Pet. Clouwet sculpsit” <–> “Gillis Hendricx | excudit”. Third state with the title added and production details re-engraved.
    14. Honoré d’Urfé, marquis de Valromey, comte de Châteauneuf (French, 1568 – 1625); engraved by Pieter de Bailliu (Flemish, 1613 – 1660). Inscription: “ILLVS.MVS DOMNIVS HONORIVS VRFEIVS NOBILIS ORD.RIVS CVBICVLI REGII, DVX 50. ARMATORVM | HOMINVM A SVO MANDATO, COMES NOVI CASTELLI, BARO ARCIS MORANDANÆ ETC.A”. Below: “Antonius van Dyck pinxit” <–> “Pet. de Bailliue sculpsit.” <–> “… excudit”. Second lettered state with title and production details, with “Ioannes Meyssens” erased. [There is another copy in this binding, №54, where Ioannes Meysens' name is in place].
    15. Johannes [John VIII], Count of Nassau-Siegen (German, 1583 – 1638); engraved by Lucas Vorsterman I (Flemish, 1595 – 1675). Inscription: in the oval around the portrait “EXCELLENTISSIMVS DOMINVS: D. IOANNES, COMES NASSAOVIÆ, CATTNELLIBOCI: VIANDEN, DIETZ, &C. EQVES AVREI VELLERIS. S. MA: CÆS, MARESCHALIVS, CATH. REG. IN BELGIO. EQVITVM GENERALIS. &C”, in lower margin: “ILLVSTRISSIMÆ PRINCIPI ERNESTINÆ DE LIGNE EIVSDEM D. COMITIS VXORI DD.”, and “AVan Dÿck pinxit.” <–> “Cu Priuleg”. Fourth state with Vorsterman’s address burnished. [For the third state with “Lucas Vorsterman exc” present see № 55].
    16. Joost de Hertoghe (Flemish, ? –1638); engraved by Jacobus Neefs. Inscription: "Me∫∫ire IOSSE DE HERTOGE chevalier ∫.r de franoÿ, hon∫walle etc: con∫eillier du conseil | de brabant, amba∫∫adeur de la part de ∫a Ma.te catholique co.e ducq de bourgoigne | et des pais bas, a la diete de rati∫bone de l'an 1636." In Lower margine: "Ant: van Dÿck pinxit.", <–>"Jacobus Neefs ∫culp.". Second, lettered state with the title and production details added.
    17. Philippe Le Roy (Flemish, 1596 – 1679). No inscription. The printmaker is unidentified but is possibly Adriaen Lommelin. The print is a copy of the print by Vorsterman and Pontius.
    18. Schelte Adamsz. Bolswert (Flemish, c. 1586 – 1659); engraved by Adriaen Lommelin, published by Gillis Hendricx. Inscription: “SCELTE A BOLSWART | CALCOGRAPHVS ANTVERPIÆ”. In lower margin: “Ant. van Dÿc inuentor | Adr. Lommelin sculpsit” <–> “Gillis Hendricx excudit”. Third state with an entirely different head, title and production details added.
    19. Willem Marquis (Flemish, 1604 – 1640); engraved by Pieter de Jode II. Inscription: “GVILIELMVS MARCQUIS ANTVERP. MED. DOCT. ÆT. 36.A.O 1640.” In lower margin: “Ant. van Dyck Pinxit” <–> “Petr. de Iode sculp.”. Second, lettered state with Borreken’s name burnished and replaced by Van Dyck’s.
    20. Frederik de Marselaer (Flemish, 1584 – 1670); engraved by Adriaen Lommelin. Inscription: “D. FREDERICVS DE MARSELAER, EQVES AVRATVS, TOPARCHA DE PARCK, ELEWYT | HARSEAVX, HOYCKE, BORNAGE, LIBERIQUE DOMINII DE OPDORP, CONSVL BRVXELLÆ.” Three lines of verse below: “Quantum occulta viris vis nominis ominis addat | Ceu fatale aliuid; placidum Mars E Lare, scitum, | Legatusue orbi manifestat, pacis alumnus.”. In lower margin: “Ant. van Dÿck pinxit | Adrian Lommelin sculpsit” <–> “N. Burgund. Cons. Brab:”. Third state with the roll of paper rounded.
    21. Jan Baptist de Wael I (Flemish, 1558 – 1633); engraved by Adriaen Lommelin. Inscription: “IOANNES DE WAEL.”. In lower margin: “Ant. van Dyck pinxit.”<–> and “Adrian Lommelin sculpsit.”. Second, lettered state with the title and production details. British Museum № 1872,1012.4168.
    22. François van der Ee (Flemish, ? – 1645); engraved and published by Johannes Meyssens. Inscription: “D . FRANCISCVS VANDER EE | Dñs de Meys, Pretor Ciuitatis Bruxellensis”. In lower margin: “Anton van Dyck pinxit”, and “fecit et excud.”. Fourth, lettered state, finished with the burin, with second line added to the title, with address “Ioannes Meyssens” almost completely burnished.
    23. Quintijn Simons (Flemish, 1592 – after 1634); engraved by Pieter de Jode II. Inscription: “QVINTINVS SIMONIS. | BRVXELLENSIS PICTOR HISTORIARVM.”. In lower margin: “Ant. van Dijck pinxit.” <–> “Pet. de Iode sculp.”. Third state with second line of title added.
    24. Adriaan Stevens (Flemish, 1561 – 1640); engraved by Adriaen Lommelin. Inscription: "INTEGERRIMVS VIR ADRIANVS STEVENS / S.P.Q. ANTVERP. AB ELEMOSYNIS.". In lower margin:"Ant van Dÿc pinxit." <–> "A. Lommelin sculp.". British Museum # R,1b.20.
    25. Jan van Malderus (Flemish, 1563 – 1633); engraved by Adriaen Lommelin. Inscription: “PERLL.ris et REVEREN.mus DOMINVS. D. IOANNES MALDERVS”. In lower margin: “Ant Van Dÿck pinxit” <–> “Adrianus Lommelin sculpsit”.
    26. Zeger van Hontsum (Flemish, ? – -1643). Engraved by Adriaen Lommelin, published by Gillis Hendricx. Inscription: “Zegerus van Hontsum S.T.L. cathedralis | pænitentiarius et Canonicus Ecclesiæ Antuerpiensis”. In lower margin: “Ant. van Dÿc pinxit” <–> “Adr. Lommelin sculp.” <–> “G. Hendricx excudit”.
    27. Carolus Scribani (Flemish, 1561 – 1629); engraved by Pieter Clouwet. Inscription: “R. P. CAROLVS SCRIBANIVS Bruxellensis, é Societate IESV; in qua Antuerpiæ et I Bruxellæ Rector, ac Flandro-Belgicæ Provincialis, per multos annos fuit. Pietate, | doctrina, consilio, rebus bono publico gestis, libris editis clarus. Obijt Antverpiæ | 24. Iun. anno 1629. ætatis 69.”. In lower margin: “Antonius van Dÿck pinxit.” <–> “Petrus Cloüet Sculpsit.”. Second, lettered state with the title and production details.
    28. Jan Baptist van Bisthoven (Flemish, 1602 – 1655); engraved by Adriaen Lommelin. Inscription: “R.P. IOANNES BAPTISTA DE BISTHOVEN Antverpiensis e societate IESV | Collegÿ Alostani Rector, nec non in missione fidei catholicæ propagandæ apud exteros | præpositus obÿt A.o 1655”. In lower margin: “Ant:van Dÿck pinxit”, and “A. Lommelin sculp”. Second, lettered state with the title and production details.
    29. Maria of Austria (Spanish, 1606 – 1646); engraved by Cornelis Galle the Younger, published by Johannes Meyssens. Inscription: “MARIA AUSTRIACA FERD. III. UXOR. I. DEI G. IMP. ROM. SEMP. AUG. | GERM. HUNG. BOH. REG. ARCHIDUCISSA AUTR. DUCISSA BURGUN. ETC”. In lower margin: “Ant. van Dyck pinxit.” <–> “Corn. Galle Iunior sculpsit.” <–> “...excudit Antuerpiæ A.o 1649”. Third, lettered state with Meyssens’ name burnished badly.
    30. Henriette Marie de Bourbon, Queen of Charles I (French, 1609 – 1669); engraved by Antoine Couchet and Adriaen Lommelin, published by Gillis Hendricx. Inscription: “Serenißima Potenti∫simâq Henrica Maria Dei gratia | Magne Britaniæ, Franciæ, Hibern. Regina”. In lower margin: “Ant. van Dyck pinxit” <–> “Ioseph Couchet sculp” <–> “Gillis Hendricx exc.”. State with “Lommelin sculp.” right after “Ant. van Dyck pinxit” burnished, but still legible.
    31. Henriette Marie de Bourbon, engraved and published by Ioannes Meyssens. Inscription: “HENRICA MARIA DEI GRATIA MAGNÆ BRITANIÆ FRANCIAÆ HIBERN. REGINA.”. In lower margin: “fecit et excud.” <–> “Anton van Dyck Pinxit”. Third state, finished with a burin; with Meyssens’ name burnished. [Similar to print №62 which has "Ioan. Mey∫ens" signature present].
    32. Amalia van Solms, Princess of Orange (German, 1602 – 1675), engraved by Conraad Waumans and published by Johannes Meyssens. Inscription: “EMELIÆ DE SOLMS, D. G. PRINCPES ARAVSIONENSIVM, COMITISSA NASSAUVIÆ, ETC. | MARCHIONISSA VERÆ ET FLISSINGÆ, BARONISSA BREDÆ, GRAVÆ, DIESTÆ ETC.”. In lower margin: “Antonius van Dijck pinxit.” <–> “Conraet Waumans sculpsit.” <–> “… excudit”. First, lettered state with the title and production details, with Meyssens’ name burnished. [Similar to №66, which has Ioannes Meysens name present].
    33. Henriette de Lorraine, Princess of Phalsbourg (or Pfalzburg) (French, 1605 – 1660); engraved by Cornelis Galle the Younger, published by Ioannes Meyssens. Inscription: “HENRICA LOTHARINGIÆ, PRINCIPISSA PHALSEBVRGÆ, ET RIXHEIMÆ, COMITISSA | BOVLAYÆ, BARONISSA ASPIRIMONTIS, DOMINA NOVI-CASTELLI, PRENY | HOMBVRGI, S.TI ANOLDI, AVANTGARDÆ, SAMPIGNI, FRANC-ALTORFFI ETC.A”. In lower margin: “Antonius van Dyck pinxit.” <–> “Cornelius Galle iunior sculpsit.” <–> “… excudit.”. First state with the title and production details, with Ioannes Meyssens’ name burnished. British Museum # R,1a.248.
    34. Ernestine Yolande de Ligne, Countess of Nassau-Siegen (Flemish, 1594 – 1668); engraved by Michiel Natalis, published by Jan Meyssens. Inscription: “ERNESTINA PRINCEPS LIGNEANA ET S.TI IMPERII, COMES NASSAVI. ETC.A”. In lower margin: “Antonius van Dyck pinxit.” <–> “Michael Natalis sculpsit.” <–> “…excudit Antuerpiæ.”. Second state with the initials of Ioannes Meyssens erased.
    35. Marie de Barbançon, Princess of Arenberg (1602 – 1675); engraved by Adriaen Lommelin. Inscription: “MARIA DEI GRATIÂ PRINCEPS COMES ARENBERGIÆ | PRINCEPS BARBASONIA ETC.A”. In lower margin: “Ant. van Dÿck pinxit. | Adrian. Lommelin sculpsit.”. Second, lettered state with title and production details and adjustments made in the face. British Museum # 1876,1014.181
    36. Marie-Claire de Croy, Duchess of Havré (Flemish, 1605 – 1664); engraved by Conraad Waumans, published by Ioannes Meyssens. Inscription: “MARIA CLARA DE CROIIO, DVX HAVREANA CROYANAQ3 PRINCEPS STE. IMPERII, | SOVVERANEA ET BARONISSA FENESTRANGIÆ ET COSTÆ COMES FONTENOIIA ETC.”. In lower margin: “Antonius van Dyck pinxit.” <–> “Coenraerdus Waumans sculpsit.” <–> “…excudit.”. Third state with Ioannes Meyssens’ name burnished. British Museum # 1891,1015.21. [Similar to №64, which has Ioannes Meysens’ name present].
    37. Marie de Barbançon, Princess of Arenberg (1602 – 1675); engraved by Paulus Pontius, published by Ioannes Meyssens. Inscription: “MARIA DEI GRATIÂ PRINCEPS COMES ARENBERGIÆ, | PRINCEPS BARBASONIA ETC.A”. In lower margin: “Antonius van Dyck pinxit. | Paulus Pontius sculp. Anno 1645.” <–> “… excudit Antuerpiæ”. Second state with a thick borderline, title and production details added, Ioannes Meyssens’s name burnished.
    38. Karl I Ludwig, Elector Palatine (German, 1617 – 1680); engraved by Wenceslaus Hollar (Bohemian, 1607 – 1677). Inscription: “CAROLVS LVDOVICVS D:G: COMES PALATINVS AD RHENVM, S:ri R.ni IM:rii | Princeps, Archidapifer & Elector, Dux Bauariæ, …Nobilissimi Ordinis Garterij Eques etc.”. Below: “Ant: van Dyck pinxit” <–> “WHollar fecit,” <–> “1646”. First, lettered state with the title and production details, without “H: van de Borcht excu:”. British Museum # 1867,1012.598. Hendrik van der Borcht II (Dutch, 1614 – c. 1690)
    39. Richard Weston, 1st Earl of Portland (British, 1577 – 1635); engraved by Wenceslaus Hollar, published by Ioannes Meyssens. Inscription: “PERILLUSTRIS DOMINVS HIERONYMVS WESTONIVS, COMES PORTLANDIÆ, | HEYLANDÆq3, etc’,”. Below: “Antonius van Dyck pinxit”<–> “W: Hollar fecit, aqua forte. 1645”. Ioannes Meyssens’s name completely burnished.
    40. Thomas Howard, 14th Earl of Arundel (British, 1585 – 1646); engraved by Wenceslaus Hollar, published by Ioannes Meyssens. Inscription: "ILLVSTRIS:us & EXCELLENT:mus D:nus. DOMINVS THOMAS HOWARD, COMES ARXNDELIÆ & SVRRIÆ | primus Comes & summus Marescallus Angliæ, etc nobilisimi ordiuis Garterÿ Eques, Serenis∫imi po: | tentis∫imq3 Principis Caroli: Magnæ Britanniæ & Hiberniæ Regis, Fidei defen∫oris, etc. in Anglia, Sco | tia et Hibernia a Secretioribus Consilijs, et eju∫dem Regis Ao1639. Contra | Scotos Supremus & Generalis Militiæ Dux,”. In lower margin: “Ant: van Dyck Eques pinxit” <–> “WHollar fecit 1646”. Second state with Ioannes Meyssens’s name completely burnished.
    41. Lucas de Wael (Flemish, 1591 – 1661) and Cornelis de Wael (Flemish, 1592 – 1667); engraved by Wenceslaus Hollar, published by Ioannes Meyssens. Inscription: “LVCAS ET CORNELIVS DE WAEL ANTV: FFr. GERMANI IOis QUI PICTORIAM AR | TEM HÆREDITARIO IVRE CONSECVTI HIC RVRALIVM, ILLE OMNIGENVM PRÆCIPVEQVE / CONFLICTVVM REPRÆSENTATOR.”. In lower margin: “Ant. van Dyck Eques pinxit.” <–> “W: Hollar fecit, 1646.” <–> “I: Meysens exc”. First, lettered state with the title and production details.
    42. Mary (Elisabetha ) Villiers, Duchess of Lennox and Richmond (British, 1622 – 1685); engraved by Wenceslaus Hollar, published by Ioannes Meyssens. Inscription: “ILLUSTRISS: ma D:ma DOMI.na ELISABETHA VILLIERS DVCESSA DE LENOX ET RICH | MOND. etc: FILIA GEORGIJ VILLIERS DVCIS ET COMITIS BVCKINGHAMIÆ.”. In lower margin: “Ant: van dyck pinxit” <–> “W:Hollar fecit” <–> “… Antverpiæ.”. Ioannes Meyssens’ name completely burnished. First state with the title and production details.
    43. Frances (Maria) Stuart, Countess of Portland (British, 1617 – 1694); engraved by Wenceslaus Hollar, published by Ioannes Meyssens. Inscription: “ILLVSTRIS: DOMINA DNA: MARIA STVART COMITISSA | PORTLANDIÆ NEYLANDIÆ, etc.”. Below: “Ant: Van Dycke pinxit,” <–> “W: Hollar fecit, A:o 1650,”, “...excud: Antuerpiæ,”. Second state with Meyssens’ name burnished. British Museum # 1853,0112.1761
    44. Lucy Percy, Countess of Carlisle (British, 1599 – 1660); engraved by Pieter de Bailliu, published by Ioannes Meyssens. Inscription: “LVCIA PERCYE, COMES CARLYLENSIS, MARCGRAVIA | DONCASTRENSIS BARONISSA HAYÆ IN SALCÏA, ETC.A”. In lower margin: “Antonius van Dyck pinxit.” <–> “Petrus de Baillue sculpsit.” <–> “...excudit Antuerpia.”. Third, lettered state with Joannes Meyssens’ name burnished.
    45. Marie-Marguerite de Berlaymont ( ? – 1654); engraved by Jacobus Neeffs, published by Ioannes Meyssens. Inscription: “D.DNA. MARIA MARGARETA DE BARLEMONT COMITISSA HEGMONDANA.” In lower margin: “Ant. van Dyck pinxit.” <–> “Iacobus Nefs sculpsit.”<–> “...exc.”. Fourth state with Ioannes Meyssens’ name erased. British Museum # 1876,1014.206. [Similar to №67, which has Ioannes Meysens name present].
    46. Béatrix Constance de Cussance, Princess of Cantecroix (French, 1614 – 1663); engraved by Pieter de Jode II, published by Ioannes Meyssens. Inscription: “BEATRIX COSANTIA PRINCEPS CANTECROYANA ETC.A”. In lower margin: “Antonius van Dyck pinxit” <–>“Petrus de Iode sculpsit.” <–> “… excudit Antuerpiæ.”. Second, lettered state with Meyssens’ name burnished.
    47. Johanna de Blois; engraved by Pieter de Jode II, published by Gillis Hendricx. Inscription: “D. IOHANNA DE BLOIS”. In the lower margin: “Ant. van Dÿck pinxit | Petr. de Iode sculpsit” <–> “Gillis Hendricx | excudit.”. British Museum # 1876,1014.189.
    48. Katherine Howard, Countess of Newburgh, Lady d’Aubigny (British, ? – 1650); engraved by Adriaen Lommelin, published by Gillis Hendricx. Inscription: “EXCELLmæ ILL.mæq3 DOMINÆ CATHARINÆ HOWARD, EXCELLmi DUCIS LIVOXIÆ | HÆREDIS CONIUGIS DELECTISSIMÆ, VERA EFFIGIES.” In lower margin: “A. van Dÿck pinxit.” <–> “G. Hendricx excudit” <–> “A. Lommelin scup.”. British Museum # P,3.326
    49. Anna Wake (Flemish, 1606 – 1680); engraved by Pieter Clouwet. Inscription: “D. ANNA WAKE.”. In lower margin: “Ant. van Dÿck pinxit.” <–> “Petrus Clouwet sculpsit”.
    50. Pieter de Jode II (Flemish, 1606-1670/74); engraved by Pieter de Jode II. Inscription: “PETRVS DE IODE IVNIOR / CHALCOGRAPHVS ANTVERPIÆ.”. In lower margin: “Ant. van Dyck pinxit.”<–> “Petrus de Iode sculpsit.”. Third state (before the initials G.H. (of Gillis Hendricx) added. The print with cut off margins pasted to the bound-in leaf.
    51. Mary Ruthven, Lady van Dyck (Scottish, c. 1622 – 1645); engraved and published by Ioannes Meyssens. Inscription: “MARIA RVTEN VXOR D. ANTONI VAN DYCK EQVES”. In lower margin: “Anton.van Dyck pinxit” <–> “Ioan. Meysens fecit et excud.”. First, lettered state with the title and production details. Tired plate. British Museum # 1863,0725.747. Van Dyck's wife.
    52. Sir Balthazar Gerbier (British, Flemish, 1592 – 1663); engraved by Paulus Pontius. Inscription: “D. Balthazar Gerberius Eques Auratus primus post renouationem. | Foederis cum Hispaniarum Rege anno 1630. A Potentissimo | et Serenissimo Carolo Magnæ Britanniæ Franciæ et Hiberniæ. Rege, Bruxellas Prolegatus. A:o 1631”. Below “Anton van Dyck pinxit”<–> “Paul Pontius schupcit.”. Top left corner: “Ætatis suæ 42 | A.o 1634”. The paper in Gerbier’s hand is lettered “viuat | memoria | Buckinga: | mii”.
    53. Paul de Vos (Flemish, 1596 – 1678); printed by Ioannes Meyssens, face and collar engraved by Anthony van Dyck, the body engraved by Ioannes Meyssens. Second, lettered state. Inscription: PAVLVS DE VOS PICTOR”. In lower margin: “Anton. van Dyck pinxit fecit.”, and “Ioan. Meysens excudit.”. British Museum # R,1b.95. [Look s very much alike №68, but with a one-line inscription and engraved by Meyssens instead of Bolswert].
    54. Honoré d’Urfé, marquis de Valromey, comte de Châteauneuf (French, 1568 – 1625); engraved by Pieter de Bailliu (Flemish, 1613 – 1660). Inscription: “ILLVS.MVS DOMNIVS HONORIVS VRFEIVS NOBILIS ORD.RIVS CVBICVLI REGII, DVX 50. ARMATORVM | HOMINVM A SVO MANDATO, COMES NOVI CASTELLI, BARO ARCIS MORANDANÆ ETC.A”. Below: “Antonius van Dyck pinxit” <–> “Pet. de Bailliue sculpsit.” <–> “Ioanes Meysens excudit.”. Second lettered state with title and production details. [Similar to №14, but with Ioanes Meysens name in place].
    55. Johannes [John VIII], Count of Nassau-Siegen (German, 1583 – 1638); engraved by Lucas Vorsterman I (Flemish, 1595 – 1675). Inscription: in the oval around the portrait “EXCELLENTISSIMVS DOMINVS: D. IOANNES, COMES NASSAOVIÆ, CATTNELLIBOCI: VIANDEN, DIETZ, &C. EQVES AVREI VELLERIS. S. MA: CÆS, MARESCHALIVS, CATH. REG. IN BELGIO. EQVITVM GENERALIS. &C”, in lower margin: “ILLVSTRISSIMÆ PRINCIPI ERNESTINÆ DE LIGNE EIVSDEM D. COMITIS VXORI DD.”. Below: “AVan Dÿck pinxit.” <–> “Cū Priuleg” <–> “Lucas Vorsterman exc”. Third state. [For the fourth state with Lucas “Vorsterman exc” burnished see № 15].
    56. James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Hamilton (British, 1606 – 1649); engraved by Peeter van Lisebetten (Flemish,(1630 – 1678), published by Ioannes Meysens. Inscription: “IACOBVS HAMILTONIVS, MARCHIO AB HAMILTON, COMES | CAMBRICENSIS ET ARANENSIS, BARO EVENIVS ET ABER: | BROCHIVS MAGISTRO EQVITVM SVÆ MAIESTATIS | MAGNE BRITTANIÆ, ET EQUES ORDINIS GARTERY.”.In lower margin: “Ant. van Dÿck pinxit” <–> “Pet. van Lisebetius sculp.”<–> “Ioannes Meÿssens excudit.”. Second state with title and signatures. British Museum # P,2.208.
    57. Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange, Count of Nassau (Dutch, 1584 – 1647); engraved by Conrad Waumans [Woumans] (Flemish, 1619 – after 1675). Inscription: “FREDERICVS HENRICVS, D.G. PRINCEPS ARAVSIONENSIVM, COMES | NASSAVIÆ, ETC. | MARCHIO VERÆ ET FLISSINGÆ, BARO BREDÆ GRAVÆ, | DIESTÆ ETC.”. Below: “Antonius van Dÿck pinxit” <–> “Conraet Waumans sculpsit” <–> “Ioannes Meyssens excudit.” First, lettered state with title and production details. [Similar to №5, but this one with Ioannes Meyssens name present].
    58. Francisco de Moncada, Count d’Osuna (Spanish, 1568 – 1635); engraved by Lucas Vorsterman I. Inscription: “EXCELL.MVS D. FRANCISCVS DE MONCADA MARCHIO AYTONÆ, COMES OSSONÆ VICE– | COMES CABRERÆ ET BAAS, MAGNVS SENESCALCVS REGNI ARRAGONIÆ, PHILIPPO IV. | HISPANIAR.INDIARVMQ3 REGI A CONSILIIS STATVS, EIVSDEMQ3 LEGATVS EXTRAORDIN,ET | SVPREMVS MILITIÆ TERRA MARIQ3 IN BELGIO PRÆFECTVS". Above within portrait frame, to the right: “D.A.van Dÿck pinxit. | LVorsterman sculpsit.”.
    59. Wolfgang Wilhelm, Count of Pfalz-Neuburg and Duke of Jülich (German, 1578 – 1653); engraved by Lucas Vorsterman I. Inscription: "SERENISSIMVS PRINCEPS WOLFGANGVS WILHELMVS, D.G. COMES PALATINVS RHENI, | DVX BAVARIÆ, IVLIACÆ, ET MONTIVM :COMES VELDENTII, SPONHEMII | MARCHIÆ, RAVENSBVRGI ET MOERSII, DOMINVS IN RAVENSTEIN. ETC." In lower margin: "D. A. van Dÿck Eques Pinxit." <–> "Cū. Priuileg:" <–> "LVorsterman sculp.". Fifth state with initials of Gillis Hendricx burnished. British Museum # 1863,0509.825.
    60. Ferdinand, Cardinal Infante of Spain and Archduke of Austria (Spanish, 1609 – 1641); engraved by Pieter de Jode II, published by Ioannes Meyssens. Inscription: “SERENISSIMVS PRINCEPS FERDINANDVS AVSTRIACVS S.R.E CARDINALIS | BELGARVM BORGVNDIORVMQ3 GVBERNATOR ETC.A”. In lower margin: “Antonius van Dÿck pinxit” <–> “Pet. de Iode fecit” <–> “Ioannes Meysens excudit”. Third, lettered state with title and production details. British Museum # R,1a.28.
    61. Charles I, King of England, Scotland, and Ireland (British, 1600 – 1649); engraved by Johannes [Jan] Meyssens (Flemish, 1612 – 1670). Inscription: “CAROLVS DEI GRATIA MAGNÆ BRITANNIÆ, FRANCIÆ ET HIBERNIÆ REX”. Below: “Antonius Van Dÿck eques pinxit” <–> “Ioan. Meysens excudit”. [Similar to №4, but with Ioannes Meysens name present].
    62. Henriette Marie de Bourbon, engraved and published by Ioannes Meyssens. Inscription: “HENRICA MARIA DEI GRATIA MAGNÆ BRITANIÆ FRANCIAÆ HIBERN. REGINA.” Lettered with production details in lower margin: “Ioan. Meysens fecit et excud.” <–> “Anton van Dyck Pinxit”. Third state, finished with a burin. [Similar to print №31, but this one with Ioan. Mey∫ens signature present].
    63. Mary Ruthven, Lady van Dyck (Scottish, c. 1622 – 1645); copy in reverse by Richard Gaywood after Bolswert (see also №51 by Meyssens) published by Peter Stent. Inscription: “Maria Ruten nata in Anglia vxor Antonÿ van Dyck Pictoris”. Below: “Ant: van Dyck pinx:”, “P Stent excud”, “R: Gaywood fecit”. Below centre: “Sould by John Ouerton at the white horse without New gate”. John Overton, publisher (British, 1639/40 – 1713); Richard Gaywood (British, fl. c. 1644 – 1677). Peter Stent (British, fl. c. 1637 – 1665). See BM # P,3.351.
    64. Marie-Claire de Croy, Duchess of Havré (Flemish, 1605 – 1664); engraved by Conraad Waumans, published by Ioannes Meyssens. Inscription: “MARIA CLARA DE CROIIO, DVX HAVREANA CROYANAQ3 PRINCEPS STE. IMPERII, | SOVVERANEA ET BARONISSA FENESTRANGIÆ ET COSTÆ COMES FONTENOIIA ETC”. In lower margin: “Antonius van Dyck pinxit.” <–> “Coenraerdus Waumans sculpsit.” <–> “Ioannes Meysens excudit.”. Second state. British Museum # R,1a.188. [Similar to №36, but this one with Ioannes Meysens name present].
    65. Isabel Clara Eugenia, ruler of the Spanish Netherlands (Spanish, 1566 – 1633); engraved by Lucas Vorsterman I. “SERENISSIMA D. ISABELLA. CLARA. EVGENIA. HISPANIARVM INFANS ETC. | SER.MI ALBERTI. ARCHID. AVSTRIÆ, DVCIS BVRGVNDIÆ, BELGARVM PRINCIPIS, ETC. | VIDVA, MATER CASTRORVM.” In lower margin: “D. A.van Dÿck Eques pinxit.” <–> “Cū Priuileg.” <–> “LVorsterman sculp.”. Fourth state with initials of Gillis Hendricx burnished. British Museum # 1863,0509.820.
    66. Amalia van Solms, Princess of Orange (German, 1602 – 1675), engraved by Conraad Waumans and published by Johannes Meyssens. Inscription: “EMELIÆ DE SOLMS, D. G. PRINCPES ARAVSIONENSIVM, COMITISSA NASSAUVIÆ, ETC. | MARCHIONISSA VERÆ ET FLISSINGÆ, BARONISSA BREDÆ, GRAVÆ, DIESTÆ ETC.” In lower margin: “Antonius van Dijck pinxit.”, “Conraet Waumans sculpsit.” and “Ioannes Meysens excudit.”. First, lettered state with the title and production details lettered. [Similar to №32, but this one with Ioannes Meysens name present].
    67. Marie-Marguerite de Berlaymont ( ? – 1654); engraved by Jacobus Neeffs, published by Ioannes Meyssens. Inscription: “D.DNA. MARIA MARGARETA DE BARLEMONT COMITISSA HEGMONDANA.” In lower margin: “Ant. van Dyck pinxit.” <–> “Iacobus Nefs sculpsit.” <–> “Ioes Meyssens exc.”. Fourth state. [Similar to №45, but this one with Ioannes Meysens name present].
    68. Paul de Vos (Flemich, 1596-1678); engraved and etched by Anthony van Dyck and by Schelte Adamsz. Bolswert, published by Gillis Hendricx. Eighth state with the initials of Gillis Hendricx burnished. Inscription: PAVLVS DE VOS PICTOR | VENATIONVM ANTVERPIÆ.”. “Ant. van Dyck pinxit et | fecit aqua forti.” <–> “S. à Bol∫wert | sculpsit. ”. [Look s very much alike №53, but with a two-line inscription and engraved by Bolswert instead of Meyssens, etc.].
    69. Paul-Bernard de Fontaines (French, 1566 – 1643) delineated and engraved by Lucas Vorsterman I (Flemish, 1595 – 1675) in 1615–75. Inscription: “Excellentissimus Dns. Paulus Bernardus Comes de Fontaine. liber Toparcha supremae terrae de fougerolle etc: Armeme tarij Catho. Matis. per Belgium Gnalis Praefectus: Vrbis Brugensis et Territorij fraconatus Magnus Praetor. Supremus nuper armpru Prouinciam flandriae Moderator etc: D.D.L Vorsterman sculptor. delin”. Cut without margins and pasted to inbound leaf. See: MET: Accession Number: 51.501.1332
  • Four parts bound in two 18mo volumes (1-2 & 3-4), half polished brown calf, dot-ruled, flat spine with gilt bands and lettering, marbled boards, some plates with guard sheets, margins sparkled red. Title-page: LES LIAISONS | DANGEREUSES, | Ou Lettres recueillies dans une | société, et publiées pour l’ins- | truction de quelques autres. | par  C….. de L… | — | J’ai vu les mœurs de mon temps, et j’ai publié | ces Lettres. | J. J. Rous. Préf. De la nouv. Hél. | PREMIÈRE PARTIE. | — | A GENEVE. | 1792. || Vol. 1: Pagination: ffep, blank, [2] – h.t., [i, ii] – t.p. part one, [iii] iv-xxij, [1] 2-245 [246] + 2 plates (p. 26 & p. 75); [1, 2] – h.t., [3, 4] – t.p. part two, [5] 6-233 [234], fep + 2 plates (p. 59 & p. 222). Collation: part 1: a12, A-M18 N5; part 2: A-M18 N9, plus four plates by various engravers after Le Barbier. Vol. 2: Pagination: ffep, blank, [1, 2] – h.t., [3, 4] – t.p. part three, [5] 6-225 [226] + 2 plates (p. 69 & p. 215); [1, 2] – h.t., [3, 4] – t.p. part four, [5] 6-250, fep + 2 plates (p. 25 & p. 201). Collation: part 3: A-M18 N5; part 4: A-N18 O5, plus four plates by various engravers after Le Barbier. Illustrations: After Le Barbier, engravers: Halbou (1), Simonet (1), N. Thomas (2), Dambrun (2), and Delignon (2). In the first illustration (vol. 1, part one, p. 26) Le Barbier signed “Le Barbier Jnv. 1794”, however, the edition was published (anonymously) in 1792. Cohen-De Ricci mentions an edition of 1794 (Paris: Maradan) and 1801 (Genéve) with the same plates. Lewine mentions a reprint of 1794 without naming the publisher. Catalogue raisonné: Cohen-De Ricci: 234-5, Ray: p. 79; Lewine: 109-10. Contributors: Choderlos de Laclos, Pierre Ambroise François (French, 1741 – 1803) – author. Le Barbier, Jean-Jacques-François (French, 1738 – 1826) – artist Engravers: Dambrun, Jean (French, 1741 – c. 1808) Delignon, Jean Louis (French, 1755 – 1804) Halbou, Louis Michel (1730 – 1809) Thomas, N. (French, c. 1750 – 1812) Simonet, Jean-Baptiste Blaise (French, 1742 – 1813)
  • A very thin kobushi-gata form iron tsuba decorated in openwork (sukashi), some openings filled with grey metal (silver or pewter) treated in a way to resemble cracked ice, ginkgo leaf to recto and plum blossoms to verso in low-relief (takabori) and gold inlay (zōgan), and unevenly folded over rim (hineri-mimi). The overall theme of the piece is linked to the icy ponds, falling ginkgo leaves and blossoming plums in the late winter.

    Size: 84 x 80 mm, thickness (center): 2 mm.

    Signed: Yamashiro no kuni Fushimi no ju Kaneie [Kaneie of Fushimi in Yamashiro Province] [山城國伏見住金家], with Kaō.

    Probably the work of Meijin-Shodai Kaneie (c. 1580 – 1600).

    The silver or pewter inlays likely a later work that may be attributed to Goto Ichijo (1791 – 1876) or one of his apprentices in the late 19th century, possibly as a tribute to the great Kaneie masters. Here is an article by Steve Waszak dedicated to Kaneie masters and this tsuba in particular.

    Kaneie

    For many tosogu aficionados, this name reigns supreme among all tsubako across Japanese history.  The first Kaneie is celebrated for many things.  He is recognized as being the first ever to bring pictorial landscape subjects to a canvas so small as that of a tsuba plate.  His skill in being able to render classical Chinese landscape themes while working with a material as unyielding as steel, and to do so with the sensitivity he does, is nothing short of astounding.   The quality of his workmanship — especially that of his exquisitely carved motif elements and the extraordinary deftness of his tsuchime (槌目 or 鎚目, hammer-blow) utilizing such thin plates — astonishes even to this day.  His sensibilities concerning the shaping of his sword guards and the presentation of the rims were no less innovative than his subject matter.  He was among the very first to regularly sign his name as a tsuba smith.  And it is likely that he served the great warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi in the latter years of the 16th century.
    Despite the great fame and reputation of Kaneie, very little of the lives of the two men who are seen by most scholars as the “true Kaneie” tsubako of the Momoyama and earliest Edo Periods is known to us now.  They were both smiths working in steel, with occasional added soft-metal inlay (usually serving to highlight features), and both made sword guards of the same style, using subject matter focused on landscapes, allusions to historical events, or religious themes.  The first of these men is often referred to as “O-Shodai,” or Great First Generation, while the second is known as “Meijin-Shodai,” or Famous First Generation.  While some see subsequent generations stemming from these first two men, others have the O-Shodai and the Meijin-Shodai as THE two true Kaneie and make a sharp distinction between these two smiths and any others who may share the name.
    The work of the O-Shodai may appear with two different mei.  One of these is written “Joshu Fushimi Ju Kaneie,” while his work may also carry a mei reading “Yamashiro no Kuni Fushimi Ju Kaneie.”  It is thought by some scholars that the earlier works present with the “Joshu” mei, while his later works feature the “Yamashiro” mei.  However, there are only some five or six tsuba extant with the “Joshu” signature, so we should not necessarily see works with the “Yamashiro” signature as dating only to the latest years of his working life.  The answers to the questions of exactly when Kaneie might have begun his life as a tsubako, or how old he was when he moved to sign his works with the “Yamashiro” mei, will probably remain shrouded in uncertainty.
    The association between Kaneie and Toyotomi Hideyoshi is speculative, to be sure, but the circumstantial evidence is tantalizing.  The area of Fushimi is thought to have been an entirely unremarkable land prior to Hideyoshi’s building of a castle there, so it would seem unlikely that the first Kaneie would have been working in such a nondescript place, much less including the place name in his mei, before Hideyoshi’s putting it on the map, so to speak.  Why emphasize such pride of place in one’s signature unless the place itself carries a certain weight?  The name “Kaneie” translates roughly to “gold family,” which, given Hideyoshi’s notorious love of gold, would seem too much of a coincidence when combined with the explicit mention of Fushimi in the signatures.  Combine this with the consideration of what is an equally compelling relationship between the celebrated tsubako Nobuie and Oda Nobunaga (“Nobuie” means roughly “of the family of “Nobu”), whom Hideyoshi served as a top general until Oda’s demise in 1582, and the circumstantial evidence becomes even harder to deny the plausibility of.  Oda, ever the innovator, may have been the one responsible for birthing the practice of tsubako regularly signing their works.  Having a superb smith like Nobuie affix the name to the tsuba as a regular practice establishes a sort of “brand name,” a brand coming with the seal of approval of Oda Nobunaga.  It is more than possible that Nobunaga may have then used these valuable sword guards as rewards given to vassals and other important relations to honour them for their services to him, a practice that would have allowed Nobunaga to avoid having to use gold, guns, swords, horses, or land to do so.  The awarding of a magnificent Nobuie tsuba to a deserving warrior, an appreciated ally, or a family member would bring honour to the recipient, of course, but would also honour the maker of the sword guard, and even the giver of the object. Such a way of thinking would be absolutely typical of him, and given that both Oda Nobunaga and Nobuie were men of Kiyosu in Owari in the early Momoyama Period, it does not strain credulity to imagine that the above dynamic could have occurred in just this way.  If indeed it did, Toyotomi Hideyoshi is unlikely to have let this pass unnoticed.  He may even have been so honoured himself!  When he rose to power very shortly after Oda’s death, then, and when he reinforced and consolidated that power in the late 1580s and early 1590s, which included the building of the castle at Fushimi, perhaps he sought to emulate the Oda vision and practice of establishing a “royal tsubako.”  If so, Kaneie would have been that smith.
    As noted, this scenario is speculative, and not a little romantic.  This does not mean, however, that it is in fact not likely, for there would be a number of coincidences involved for it to be entirely false.
    Tsuba scholars will say that Kaneie’s skills in the making of his sword guards indicate an armour-making background.  This is an interesting viewpoint, but one can’t help but wonder how many armourers were possessed of such fluent literacy in lyrical Chinese historical tales that they could then represent them as motifs on steel plates.  Kaneie subjects often are in the form of Chinese landscapes and allusions, as noted, one of which — The Eight Views of the Xiao and the Xiang — was very well known as a famous subject of Chinese painting and poetry from the Song Dynasty.  There exist Kaneie tsuba which depicts at least some of these “views,” and it seems unlikely that if one or more of them were to be created, not all of them would be, in a sort of “series.”  The cultural and literary fluency Kaneie would seem to have had, then, may suggest a Buddhist background, and indeed, some of the subjects seen are explicitly Buddhist in nature.  Perhaps his background then, somehow offering a dovetailing of metalwork and Buddhist teachings; in any event, we are all the richer for at least some of the works of Kaneie to have survived to reach us today.
    One of the hallmarks of Kaneie tsuba (real ones) is the extreme thinness of the plate, combined with utterly superb tsuchime expression of that plate.  To be able to hammer the plate to achieve such strength of expression while the plate is so thin is seen by the Japanese as practically miraculous.  A notable and important kantei point between the early masterpieces by the two “Shodai” Kaneie and the tsuba made by followers is this thinness of the plate.  Another kantei point:  because the plate is so thin when raised areas representing motif elements are present, they are inlaid into the plate, because trying to carve them from such a thin plate would be practically impossible:  the likelihood of piercing the plate would be high, and the plate in that area, even if not pierced, would be significantly weakened by trying to manage the raising of a motif element from the plate.  In real Kaneie works, then, one would expect any raised motif elements to be inlaid.
    Other highlights:  the “Shodai” Kaneie are famous for the kobushi-gata (拳形) or “fist-shaped” design in their work, but despite this, there actually aren’t that many extant sword guards boasting this shape.  Another feature for which the Kaneie are justly famous is their folding over of the lip of the rim onto the plate in a very tasteful manner, just here and there, rather than uniformly across the tsuba.  However, again, this feature is actually not commonly seen, either.  The combination, then, of a kobushi-gata shape with the rim folded over in just a few areas is that much rarer.
    Which brings us to the featured piece.
    Here is a Kaneie tsuba, a “Meijin-Shodai” Kaneie, which presents with a very thin plate, being between 1.5 and 2mm in thickness.  The motif elements are inlaid, as we should expect.  The sugata (姿, shape) is Kobushi-gata with the rim folded over in only a few places, representing a relatively infrequently encountered form, as stated.  The tsuba here is fortunate not to have any added hitsu-ana, unlike many or most other Kaneie do.  The sukashi elements are fascinating to consider, being difficult to determine the meaning of; however, the raised elements clearly point to a seasonal motif, with cherry and plum blossoms on the omote for Spring, and ginkgo on the ura for Fall.  The inlaid metal in two of the openings — silver, shibuichi, or pewter, perhaps — is very likely a later addition, probably 19th-century, and more specifically, late-19th-century.  The finishing on these inlaid portions has all the hallmarks of Goto Ichijo workmanship.  Namely, the treatment of the surface of the inlay to resemble fallen snow (in the Japanese sense of things) is expressed in a very Ichijo sense of things, and, given the great importance of Kaneie tsuba, and the seasonal expression the motif of the guard has, it is plausible that the inlay is Ichijo work or that of one of his top students.  In any event, this inlay complements the rest of the tsuba beautifully.  The inlay also resembles the art of kintsugi (金継ぎ, golden joinery) or the Japanese practice of ceramic repair using lacquer when a piece is particularly special or important.  In this way, a nod is given to Tea Culture, too, creating a wonderful blending of associations and allusions, typical of the highest Japanese aesthetic sense.
    At 8.4cm, the tsuba is of an excellent size and is in great condition (no rust, no deep rust pitting, no fire damage).  There is, intriguingly, one small sign of battle damage at 6:00 on the guard:  it would seem a sword blow cut into the tsuba at the rim, and penetrated slightly into the plate.  The superb repair represented by a little stitch or two right at the rim and along a few millimetres of the plate is visible on very close inspection.  The repair is old, probably nearly contemporary with when the tsuba was made.  Given the high status of Kaneie in their lifetime (as tsubako for Hideyoshi, one might imagine their importance), and given the obvious high quality of this piece, it is not surprising that the finest repair efforts were put into its care.
    The name Kaneie justly enjoys its fame and accolades as pre-eminent among the tens of thousands of tsubako in Japanese history.  We are fortunate indeed to have had a small number of the works of the early masters survive to this day.  The first of their kind, and as most scholars and aficionados would wholeheartedly agree, the best of their kind, Kaneie sword guards remain among the very finest examples of the Japanese metal-working traditions.
  • Uncut fan print (uchiwa-e) with the design of kabuki actor Nakamura Utaemon IV who held the name of Nakamura Shikan II from the 11th lunar month of 1825 to the 12th lunar month of 1835, dressed in a checkered kimono, holding a pipe and surrounded by flying fireflies. Character: Nakamura Utaemon IV [中村歌右衛門] (Japanese, 1796 – 1852); other names: Nakamura Shikan II, Nakamura Tsurusuke I, Nakamura Tōtarō. Series title: Catching fireflies in the floating world [浮世蛍狩] (Ukiyo hotarugari). Artist: Utagawa Kunisada [歌川 国貞], a.k.a. Toyokuni III (Japanese, 1786 – 1865). Signed: Kōchōrō Kunisada ga [香蝶楼国貞画] in a red cartouche. Publisher: Ibaya Kyubei [伊場屋 久兵衛] (Japanese, fl. 1804 – 1851); seal: modified Marks 19-009 | 126d. Censor's seal: Kiwame Date seal: Tenpō 2 (1831). Ref: Kunisada.de, N58. A look-alike yearlier Kunisada's design can be found at kunisada.de,  ref. # N120-Z0172-410:

    Actor Onoe Baikō, artist Kunisada, publisher Ibaya Kyūbei, c. 1820.

       
  • Polina de Mauny [Vladimirova] (Russian, French, b. 1981). Dry pastel on black paper. Size: 30 x 21 cm.
  • Royal 4to, 29.8 x 23.5 cm, contemporary half brown morocco, marbled boards gilt ruled, spine with gilt-ruled raised bands, gilt title lettering; "William Gore" armorial bookplate to front pastedown. Title page: THE | CHASE. | A | POEM. | BY | WILLIAM SOMERVILLE, | ESQ. | [VIGNETTE] | LONDON : | PRINTED BY W. BULMER AND CO. | Shakespeare Printing Office, | CLEVELAND-ROW. | 1796. Collation: without signatures. — Pagination: [i-v] vi-xv [xvi], [i] ii-vii [viii], [1-5] 6-126; illustrations: engraved title, 4 running titles, 4 headpieces, 4 tailpieces – 13 altogether, all drafted by John Bewick, 12 executed by Thomas Bewick and the last one by Charlton Nesbit. Catalogue Raisonné: Thomas Hugo. The Bewick Collector, vol. 1 (1866):  p. 38, № 94: "The first edition... was printed in royal 4to". John Bewick made all the drawing on the blocks but was not able to execute the engravings himself "because of ill-health. They were engraved by Thomas Bewick, with the exception of the tail-piece at the end of the volume, which was engraved by Nesbit". Thomas Bewick (c. 11 August 1753 – 8 November 1828); John Bewick (1760 – 1795), the younger brother of Thomas, died at the age of 35. Christie's, who sold a similar copy on 29 Oct 2012, provides for the size 2°.  
  • Title: A | GENERAL HISTORY | OF | QUADRUPEDS. | – | THE FIGURES ENGRAVED ON WOOD | BY | THOMAS BEWICK. | — | THE FIFTH EDITION | {vignette} | NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE: | PRINTED BY EDWARD WALKER, FOR  T. BEWICK AND S. HODGSON: | SOLD BY THEM, AND ALL BOOKSELLERS. | 1807. Pagination: [2 blanks], [i, ii] – t.p. / blank], [iii, iv] – advertisement, [v] vi-x – index, [1] 2-525 [526 advert. of British Birds] [2 blanks]. Collation: Royal 8vo in fours; π (engraved title), a4 A-3T4 χ3T3. F2 signed 2F, 2E2 unsigned, p. 131 numbered correctly, p. 257 numbered 572. Size: 26 x 17 cm; page 24.5 x 16 cm (royal). Woodcuts: 302 descriptions of quadrupeds, 225 figures and 112 vignettes, tail-pieces, etc. Binding: Full diced brown calf, embossed blind corner fleurons, gilt-tooled border inside and outside, AEG, spine with raised bands, gilt in compartments, lettering; binding restored; armorial bookplate "Thorpe" to front pastedown. Likely to be Thomas Thorpe (1791 – 1851), a prominent bookseller in London: Bedford Street, Covent Garden; started in 1818, went bankrupt on Dec. 31, 1825. Thorpe's family coat of arms: stag standing on a crown and a lion rampant. Catalogue raisonné: S. Roscoe (1953): pp. 23-27. Hugo (1866): pp. 22-24.
  • Title: THE | WORKS | OF THE FAMOUS | Nicholas Machiavel, | CITIZEN and SECRETARY | OF | FLORENCE. |—| WRITTEN | Originally in ITALIAN, and from thence newly | and faithfully Tranſlated into ENGLISH. |—|[ornament]|—| LONDON, | Printed for John Starkey, Charles Harper, and John | Amery, at the Miter, the Flower-de-Luce, and the | Peacock, in Fleetstreet. 1680. Content: (1) The history of Florence; (2) The Prince; (3) The Original of the Guelf and Ghibilin Factions; (4) The Life of Castruccio Castracani; (5) The Murther of Vitelli, etc. by Duke Valentino; (6) The State of France; (7) The State of Germany; (8) The Discourses on Titus Livius; (9) The Art of War; (10) The Marriage of Belphegor, a Novel; (11) Nicholas Machiavel's Letter in Vindication of Himself and His Writings. Pagination:  ffl, 24 unnumbered pages before the first numbered: [2] – tp / license], [2] – contents / blank], [2] ftp “Florence” / blank, [3] – epistle to Clement VII, [3] – introduction, [12] – table; Misnumbering (X instead of Y format – X/Y): History of Florence: 1- 28/24, 19/91, 198/98, 180/108, 190/109, 174/164, 175/ 165, 179/169, 180/170, 185/175, 186/176, 188/178, 189/179, [190/180 blank]; The Prince, Lucca, State of France: [4] 199-262; State of Germany: 256/263, 266/264, 267/265 [268/266]; Discourses: [4] 267-314, 317-431 [432]; Art of War: [4] 433-528; [4] – publisher, [12] –Machiavelli’s letter, bfl. Collation: π3 Aa3 b-d2 B-Z4 Aa-Bb2 Cc-Zz4 Aaa-Yyy4 (*)-(**)4 Binding: Original mottled leather boards with embossing, later leather spine with 5 raised bands, crimson label with gilt lettering. Size: 32.4 x 21.0 x 4.0 cm Provenance: Bradford H. Gray This is the second edition; despite misnumbering, the collation is correct and all pages present. The first edition of this book was published in 1675 by Robert Bolter (British, fl. 1666 – 1683).
  • Title: AN ESSAY | Towards a | REAL CHARACTER, | And a | PHILOSOPHICAL | LANGUAGE. | By John Wilkins D.D. Dean of Ripon, | And Fellow of the ROYAL SOCIETY. |—| [armorial device] |—| LONDON, | Printed for Sa: Gellibrand, and for | JOHN MARTYN Printer to the ROYAL | SOCIETY, 1668. Pagination: [2] blank/order, [2] t.p./blank, [16], 1-454; + 79 leaves of Dictionary, unpaginated (158 pages); Illustrations: folding plates before pp. 167, 187, and two folding plates before p. 443. Collation: π2 a-d2 B-Z4 Aa-Zz4 Aaa-Lll4 Mmm3 aaa4 Aaa-Sss4 ttt3 Size: 4to, 32 x 20 x 5 cm; Binding: Full speckled calf, later polished calf spine with raised bands, double fillet ruled gilt compartments, crimson label with gilt lettering, margins sprinkled red. The work of John Wilkins is dedicated to the problem of the universal language. Wilkins was the Dean of Ripon from 1663 to 1672 and one of the founders of the Royal Society.  
  • Title (black and red): ANTIQUITATES CHRISTIANÆ: |—| OR, THE | HISTORY | OF THE | LIFE AND DEATH | OF THE | HOLY JESUS: | AS ALSO THE Lives, Acts and Martyrdoms | OF HIS | APOSTLES. |—| IN TWO PARTS. |—| The Firƒt Part, containing The Life of CHRIST, written by | Jer. Taylor, Late Lord Bishop of Down and Connor. | The Second, Containing The Lives of the APOSTLES, with an | Enumeration, and ƒome Brief Remarks upon their firƒt Successors in | the Five Great APOSTOLICAL CHURCHES, | By WILLIAM CAVE, D. D. Chaplain in | Ordinary to His MAJESTY. | By whom alƒo is added an APPARATUS, or Diƒcourƒe Introductory to the whole Work, | concerning the Three Great Diƒpenƒations of the Church, Patriarchal, Moƒaical, and Evangelical. |—| THE EIGHTH EDITION. |—| Orig. contr. Celƒ. lib. 1. in Proœm. p. 1, 2. | [text in Greek] |—| LONDON, | Printed by R. N. for Luke Meredith, at the Sign of the Star in | St. Paul's Church-Yard, MDCXCIV. Collation of this book is unusual, it is called "Folio in 6s" (three sheets are folded in half to create a gathering of 6 leaves). Two unsigned leaves: (1) Engraved frontispiece "The Annunciation" by Willian Faithorne "the Elder" (British, 1616 – 1691), recto blank; (2) engraved title by the same engraver, verso blank; (*) gathering of 4: black and red title page, verso blank; epistle; to reader; imprim. (Ato Sƒ6) Engraved portrait of Jeremy Taylor by Pierre Lombart (French, 1612 – 1682); faux title page: "The Great Exemplar of Sanctity and Holy Life... MDCXCIII"; dedication; contents, then to the end of the first book. (A-Z4 Aa-Bb4 Cc2) The second book has collation in quarto: Faux title page: "Antiquitates Christianæ: or the Lives, Acts and Martyrdoms... MDCXCIV", etc. to the end. Full formula: π*4 a-c6 d8 A-Z6 Aa-Sƒ6 A-Z4 Aa-Bb4 Cc2 Pagination: [12]  I-LI [LII] [12] I-XXVIII, i-vi, (1st book): [2] I-145 [146-150] 151-432 [12]; (2nd book): [8]  i-xiv, 1-188. 22 plates : frontis., t.p., portrait, one folding before p. 65, two after pp. [146], [150], 282, 304, 364, 386, 414, [422], and numerous head-pieces. Size: 36 x 23.5 x 5.7 cm Binding: full calf with the later spine, raised bands; front board with remnants of gilt ruling and blind stamped border, back bord probably original with a blind-stamped centre panel with fleurons.      
  • Title: AN | ESSAY | CONCERNING | HUMANE UNDERSTANDING, |—| In Four BOOKS. |—| Written by JOHN LOCKE, Gent. |—| The Third EDITION. |—| Quam bellum est velle confiteri potius nescire quod nes- | cias, quam ista effutientem nauseare, atque ipsum sibi | displicere! Cic. De Natur. Deor. l. I. |—| LONDON: | Printed for Awnsham and John Churchil, at the Black | Swan in Pater-Noster-Row, and Samuel Manship, at the | Ship in Cornhill, near the Royal Exchange, 1695. Collation: [π2]-b6, a-c4, B-Z4 Aa-Zz4 Aaa-Fff4 Ggg-Iii2 Pagination: [40] 1-407 [13]. Catalogue raisoné: The works of John Locke; a comprehensive bibliography from the seventeenth century to the present. Compiled by John C. Attig. Series: Bibliographies and Indexes in Philosophy, Number 1. Greenwood Press, Westport, CT & London, England, 1985. p. 42, №230 provides for pagination [40] 407, [13]p. Page by page reprint of 1694 edition. Regarding the epigraph on t.p.: The correct citation from CICERODe Natura Deorum: "Quam bellum erat, Vellei, confiteri potius nescire, quod nescires, quam ista effutientem nauseare atque ipsum sibi displicere." [How delightful it would be, Velleius, if when you did not know a thing you would admit your ignorance, instead of uttering this drivel, which must make even your own gorge rise with disgust!] This life-time edition was presented as a gift to Dr Elisha Atkins (1949 – 2019), professor at Yale University School of Medicine, on July 1st, 1967, by his students, namely Carolyn Wells [Bush] (1923 – 2013), John Mooney (now a psychiatrist in Boston), and Charles Dinarello. Size: 32 x 23 cm Binding: Fill modern morocco, panelled and ruled gilt, raised bands, gilt in compartments, red label with gilt lettering; in a slipcase.
  • Pictorial album 55.5 x 41.0 cm, publisher’s quarter sheepskin over cloth, upper cover and flat spine lettered in gilt. Title: MONUMENTS et RUES de PARIS | Dessinés et lithographiés par William Wyld, | et publiés par Rittner & Goupil, 15 Boulevard Montmartre, | et Susse Frères, Place de la Bourse. | 1839. Collation: Title plate + 20 plates numbered from 1 to 20, printed by Godefroy Engelmann (French, 1788 – 1839) in tone lithography after drawings by William Wyld (British, 1806 – 1889). Published in Paris by Rittner & Goupil and Susse Frères in 1839. Plates: 54.8 x 39.8 cm. Contents:

    Title page: Tombeau d'Heloïse et d'Abélard

    1. Le Pont Neuf
    2. L'église de la Madeleine
    3. La Porte St. Martin
    4. Palais des Tuileries
    5. Pont des Saints-Pères
    6. Hôtel de Ville
    7. Marché des Innocents
    8. Palais Royal
    9. Boulevard des Italiens
    10. Rue de la Paix
    11. Bourse et Tribunal de Commerce
    12. Porte St. Denis
    13. Pont Royal
    14. Place de la Concorde
    15. Paris from Père Lachaise
    16. Notre-Dame
    17. Jardin des Tuileries with Arc de Triomphe in the Distance
    18. Panthéon
    19. Chambre des députés
    20. Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile
    Description of Shapero Rare Books, London: A very rare pictorial record of Paris before the French capital was drastically remodelled by Haussmann during Napoleon III’s Second Empire. William Wyld (1806-1889), an English painter and lithographer, set up his studio in Paris in 1834, becoming friends with the French painters Ary Scheffer and Paul Delaroche. His first subjects were fashionable orientalist scenes, however, he soon turned to classical architectural, winning a gold medal at the Paris Salon for his two-meter wide canvas ‘Venice at Sunrise’ in the same year in which he published Monuments et rues de Paris. This series is a compilation of twenty fine views of Paris, showing both architectural features, street scenes and views over the river Seine, as well as a panorama of the city from the cemetery of Père Lachaise. Some of the views, such as the representations of the Palais des Tuileries, the Marché des Innocents or the Pont des Sts Pères, testify to the beauty of these structures that no longer exist.
  • Artist: Utagawa Kunisada [歌川 国貞] a.k.a. Utagawa Toyokuni III [三代歌川豊国] (Japanese, 1786 – 1865). Signed: Toyokuni ga [豊国 画] in a red toshidama cartouche. Publisher: Ibaya Senzaburō [伊場屋仙三郎] (Japanese, c. 1815 – 1869). Double nanushi censor seals: Hama & Magome, Kaei 2-5 (1849 – 1852). An uncut fan print (uchiwa-e, 220 x 292 mm) depicts a beautiful woman sitting on a balcony overlooking a bay and reading a book. Above the book, there is an obi with a pattern of stripes or modified key fret motif, with lettering that reads: 菅原島 [Sugawara-jima] and 美立 [mitate]. The lettering and the blossoming plum branch next to the obi provide an allusion to  Sugawara no Michizane [菅原 道真/菅原 道眞] (Japanese, 845 – 903) - a prominent scholar and poet of Heian period exiled from Kyoto to the island of Kyushu as a result of another courtier's slander. A legend says that his beloved plum tree was so fond of its master that it flew to Kyushu with Sugawara. The Davis Museum at Wellesley College describes the print as belonging to the series A Parody of Sugawara Stripe Patterns (Mitate Sugawara-jima). To make the fact of an allusion transparent, Kunisada had changed the usual way of writing "Sugawara stripes" from 菅原縞 to 菅原島 and "mitate" from 見立 to 美立. An unusual spelling was also used to provide additional information to the reader in other cultures. E.g. during the Prohibition Era, the West Coast United States speakeasy bars and bordellos misspelt the items on a menu ("scollops") or in a neon sign ("Martuni's") to tell: here we have more pleasures for you than you may have expected. After Tenpō reforms, the printing of bijin-ga (画, "picture of beautiful woman") images was restricted. Our print disguises a typical bijin-ga as an advertisement of an obi (帯, a kimono sash) fabric pattern. "The market of portraits was satisfied and the authorities fooled" [Rebecca Salter. Japanese popular prints. — Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 2006].