Description: 18.5 x 12 cm, quarter red morocco over marbled boards, spine with raised bands ruled blind, gilt lettering, marbled endpapers.
Collation: 12mo; fep, 3 blanks, π4 1-2712, 292, 3 blanks, fep.; total 180 leaves. Pagination: [6] [2 h.t] [2 t.p.] [i] ii-iii [iv] [1] 2-337 [338] [2 errata] [6]. Bookplate to front pastedown: “Le Mis de Biencourt” (probably Mademoiselle Anna Charles de Biencourt). See other copies: LIB-2913.2021 and LIB-0460.2015. Other related objects: SVVP-0062.2021. The publication was funded by the author and smuggled into France. Contributors: Maurice Joly (French, 1829 – 1878)-
Title page: DIALOGUE AUX ENFERS | ENTRE | MACHIAVEL | ET MONTESQUIEU | OU LA POLITIQUE DE MACHIAVEL | AU XIXe SIÈCLE, | PAR UN CONTEMPORAIN. | {6 lines of citations} | ~ | BRUXELLES, | IMPRIMERIE DE A. MERTENS ET FILS, | RUE DE L’ESCALIER, 22. | 1864 ||
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NAPOLEON IN CARICATURE 1795-1821. By A. M. Broadley with an introductory essay on pictorial satire as a factor in napoleonic history by J. Holland Rose, Litt. D. Cantab. with nearly 250 illustrations, 24 in colour. Published by in London: John Lane, the Bodley Head, and New York: John Lane Company, 1911 in Two Volumes. Vol. I with 391 pages, 13 color plates and 99 full page illustrations. Vol. II with 441 pages, 11 color plates and 108 full page illustrations.
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Title: PETER SCHLEMIHL: | FROM THE GERMAN | OF LAMOTTE FOUQUÉ | WITH PLATES BY GEORGE CRUICKSHANK. | "There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, | "Than are dreamt of in your philosophy." | SHAKESPEARE. | — | LONDON: | G. AND W. B. WHITTAKER, | AVE MARIA LANE. | 1824.|| Pagination: xii, 165 p. : ill. No Adelbert von Chamisso (German, 1781 – 1838) name on the title page. George Cruikshank's name printed with a typo 'Cruickshank'. The attribution on the title-page to Friedrich de La Motte-Fouqué (German, 1777 – 1843) is erroneous. The original German was edited by La Motte Fouqué. The translation was performed by Sir John Bowring (British, 1792 – 1872) First edition in English, third issue with no hyphen between "Ave" and 'Maria" in publisher's imprint.
In a cover box of red cloth over cardboard. Box: 21 x 13 x 2.3 cm; book: 19.3 x 11.8 x 1.7 cm; Crown 8vo. Red cardboard binding. Printed spine labels mounted on spine of the box and the book. Untrimmed edges.
Reference: Cohn 475. -
Title page (in Gothic script): Peter Schlemihl's | wundersame Geschichte | mitgetheilt | von | Adelbert von Chamisso. | {vignette} | Nach des Dichters Tode neu herausgegeben | von Julius Eduard Hitzig. | Stereotypausgabe mit Holzschnitten. | Nürnberg, | Johann Leonhard Schrag. || Pagination: [i-iii] iv-xvi, [1] 2-82 [2], 15 woodcut vignettes by Unzelmann after Menzel. Collation: 8vo; π8 1-58 62. Binding: 21.5 x 13.5 cm, blind olive wrappers. Year of publication inferred from the foreword. This is the first posthumous edition of Chamisso's novel. Personae: Chamisso, Adelbert von (German, 1781 – 1838). — Author of the text. Hitzig, Julius Eduard [Itzig, Isaac Elias] (German-Jewish, 1780 – 1849). — Author of the foreword. Menzel, Adolph Friedrich Erdmann von (German, 1815 – 1905). — Artist of the vignettes. Unzelmann, Friedrich Ludwig (German, 1797 – 1854). — Engraver of the woodcuts. Schrag, Johann Leonhard (Germany, 1783 – 1858). — Publisher.
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Front wrapper: Comité politique plébiscitaire | 17, rue de Surène, PARIS, VIIIe | {Napoleon III portrait} | NAPOLÉON III, EMPEREUR | LES BIENFAITS DE L'EMPIRE || Title page: in a double-fillet frame with years in corners: 1848, 1851, 1852, 1870 || LES | BIENFAITS DE L'EMPIRE | PAR | ALEXANDRE BRADIER | {quotation from Napoléon Ier} | {quotation from Napoléon III} | {quotation from Prince Napoléon} | HUITIÈME EDITION | IMPRIMERIES BELLEVILLE | 29 — Rue du Moulin-Vert — 29 | PARIS (XIVe) | Tous Droits réservés || Pagination: [1-3] 4-62 [2 table] 15.5 x 12 cm brochure in publisher’s original lavender wrappers, front cover discoloured to grey, with publisher’s advert to back wrapper. Printed by Imprimeries Bellville. Published by Comité politique plébiscitaire.
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Hardcover, white lettered boards, pictorial DJ, pp.: [1-8] 9-359 [360 blank].
ISBN: 9789004191464.
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One hardcover volume, 30.2 x 25.3 cm, in red cloth blind stamped to front and spine with lettering, in pictorial dust jacket; pp.: [1-4] 5-359 [360], total 180 leaves, profusely illustrated. Subject: Japan; Theatre; Kabuki theatre; Kabuki actors; Woodblock prints. Contributors: Arendie Herwig (Dutch, fl. 2002 – 2016); Henk Herwig (Dutch, fl. 2002 – 2017).
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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.
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Cover: (black and red in red frame) PARIS POLICE | par | Ch. Virmaitre | PARIS | E. DENTU, ÉDITEUR | LIBRAIRE DE LA SOCIÉTÉ DES GENTES DE LETTRES | Palais-Royal, 15-17-19, Galerie d’Orléans | 1886 || Title page: CH. VIRMAITRE | PARIS–POLICE | {publisher’s device} | PARIS | E. DENTU, ÉDITEUR | LIBRAIRE DE LA SOCIÉTÉ DES GENTES DE LETTRES | PALAIS-ROYAL, 15-17-19, GALERIE D’ORLEANS | 1886 | Tous droits réservés. || Pagination : 3 blank leaves, original pictorial wrapper, [4], [1] 2-359 [360 blank], original back wrapper with publisher's advertisement, 3 blank leaves. Collation: 12mo; π2, 1-1912 206. Binding: owner's hardcover, quarter burgundy percaline, marbled boards, brown title label with gilt lettering, gilt double tail ruler, year, and fleuron to spine; original paper wrappers preserved.
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Pictorial cloth boards, spiral-bound, pp.: 3 leaves: h.t., frontis., t.p., 1-326; 123 black & white plates within the pagination.
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GALIANI, Ferdinando, Abbé. Dialogue sur le commerce des bleds. Londres, 1770. L'Abbé Roubaud, Pierre Joseph André. Récréations économiques ou lettres de l'auteur des représentations aux magistrats, a M. le chevalier Zanobi, principal interlocuteur des Dialogues sur le commerce des bleds; Amsterdam & Paris, Delalain, 1770. Béguillet, Edme. De principiis vegetationis et agreculturae et de causis triplicis culturae in Burgundia disquisitio physica. Auctore E.B.D. ex Societate Œconomica Lugdunensi; Divione, 1768.
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Title-page: E. CRESSON |—| CENT JOURS DE SIÈGE | A LA | PRÉFECTURE DE POLICE | 2 NOVEMBRE 1870 — 11 FÉVRIER 1871 | {publisher’s device} | PARIS | LIBRAIRIE PLON | PLON-NOURRIT ET Cie, IMPRIMEURS-ÉDITEURS | RUE GARANCIÈRE, 8 | 1901 | Tous droits réservés || Description: 8vo, 22 x 14.5 cm, quarter brown calf over marbled boards, flat spine with gilt fillets, gilt lettering, marbled endpapers; inscriptions to t.p.: 2117 A | Ba V –1 1bis 3; ink stamps to t.p.: (1) « LÉGION DE LA GARDE REPUBLICAINE | BIBLIOTÈQUE | des Sous-Officiers | Brigadiers et Gardes | DE L’INFANTERIA | NAPOLEON » ; (2) « LÉGION DE LA GARDE REPUBLICAINE | BIBLIOTÈQUE | DE LA CASERNE | DU | PRINCE-EUGÈNE | (hand) XIII | XX—86 » Collation: 8vo; π6 1-248 252, total 200 leaves. Pagination: [2] [i-v] vi-x, [1] 2-385 [3], total 400 pages. BNF: ark:/12148/bpt6k4936n Author: Ernest Cresson (French, 1824 – 1902)
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Le Petit Chaperon rouge (Little Red Riding Hood), three wood engravings by Gustave Doré, 1864: "En passant dans un bois elle rencontra compère le Loup"; "Le Chaperon rouge fut bien étonné de voir comment sa grand'mère était faite en son déshabillé"; "Cela n'empêche pas qu'avec ses gran dents il avait mangé une bonne grand'mère". Engraved by Adolphe Pannemaker. Le Petit Poucet (Little Thumb), one wood engraving by Gustave Doré, 1864: "Une bonne femme vint leur ouvrir". Engraved by Héliodore-Joseph Pisan. La Belle au bois dormant (Sleeping Beauty), one wood engraving by Gustave Doré, 1864: "Il marcha vers le château qu'il voyait au bout d'une grande avenue où il entra". Engraved by Héliodore-Joseph Pisan. Medium: Paper; Wood engraving. Illustrations for P.-J. Hetzel's edition of Perrault's Fairy Tales (Les Contes de Perrault) by Gustave Doré published in 1864. Size: frame: 428 x 302 mm; sheet: 280 x 231 mm; image: 194 x 244 mm.
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Engraved title page: ILLUSTRATION | OF | TIME. | GEORGE CRUIKSHANK. | "THERE IS A TIME FOR ALL THINGS". | TEMPUS EDAX RERUM. | LONDON | Published May 1st 1827 by the Artist - 22 Myddelton Terrace Pentonville. - Sold by Js. Robins & Co. Ivy Lane Paternoster Row.
Oblong folio, 33.5 x 44 cm. Engraved vignette title page and six not-coloured engraved plates with multiple images showing thirty-five humorous scenes.
First edition, first issue. Uncoloured. Pristine condition.
Half-leather bound in marbled cardboard and red morocco and gild lettering and arabesque. Frontispiece and 6 plates with protective tissues.
Content:1. Time-Called & Time-Come (five sketches)
2. Behind Time (seven sketches)
3. Time Thrown Away (six sketches)
4. Hard Times [&] Term Time (five sketches)
5. Time Badly Employed (five sketches)
6. Christmas Time (seven sketches)
British Museum № 1978,U.3026.1. BM description: "Frontispiece, the title on a background of symmetrical but dilapidated and grass-grown masonry. On the summit stands a little laughing gnome, with a wide hat and a body formed of an hour-glass; Inset is an oval bordered by a serpent with its tail in its mouth (emblem of eternity), in which is an aged and all-devouring Time (bald except for a forelock), seated behind a table whose surface is the base of the design. He puts to his mouth a fork on which is speared an elephant with a castle on its back containing tiny figures with spears. In his r. hand is a spoon containing a country church. His table is covered with dishes, and at his r. hand is a sickle. The central and biggest dish is heaped with a jumble of tiny objects: crown, table, chair, wheelbarrow, picture; round the room sit little figures: a soldier, parson, lady and child, &c. The ten other dishes contain: an antique glass coach with horses and footmen; an overladen camel beside a palm-tree; ruins of a castle; a farmhouse; a shepherd and sheep; a dismantled cannon and balls, cattle, a man-of-war in full sail; a ruinous Gothic cathedral; a clump of trees (the last two are dominated by a large decanter). Below Time are two (Egyptian) pyramids. Above: 'There Is A Time For All Things'; below: 'Tempus Edax Rerum'. 1 May 1827. Etching."Bibliography:- Reid, G W, A descriptive catalogue of the works of George Cruikshank, London, 1871.
- Stephens, Frederic George; George, Mary Dorothy, Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires in the Department of Prints and Drawings in the British Museum, 11 vols, London, BMP, 1870.
- Cohn, A M, George Cruikshank, catalogue raisonné, London, 1924.
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This print was sold to me with the following description: "Ikkansai EISHO (Fl. early 19th c.). A portrait of the wrestler Kuroyanagi Matsujiro, ring name Kumagatake Inosuke. Eisho was a pupil of Eishi. Published c. 1820s by Uoya Eikichi. Signed Shunsai Eisho ga." As a result of our joint effort with my beloved sister, we have so far found the following: The artis is mentioned in The Hotei Encyclopedia of Japanese Woodblock Prints, 2005, Vol 2; p. 438 under the name of Harukawa Eichō. From this source we learned that the artist was active from about 1818 till 1844, and was a print designer in Kyoto. He was a student first of Harukawa Goshichi and later studied in Edo (Tokyo) with Keisai Eisen, when he assumed the art name 'Eichō'. Other names: Shunsai. The Japanese web page dedicated to Harukawa Eichō provides more details: The artist lived from the 4th year of Tenmei ( 1784 ) to the first year of Kaei ( 1848 ). He was a student of Harukawa Goshichi, Kikukawa Eizan as well as of Keisai Eisen. His popular name was Kamenosuke. He was from Kyoto. He took "gagō" (artistic names) of Eishō when he was a student of Harukawa Goshichi; later, when he became a student of Kikukawa Eizan and Keisai Eisen he took the name of Kikukawa Eichō. The artist was mostly known for his bijinga (beautiful women) prints as well as kanazōshi illustrations. Nothing is said anywhere about his sumo prints, though the reference to another Kyushu sumo wrestler portrait has been found. The sumo wrestler Kuroyanagi Matsujiro is also a somewhat obscure figure: information about his life and career is quite inconsistent. It may so happened that two different persons were combined together. Wikipedia page about Aoi Aso Jinja, a Shinto shrine in Hitoyoshi in Kumamoto prefecture, tells us the following:This information has some inconsistencies already. If our hero was born in 1807 and promoted to ōzeki at the age of 32, it should have been the year 1839, not 1847. I found Kumagatake Isuke at "Sumo Reference" website:
Kuroki Matsujiro (黒木松次郎) was born in the village of Itsuki in Kuma district, Kumamoto prefecture, island of Kyushu in Bunka era, 4th year (1807). Since from his childhood he was blessed by great physique and tough strength. He had affection for sumo. At the age of 18 he became a sumo student of Kumamoto Shimakawa Ikuhei and took the name of Toyama Hidekichi (遠山日出吉). At the age of 23 (1830), he entered sumo stables in Kyoto, mastered the art of taming of young horses, and his talents improved. At the age of 31 he went to Edo, and became a disciple of the ōzeki Oitekaze Kitaro of Hirado domain in Hizen province, also from Kyushu island. After that, he changed his name and became Kuroyanagi Matsujiro (黒柳松次郎 – as on the print). In 1847 (Bunka era, 4th year) he distinguished himself by advancing to the first grade, and at the age of 32 he was promoted to ozeki level, becoming sekitori. After changing his name to Kuma-ga-take Inosuke (熊ヶ嶽猪之介 / くまがたけいのすけ) he displayed further efforts, and became one of the strongmen that fermented sumo wrestling in Edo. In 1853 (Kaei era, 6th year) he retired and returned to his village, becoming an employee as a strongman of Sagara domain (相良藩), and worked hard as instructor of the sumo training hall to train successors until 1855 (Ansei era, 2nd year) when he passed away at the age of 48. Even today Kuma-ga-take's home exists in Itsukimura (his native village). Also, on those grounds a descendant of Kuma-ga-take runs minshuku (guest house) that bears the name of "The Kuroki Pension (lodging) ", and tourists come to visit from various parts of Japan. In 2015, tenth month, within the borders of Aoi Aso Shrine there was built a gravestone publicly honoring Kuma-ga-take Inosuke, sumo wrestler from Edo / of Edo period.
Highest Rank Maegashira 4 Real Name Kuroki Birth Date 1815 Shusshin Kumamoto-ken, Kuma-gun Death Date March 6, 1855 (40 years) Heya Oitekaze Shikona Kuroyanagi Matsujiro - Kumagatake Isuke Hatsu Dohyo 1836.02 (Sandanme) Intai 1853.02 On another important sumo history website, I found that Kuroyanagi first appeared at ring in the spring of 1823 (he might have been 16 years old then, which does not seem right). Then, in the winter tournament of 1848 Kuroyanagi took the name Kumagatake. At the spring tournament of 1853 Kumagatake (Kuroyanagi) retired. This is quite consistent so far.
Then, I found Oitekaze Kitaro, allegedly the teacher of Kuroyanagi.Highest Rank Ozeki Real Name SATO Matsujiro (Matsutaro#) Birth Date 1799 Shusshin Kanagawa-ken, Tsukui-gun Death Date May 4, 1865 (66 years) Heya Oitekaze Shikona Kuroyanagi Matsujiro - Kuroyanagi Sumiemon - Oitekaze Kitaro Hatsu Dohyo 1817.10 (Jonokuchi) Intai 1839.03 -
Iron tsuba of oval form decorated with design of jakago (bamboo lattice work) in openwork (sukashi). Copper sekigane.
Unsigned. Edo period.
Size: 73.7 x 70.3 x 5.6 mm.Note regarding design: though some might think that this piece belonged to a member of the lost tribe of Israel, it did not. Jakago baskets were made of bamboo, filled with rocks and used to catch crabs (besides other uses).
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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.
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John Warne Monroe. Laboratories of Faith: Mesmerism, Spiritism, and Occultism in Modern France.
Cornel University Press, 2008.
ISBN: 9780801445620; Hardcover.
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Ko-kinko ymagane cast tsuba of oval form with chiseled diaper pattern of double head waves on both sides and a rabbit cast and carved with its eye inlaid in yellow metal (gold or brass) on the face. Fukurin which holds together the sandwiched layers of metal (sanmai) is about 2.7 mm wide. Possibly, early Mino (ko-Mino) school. Size: 66.6 x 59.9 x 4.0 mm. Some connoisseurs believe that this kind of tsuba was in mass production at the time. Small animal believed to be a fox, however some attribute it to a long-tailed rabbit or a squirrel. I am leaning towards the rabbit. Similar example is found at Robert E. Haynes Catalog №3, April 9-11, 1982 on page 11, under № 15: “Rare design in style of Sanmai (three layers) / Wasei work. With yamagane core and heavy rim cover. The web plates are carved with double head Goto style waves and the face has a fox. The web plates were riveted at the seppadai. See Lot 4, page 8. Ca. 1350. Ht. 6.6 cm, th. 3 mm” [underscore mine]. Quality of photo is so poor that I decided not to provide it here. The only difference betwen my tsuba and his is that his has a square hole on the right shoulder of the seppa-dai. Early Muromachi (if we follow Robert it is even Nanbokucho, 1337-1392) or Momoyama period. The Momoyama attribution is mostly based on a fact that “waves and rabbit” motif became most popular in Momoyama times. Mokkōgata tsuba of similar design in this collection - see TSU-0282.
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L'incendie de Hôtel de Ville (24 mai 1871). A woodcut by Provost; printed by Imp. Charaire et fils; F. Roy, éditier.
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La Préfecture de Police, par un vieux petit employé - Procès de La Lanterne avec tous ses incidents. Administration du journal La Lanterne, Paris, 1879.
Quatrième édition.
Anonymous publication. Authorship attributed to: Yves Guyot, Francisque Sarcey. Source: Harvard College Library, Soc. 3375.6, 14-OCT-1914, Wolcott Fund.
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Title page: MAURICE JOLY | LES | AFFAMÉS | ÉTUDES | DE MŒURS CONTEMPORAINES |{publisher’s device «ED»}| PARIS | E. DENTU, LIBRAIRE-ÉDITEUR | PALAIS-ROYAL, 15-17-19, GALERIE D’ORLÉANS | 1876 | Tous droits réservés.|| Pagination: short ffl, [2] h.t. / colophon [2] t.p. / blank] [i] ii-xvi, 1-340. Collation: 12mo ; π10 1-1812 198. Binding: 19 x 12 cm; softcover; original wrappers with lettering to front and spine in black and red in a frame, untrimmed lateral edge.
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Iron tsuba of mokko form (quatrefoil) decorated with a pair of cherry blossoms (sakura) in small openwork (ko-sukashi) and inlaid in brass (suemon-zōgan) with designs of waves, distant pines, chrysanthemum flowers in halves, tendrils and leaves, lightning or thunder symbol (inazuma), flying geese and family chrests (mon): two interlocked rings (wachigai) on the face, and three encircled stripes (maru-no-uchi-ni-mitsuhikiryo) - kamon of the Kikkawa clan - on the reverse. Hitsu-ana outlined with inlay of brass wire. Surface treated with lacquer. Copper sekigane. Though some consider this type of tsuba to resemble Heianjo school, “...the brass trim around the hitsu-ana is a characteristics of Ōnin work” [Japanese sword guards. Onin – Heianjo – Yoshiro. Gary D. Murtha. GDM Publications, 2016; p. 27.]. The Ōnin origin is reinforced by scattered ten-zōgan elements here and there through the plate. It is possible that the tsuba was initially of round form and later trimmed to mokko shape. Mid Muromachi period; 15th century. Dimensions: Height: 87.2 mm; Width: 87.9 mm; Thickness at seppa-dai: 3.6 mm.
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Iron tsuba of round form decorated with floral motif in brass or copper inlay (suemon-zōgan) and family crests (mon) in small openwork (ko-sukashi). Occasional brass dots or nail heads in brass ten-zōgan. Sukashi elements outlined with inlaid brass wire. Seppa-dai outlined with rope-shaped brass wire (nawame-zōgan); kozuka-hitsu-ana outlined with scalloped brass wire. Ōnin school. Mid to late Muromachi period, 15th or 16th century. Height: 88.9 mm; Width: 88.5 mm; Thickness at seppa-dai: 2.9 mm. Family crests (mon) in openwork: cherry blossom (sakura) - kamon of Sakurai and Yoshino clans, four-section lozenge (waribishi) - kamon of Takeda clan, the seven stars of the big dipper (maru ni nanatsuboshi) - kamon of Chiba clan, two encircled stripes (futatsubiki) - kamon of Ashikaga clan. Brass inlays represent flowers, branches and leaves, as well as halved plum blossom, halved chrysanthemum blossom, cloud, and chrysanthemum-on-water symbol - the mon of Kusunoki Masashige. Abundance of family crests of so many powerful warrior clans symbolizes heritage. "The brass trim around the kozuka hitsu-ana andd the seppa-dai are characteristics of Onin work" [Japanese sword guards. Onin - Heianjo - Yoshiro. Gary D. Murtha. GDM Publications, 2016; p. 27.]
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Iron tsuba of round form with design of rudder, paddle, and stars in small openwork (ko-sukshi) outlined with brass wire, and further decorated with inlay of five concentric rows of brass dots or nail heads (ten-zōgan) and circular brass wire inlaid inside the innermost row of dots. Two lower round openings may also serve as udenuki-ana. Copper sekigane. Unsigned. Late Muromachi or Momoyama period, 16th century. Diameter: 90.4 x 89.8 x 2.8 mm.
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Iron tsuba of round form with a butterfly (left) and dragonfly (right) design in openwork (sukashi), outlined with brass wire. The thin plate is also decorated with five concentric circular rows of brass dots (nail heads) in ten-zōgan; brass wire outlines the centre of the plate. School: Ōnin ten-zogan. Late Muromachi period, 16th century. Diameter: 88 mm, thickness at seppa-dai: 3.1 mm. Another tsuba of similar design, Tōshō school, is illustrated in this collection; see TSU-0353.2018. The design is referenced in LIB-1359.2017 Japanese Swords and Tsuba from the Professor A. Z. Freeman and the Phyllis Sharpe Memorial collections, Sotheby's, London, Thursday, 10 April 1997; p. 18, item 37: "pierced with two large formalised butterflies..."
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Iron tsuba of round form decorated with inlay of four concentric rows of brass dots or nail heads (ten-zōgan) and a circular brass wire inlay inside the innermost row of dots. Copper sekigane. Muromachi period, 15th or 16th century. Unsigned. Ōnin school. Size: 87.9 x 87.8 x 2.2 mm. Ōnin school got its name from the Ōnin War (応仁の乱 - Ōnin no Ran) - a civil war that lasted 10 years (1467–1477) during the Muromachi period in Japan.
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Iron tsuba of round form decorated with design of keys to the storehouse of the gods in openwork (sukashi). Rounded rim. Copper sekigane.
Unsigned. Early Edo period, 17th century.
Size: 71.0 x 70.9 x 6.0 mm.Merrily Baird, Symbols..: The Key to the Storehouse of the Gods, one of the Myriad Treasures.
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Manners and Customs of the Japanese, in the Nineteenth Century. From the Accounts of Recent Dutch Residents in Japan, and from the German Work of Dr. Ph. Fr. von Siebold.
Author: Siebold, Philipp Franz von et al.
Publisher: Harper & Brothers, New York, 1841.
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Photographic portrait of writer Andrei Sinyavsky, head and shoulder, turned to the left, wearing glasses. Pencil-signed on the mat: 3/45 • ©Mikhail Lemkhin; on the back of the print: Copyright statement stamp; ink stamp ©MIKHAIL LEMKHIN; ink stamp: PHOTO BY MIKHAIL LEMKHIN | 1811 38TH AVENUE | SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94122 | (415) 664-7677; pencil inscription on the back of the mat: (top) АНДРЕЙ СИНЯВСКИЙ | ANDREI SINYAVSKY, (bottom) XXIX. Sitter: Andrei Sinyavsky [Андрей Донатович Синявский] (Russian, 1925 – 1997) Size: mat: 35.6 x 43.3 cm; window: 16.5 x 23.5 cm; print: 20.2 x 25.2 cm.
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Photographic portrait of poet Joseph Brodsky, head, hand, and shoulder, three-quarters to the left, wearing glasses and with a cigarette. Pencil-signed on the mat: 5/45 • Mikhail Lemkhin; same inscription on the back of the print, and ink stamp ©Mikhail Lemkhin. Sitter: Joseph Brodsky [Иосиф Александрович Бродский ] (Russian-American-Jewish, 1940 – 1996). Size: mat: 41 x 51 cm; window: 27 x 30 cm; print: 27.7 x 35.4 cm.
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Photographic portrait of poet Joseph Brodsky, head and shoulders, three-quarters to the right, wearing glasses. Pencil-signed on the mat: 1/45 • Mikhail Lemkhin; same inscription on the back of the print, and ink stamp ©Mikhail Lemkhin. Sitter: Joseph Brodsky [Иосиф Александрович Бродский ] (Russian-American-Jewish, 1940 – 1996). Size: mat: 40.5 x 51 cm; window: 24.5 x 35 cm; print: 27.7 x 35.4 cm.
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Photographic portrait of poet Joseph Brodsky, head, hand, and shoulder, three-quarters to the right, wearing glasses and with a cigarette. Pencil-signed on the mat: 4/45 • Mikhail Lemkhin; same inscription on the back of the print, and ink stamp ©Mikhail Lemkhin. Sitter: Joseph Brodsky [Иосиф Александрович Бродский ] (Russian-American-Jewish, 1940 – 1996). Size: mat: 40.5 x 51 cm; window: 26.5 x 30 cm; print: 28 x 35.4 cm.
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Photographic portrait of poet Joseph Brodsky, head and shoulder, turned slightly right, looking to the right. Pencil-signed on the mat: 1/45 • Mikhail Lemkhin; same inscription on the back of the print, and ink stamp ©Mikhail Lemkhin. Sitter: Joseph Brodsky [Иосиф Александрович Бродский ] (Russian-American-Jewish, 1940 – 1996). Size: mat: 51 x 40.5 cm; window: 34.5 x 27 cm; print: 35 x 28 cm.
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Photographic portrait of poet Joseph Brodsky, head and shoulders, turned slightly right, looking slightly to the right. Pencil-signed on the mat: 5/45 • Mikhail Lemkhin; same inscription on the back of the print, and ink stamp ©Mikhail Lemkhin. Sitter: Joseph Brodsky [Иосиф Александрович Бродский ] (Russian-American-Jewish, 1940 – 1996). Size: mat: 35.7 x 43.3 cm; window: 19.5 x 23 cm; print: 20.3 x 25.3 cm.
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Photographic portrait of poet Joseph Brodsky, short half-length, turned to the left, with arms crossed on his breast. Pencil-signed on the mat: 7/45 • Mikhail Lemkhin; same inscription on the back of the print, and ink stamp ©Mikhail Lemkhin. Sitter: Joseph Brodsky [Иосиф Александрович Бродский ] (Russian-American-Jewish, 1940 – 1996). Size: mat: 35.7 x 43.3 cm; window: 19.5 x 23 cm; print: 20.3 x 25.3 cm.
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Photographic portrait of poet Joseph Brodsky, head, shoulders, and hand, three-quarters to the right, wearing glasses and with a cigarette. Pencil-signed on the mat: 1/45 • ©Mikhail Lemkhin; same inscription on the back of the print, and ink stamp ©Mikhail Lemkhin. Sitter: Joseph Brodsky [Иосиф Александрович Бродский ] (Russian-American-Jewish, 1940 – 1996). Size: mat: 43 x 35.5 cm; window: 24 x 19 cm.
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Photographic half-length portrait of academician Juri Lotman, with his head turned to the left, giving a lecture in front of a blackboard. Pencil-signed on the mat: 5/45 • ©Mikhail Lemkhin; on the back of the print: ink stamp ©MIKHAIL LEMKHIN, pencil inscription Mikhail Lemkhin 5/45; ink stamp: PHOTO BY MIKHAIL LEMKHIN | 1811–38th AVENUE | SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94122 | (415) 664-7677; Copyright statement ink stamp; on the back of the mat: pencil inscription (top) ЛОТМАН, ЮРИЙ | YURI LOTMAN, (bottom) VI. Size: mat: 35.6 x 43.1 cm; window: 15.5 x 24 cm; print: 20.2 x 25.3 cm. Limited edition of 45, of which this is № 5, signed and stamped by the artist. Sitter: Juri Lotman [Юрий Михайлович Лотман] (Estonian-Jewish, 1922 – 1993).
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Photographic portrait of writer Andrei Sinyavsky, head and shoulder, turned to the left, wearing glasses. Pencil-signed on the mat: 4/45 • ©Mikhail Lemkhin; on the back of the print: Copyright statement stamp; ink stamp ©MIKHAIL LEMKHIN; ink stamp: PHOTO BY MIKHAIL LEMKHIN | 1811 38TH AVENUE | SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94122 | (415) 664-7677; pencil inscription on the back of the mat: (top) АНДРЕЙ СИНЯВСКИЙ | ANDREI SINYAVSKY, (bottom) XXIX. Size: mat: 43.2 x 35.5 cm; window: 23.5 x 18.5 cm; print: 25.2 x 20.2 cm. Limited edition of 45, of which this is № 4, signed and stamped by the artist. Sitter: Sergei Dovlatov [Сергей Донатович Довлатов] (Russian, 1941 – 1990)
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Photographic portrait of writer Vladimir Bukovsky with head tilted, closed eyes, and smoking a cigarette. Pencil-signed on the mat: 3/45 • Mikhail Lemkhin; on the back of the print: ink stamp ©MIKHAIL LEMKHIN, ink inscription ©mikhail Lemkhin; ink stamp: PHOTO BY: | MIKHAIL LEMKHIN | 2327 – 38th AVENUE | SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94116 | (415) 664-7677, pencil inscription 3/45 Mikhail Lemkhin; pencil inscription on the back of the mat: (top) ВЛАДИМИР БУКОВСКИЙ | VLADIMIR BUKOVSKY, (bottom) VI. Size: mat: 43.2 x 35.7 cm; window: 21.5 x 18.5 cm; print: 25.3 x 20.3 cm. Limited edition of 45, of which this is № 3, signed and stamped by the artist. Sitter: Vladimir Bukovsky [Владимир Константинович Буковский] (Russian, 1942 – 2019). Popularity: Bukovsky left the Soviet Union, where he was kept in prison for his political views, in exchange for Luis Alberto Corvalán, a Chilean communist. The event was commemorated in the following folk verse:
Обменяли хулигана На Луиса Корвалана. Где б найти такую блядь, Чтоб на Брежнева сменять!
This can be translated as a Haiku:A troublemaker was exchanged for Luis Corvalán... Where to find a whore to exchange for Brezhnev?
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Hardcover volume, collated in-8o, 21.9 c 14.6 cm, bound in half red morocco over red buckram by Palmer, Hove & Co. (Manchester), ruled in gilt, marbled end-papers, top edge gilt, spine with raised bands, ruled in gilt, gilt lettering; bookplate "Ex libris William John Robertson" with black ink ms dated 1922 to front pastedown. Insert paper clipping “In Memoriam” marked “D.W. 25.1.61.” Graphite ms to t.p.: “[assisted by Karl Marx]”. Pp.: [i-v] vi-xv [xvi blank], [1] 2-500; collation: ffl blank first and last, π8 A-2H8 2I2. Title-page: HISTORY | OF | THE COMMUNE OF 1871. | Translated from the French of | LISSAGARAY, | BY | ELEANOR MARX AVELING. | LONDON: | REEVES AND TURNER, 196 STRAND. | 1886.|| Contributors: Hippolyte Prosper-Olivier Lissagaray (French, 1838 – 1901) – author. Eleanor Marx [Aveling] (British, 1855 – 1898) – translator. William John Robertson (Canadian, 1846 – 1894) – provenance. The Russian translation of the same title: [LIB-1158.2016] Э. Лиссагарэ. История Парижской Коммуны в 1871 г. (Дешевая библиотека, № 274) / Пер. под ред. В. Базарова. — С.-Петербург: Знание, 1906.
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Richard Parkes Bonington (1802–1828 ). British/French. Evreux: Tour du Gros Horloge (Evreux: Large Clock Tower). Inscription: The tower was built in 1417 when the area was ruled by England. Lithograph. From the Taylor and Nodier set "Normandie", Vol. II, pl. 226. 1824. MET# 22.87.2. Catalogue Raisonné: Curtis 1939, no. 19. MET description: "This view in the French town of Evreux focuses on the clock tower, with vendors and customers in the street below. Bonington produced the print for the multi-volume series directed by Baron Isidore Taylor, Charles Nodier and Alphonse de Cailleux titled "Voyages Pittoresques et Romantiques dans l'Ancienne France" (Picturesque and Romantic Travels through Historic France). This image appears in volume 2, devoted to Normandy."
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Title-page: Heroes & Ghosts | Japanese prints | by | Kuniyoshi | 1797-1861 | [space] | Robert Schaap | introduction by | Amy Reigle Newland | essays by | Timothy T. Clark | Matthi Forrer | Inagaki Shin'ichi | {publisher’s device} | Hotei Publishing, Leiden | Society for Japanese Arts || Description: Square hardcover volume, 29.3 x 29 cm, bound in black cloth with blind vignette to front cover and blind lettering to spine, black pictorial endpapers, pictorial dust jacket; pp.: [1-4] 5-280, incl. 279 plates and 31 figures in the text; based on exhibit in Van Gogh Museum (Amsterdam) 30 Jan – 5 Apr 1998 and Philadelphia Museum of Art (Philadelphia) 24 Apr – 29 Jun 1998.
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Title: TALES | OF | Humour, Gallantry, & Romance, | SELECTED AND TRANSLATED | FROM THE ITALIAN. | Vignette "The Elopement, p. 183" | With sixteen illustrative Drawings by George Cruikshank. | — | LONDON : | PRINTED FOR CHARLES BALDWYN, | NEWGATE STREET. | MDCCCXXVII. Pagination: [2], [v]-vi [2] – Contents (Cohn's collation calls for this at the end) 3-253, [1]; title-page a cancel with vignette 'The Elopment', sixteen other plates by Cruikshank; as per HathiTrust: vi, 253, [3] p. (last p. blank), [16] leaves of plates: ill. Binding: 8vo, 20 x 13 cm, later polished calf, gilt, t.e.g. others untrimmed, by Rivière for H. Sotheran. Note: 1st edition, very rare 3rd issue, with a cancel title-page replacing that of 1824 issue when there were two issues and the work was entitled Italian Tales. Cohn notes the rarity of the 1827 edition, which restores one of the plates 'The Dead Rider', suppressed in the second issue, and also includes the plate done to replace it. "The rarest edition of this work is that published in 1827 in green paper boards [...]. This issue has no edition stated on the title. It has seventeen woodcuts, inclusive of the "Elopement" vignette upon the title. The suppressed plate "The Dear Rider" is restored, and the plate done to replace it is also included. The woodcut in other editions upon the title page is "The Pomegranate Seed". Probably compiled and translated by Thomas Roscoe (cf. National union catalog) from a variety of authors 'out of materials not generally accessible', but also ascribed to J. Y. Akerman and to one "Southern". Two or three tales that furnished plots for Shakespeare. Catalogue Raisonné: Cohn 444; this issue not found in OCLC or COPAC.
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Folio (246 x 321 mm), hardbound in red-brown cloth with gilt lettering and decoration. Content, Introduction by J. E., September, 1873, Artist preface by Bertall, Paris, 1871-1873. Album with 40 hand-colored lithographs by Bertall, numbered 1 through 40, accompanied with extensive descriptions. Ex Libris: Baker. Carpe Diem. Markings: Janny M. Baker with J.L.B. Love, 19 March, 1878 in black ink.
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The Heads of Illustrious Persons of Great Britain Engraven By Mr. Houbraken And Mr. Vertue. With Their Lives And Characters by Thomas Birch, A.M.F.R.S. Two Volumes in One. Published for John and Paul Knapton, London, 1747. 108 engraved portraits.
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Hardcover, green cloth stamped with title to front cover and spine, pictorial DJ, pp.: [10] 1-206.
Introduction / Andreas Marks -- An artistic collaboration: travelling the Tōkaidō with Kuniyoshi, Hiroshige, and Kunisada / Laura W. Allen Folklore and legend in the fifty-three pairings along the Tōkaidō / Ann Wehmeyer The plates. Tōkaidō gojūsan tsui / transcription and translation by Ann Wehmeyer ; notes by Ann Wehmeyer and Andreas Marks.ISBN: 9780813060217
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Iron tsuba of slightly elongated round form decorated with design of melon flowers, vines, and leaves in brass flat inlay (hira-zōgan) on both sides. Slightly raised rim (mimi) carved in a way to simulate ring-shaped covering (fukurin). Kozuka hitsu-ana and kogai hitsu-ana both plugged with soft metal (tim or lead). Copper sekigane. Heianjō or Kaga School. Muromachi or Momoyama period, 16th century. Iron, hira-zōgan brass inlay. Round (maru gata) form, diameter 79 mm. Size: 80.3 x 78.4 mm; thickness at seppa-dai: 3.4 mm; at the middle: 3.8 mm; before the rim: 2.4 mm, rim: 2.8 mm. Note on design: though this design resembles family crests with oak and mulberry leaves, I believe it's a melon flower [see Jeanne Allen. Designer's guide to Samurai Patterns. Chronicle Books, San Francisco, 1990, page 114, №130 "Melon Flowers":Note about the distribution of thickness (niku-oki): "this tsuba has toroid features, niku raises from the rim towards the centre but thins once more out when approaching the seppa-dai" [M. Sesko, "Handbook...", p. 48].
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Bando Mitsugoro II as Soga no Taro Sukenobu, the step-father of the Soga brothers, and Osagawa Tsuneyo II as Onio's wife Tsukisayo, in the play 'Omonbi Kuruwa Soga' performed at the Ichimura-za in the 1st month of 1799. Reference: Harvard Art Museums accession number 1933.4.525. Publications: Narazaki Muneshige, Ukiyo-e shuka [Collection of the Masterpieces of Ukiyo-e Prints in Museums] Volume 8: Foggu Bijutsukan [Fogg Art Museum, Harvard University], Neruson Bijutsukan [Nelson Atkins Museum]..., Shogaku-kan (Tokyo, Japan, 1980 [Showa 55]), Color Plate 107; p. 104 (entry p. 191). SOLD
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Artist: Utagawa Kunisada [歌川 国貞] a.k.a. Utagawa Toyokuni III [三代歌川豊国] (Japanese, 1786 – 1865). Publisher: Nishimuraya Yohachi [西村屋与八] (Japanese, fl. c. 1751 – 1860), seal name: Eijudō. Date: c. 1821–22 (Bunsei 4–5) Size: Ōban tate-e triptych, each sheet 36.8 x 26.4 cm. Signed: 五渡亭国貞画 – Gototei Kunisada ga (on center sheet). Censor’s seal: kiwame 改印: 極 A view of the dressing room of a Theater in Dōtonbori, Ōsaka (Ōsaka Dōtonbori shibai gakuya no zu): Right sheet: Actors Bandō Mitsuemon I, Asao Tamejūrō III, Ichikawa Danzō V, Nakamura Utaemon III, Bandō Mitsugorō III (in a costume of Matsuômaru), Kiriyama Monji III, Nakamura Utashichi II, Arashi Shôroku IV, Nakamura Matsue III, Matsumoto Kōshirō V, Ichikawa Komazō V. Centre sheet: Arashi Mitsugorō III, Mimasu Daigorō III, Nakayama Bunshichi III, Ichikawa Ichizō II, Bandō Minosuke II, Ichikawa Omezō I, Arashi Kitsusaburō I, Nakamura Utaroku I, Kataoka Nizaemon VII, Ōtani Tomoemon III, Asao Yūjirō I. Left sheet: Asao Kuzaemon I, Arashi Hidenosuke III, Sawamura Gennosuke II, Iwai Ōginosuke, Sawamura Kunitarō II, Iwai Matsunosuke I, Ichikawa Sōzaburō IV, Iwai Hanshirō V (in a costume of Sakuramaru), and Ichikawa Shinzō III (L). The actors are making up for a performance of the “Carriage-Stopping” scene from Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami (Sugawara Denju and the Secrets of Calligraphy). References: MFA Accession №: 11.43384a-c; Catalogue Raisonné: Izzard, Kunisada’s World (1993), #34; Hizô Ukiyo-e taikan/Ukiyo-e Masterpieces in European Collections 5, Victoria and Albert Museum II (1987), pl. 22; Keyes, PMA Osaka cat. (1973), #250 and pl. 15 (The theatrical world of Osaka prints, by Roger S. Keyes and Keiko Mizushima, Philadelphia Museum of Art, 1973), pp. 70-71); Izzard, Kunisada's world revisited, 2021; V&A Accession № E.5995-1886. Kabuki actors on this print: Arashi Hidenosuke III [嵐秀之助] (Japanese, fl. 1794 – 1837); other names: Arashi Koshichi IV, Arashi Hinasuke IV, Arashi Sanjūrō VI, Kanō Hidenosuke II, Kanō Umetarō, Arashi Iwajirō III. Arashi Kitsusaburō I [嵐橘三郎] (Japanese, 1769 – 1821); other names: Arashi Kichisaburō II, Arashi Rikan I. Arashi Mitsugorō III (Japanese, ? – ?) Arashi Shōroku IV [四代目嵐小六] (Japanese, 1783 – 1826) Asao Kuzaemon I [浅尾工左衛門] (Japanese, 1758 – 1824); other names: Asai Kuzaemon Nakayama Tashirō II Takeda Nisaburō. Asao Tamejūrō III [三代目淺尾爲十郎] (Japanese, 1780 – 1836); other names: Asao Okuyama III, Asao Okuyama III, Asao Tomozō I. Asao Yūjirō I [浅尾勇次郎] (Japanese, 1782 – 1835); other names: Jitsukawa Gakujūrō I, Asao Gakujūrō, Nakamura Yaozō, Asao Yaozō. Bandō Minosuke II [坂東蓑助] (Japanese, 1802 – 1863); other names: Morita Kan'ya XI, Bandô Mitsugorō IV. Bandō Mitsuemon I [坂東三津右衛門] (Japanese, 1788 – 1846); other names: Bandō Kumahei [坂東熊平]. Bandō Mitsugorō III [三代目 坂東 三津五郎] (Japanese, 1775 – 1831); other names: Bandō Minosuke I, Morita Kanjirô II, Bandō Mitahachi I, Bandō Minosuke I, Bandō Mitahachi I. Ichikawa Danzō V [市川団蔵] (Japanese, 1788 – 1845); other names: Ichikawa Shikō I, Ichikawa Danzaburō IV, Ichikawa Danjirō I, Ichikawa Morinosuke I. Ichikawa Ichizō II [市川市蔵] (Japanese, 1806 – 1829); other names Ichikawa Ebijūrō II, Ichikawa Sukezō I. Ichikawa Komazō V [市川高麗蔵] (Japanese, 1812 – 1849); other names: Matsumoto Kinshō I, Matsumoto Kōshirō VI, Matsumoto Kinshi. Ichikawa Omezō I [市川男女蔵] (Japanese, 1781 – 1833); other names: Ichikawa Benzō II, Ichikawa Bennosuke. Ichikawa Shinzō III [市川新蔵] (Japanese, 1793 – 1837); other names: Ichikawa Sumizō III, Nakayama Tomisaburô II, Nakayama Kinsha, Nakayama Tomisaburō II, Ichikawa Komazō IV, Ichikawa Santarō. Ichikawa Sōzaburō IV (Japanese, ? – ?) Iwai Hanshirō V [岩井半四郎] (Japanese, 1776 – 1847); other names: Iwai Tojaku, Iwai Kumesaburō I. Iwai Matsunosuke I [岩井松之助] (Japanese, 1804 – 1845); other names: Iwai Hanshirō VII, Iwai Shijaku I, Iwai Komurasaki I. Iwai Ōginosuke (Japanese, ? – ?) Kataoka Nizaemon VII [七代目片岡仁左衛門] (Japanese, 1755 – 1837); other names: Yamazawa Kunigorō, Asao Kunigorō II, Nakamura Matsusuke. Kiriyama Monji III [桐山紋治] (Japanese, fl. c. 1803 – 1830); other names: Ichikawa Takigorō. Matsumoto Kōshirō V [五代目松本幸四郎] (Japanese, 1764-1838); other names: Ichikawa Komazô III, Ichikawa Sumizô I. Mimasu Daigorō III [三枡大五郎] (Japanese, 1782 – 1824); other names: Mimasu Seibē, Yoshizawa Kamezō. Nakamura Matsue III [三代目中村松江] (Japanese, 1786-1855); other names: Nakamura Sankō I, Nakamura Tomijūrō II, Ichikawa Kumatarō. Nakamura Utaemon III [中村歌右衛門] (Japanese, 1778 – 1838); other names: Nakamura Tamasuke, Nakamura Baigyoku I, Nakamura Shikan I, Kagaya Fukunosuke I. Nakamura Utaroku I (Japanese, ? – ?) Nakamura Utashichi II (Japanese, ? – ?) Nakayama Bunshichi III [三代目目中山文七] (Japanese, 1764 – 1853); other names: Nakayama Hyakka, Nakayama Hyōtarō I, Nakayama Tokusaburō. Ōtani Tomoemon III [大谷友右衛門] (Japanese, 1793–1839); other names: Arashi Shagan IV, Arashi Sanpachi II, Nakayama Monzaburō. Sawamura Gennosuke II [沢村源之助](Japanese, 1802/7 – 1853); other names: Suketakaya Takasuke III, Sawamura Chōjūrō V, Sawamura Sōjūrō V, Sawamura Tosshō I, Sawamura Genpei I. Sawamura Kunitarō II [沢村国太郎](Japanese, 1798 – 1836); other names: Ogino Kinshi, Ogino Yaegiri III, Ogino Kamekichi, Izumikawa Kamekichi.
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Artist: Utagawa Kunisada [歌川 国貞] a.k.a. Utagawa Toyokuni III [三代歌川豊国] (Japanese, 1786 – 1865). Block cutter: Horikō (Kiyomizu) Ryūzō [彫工 柳三]. Publisher: Ebisuya Shoshichi [恵比寿屋庄七], Kinshōdō (Japanese, fl. c. 1846 – 1883). Actor Morita Kan'ya XI as Saito Tarozaemon Toshiyuki (Morito Kan'ya, Saito Tarozaemon Toshiyuki) Signed Toyokuni ga within the artist's Toshidama cartouche, publisher's seal Sho, Kinshodo, carver's seal Horiko Ryusan, censor's seal aratame with date 1860, 3rd month. Date: 3/1860. Oban tate-e; 36.5 x 25.3 cm. The actor Morita Kan'ya XI (1802-1863) is in the role of Saito Tarozaemon Toshiyuki from the play Oto no Miya Asahi no Yoroi (Oto no Miyo and the Armor of the Rising Sun). The play picks up following the Genko War of 1331-33 in which Emperor Go-Daigo (1288-1339) led a failed uprising against the ruling Hojo clan. Tarozaemon was a Hojo warlord and is credited with much of the victory. After the conflict, his lord Norisada receives a summer festival lantern from the courtesan Sanmi-no-Tsubone, which bears a riddling inscription. He and Tarozaemon deliberate over the courtesan and her message for quite some time until they realize that she is attempting to manipulate Norisada in the hopes of returning the Emperor from exile. Following this revelation, Norisada reinterprets the message to mean kiriko, literally "to cut a child," and determines that Sanmi-no-Tsubone's son must be killed. He instructs Tarozaemon to do the deed. However, unbeknownst to Norisada and in spite of his allegiance to the Hojo clan, Tarozaemon is sympathetic to Sanmi-no-Tsubone and her son. At one time, his own daughter had served in the Imperial Palace and was spared execution only through Sanmi-no-Tsubone's intervention. As repayment of that debt, he kills his own grandson in the other boy's stead and returns to Norisada to report that he had accomplished the mission. This print is from a series of portraits that Kunisada undertook very late in life and has been named Kinshodo-ban yakusha okubi-e (Kinshodo's Large-Head Actor Portraits) in reference to the publisher, Ebisuya Shochochi of Kinshodo. The series depicted great actors from the past and present in their famous roles. Kunisada was guided by images from his own oeuvre: he recorded Kan'ya in this role in the 8th month of 1829. As this was meant to be Kunisada's grandest actor series, it was executed on thick paper with the best possible pigments and the highest level of craftsmanship. In this unusual frontal portrait, Kunisada presents Morita Kan'ya XI as the loyal Tarozaemon with his eyes rolling upward and his jaw set in grim determination to commit the unthinkable act in an ultimate display of samurai honour. Text by Scholten Japanese Art, New York. Ref.: Waseda University Theatre Museum (enpaku.waseda.ac.jp), accession no. 100-5261 (for 1829 portrait of the same); [LIB-1212.2017] Robert Schaap. Kunisada: Imaging, drama and beauty. — Leiden: Hotei Publishing, 2016, p. 165 (№ 16). Andreas Marks. Publishers of Japanese woodblock prints: A compendium. Ebisuya Shoshichi (1846-83) - P6032.
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Artist: Utagawa Kunisada [歌川 国貞] a.k.a. Utagawa Toyokuni III [三代歌川豊国] (Japanese, 1786 – 1865). Publisher: Iseya Sōemon [伊勢屋惣右衛門] (Japanese, c. 1776 – 1862). Signed: Kunisada ga within a double toshidama. Date-kiwame seals: Bunsei 11 (1828).