• Description: Softcover, 23 x 14.5 cm, original flapped wrappers, spine and front cover lettered in blue «WANDA DE S…. FRANÇOISE | OU | LES PLAISIRS DU MARIAGE | AUX ALLÉES DES ROSES», leaves untrimmed. Title-page: WANDA DE S…. | FRANÇOISE | OU | LES PLAISIRS DU MARIAGE | {vignette} | AUX ALLÉES DES ROSES ||  Collation: [1]8 (1 blank in wrapper, 1 blank, h.t., t.p., f.t.p., 3 leaves of text), 2-148 15(uncut), 116 leaves total plus 10 hand-coloured photogravures by anonymous, extraneous to collation. Pagination: [1-10] 11-224 [8], ils.; 232 pages total. Limitation: edition under subscription, limited to 600 copies of which 100 copies (№ 1-100) on pur fil and 500 copies (№ 101-600) on Vélin, this is № 142. Edition: 1st edition thus, printed by Maurice Darantiere, illustrated with 10 full-page coloured photogravures after an anonymous artist, attributed by some to Feodor Rojankovsky [Rojan] and by some to Louis Berthomme Saint-André. According to J.-P. Dutel, the original watercolours in his collection signed Véronique. Catalogue raisonné: Dutel (1920-1970): 1605, p. 176; honesterotica.com.  
  • Description: An unbound softcover volume 23.5 x 18 cm collated in 4to, text in fac-simile manuscript printed on Japon Nacre wove paper with untrimmed outer and bottom margins, with 12 laid-in hand-coloured etchings, including the title-page, after André Collot; in red quarter morocco over marbled boards folder with gilt lettering to spine “P. L. | ~ | PETITES | SCÈNES | AMOUREUSES”, in a red faux ostrich leather clamshell box 26.7 x 21 cm. A copy without the limitation page. Title-page: {vignette in colour} | Douze douzains de Dialogues | ou | Petites scènes amoureuses | * || (text in fac-simile ms). Content: (97 dialogues, not 144), similar to Pia: Premier douzain : Dialogues des Filles nues (1, 3, 4, 5, 6) – 5 dialogues; Deuxième douzain : Dialogue[s] des Masturbées (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, [21]) – 9 dialogues; Troisième douzain : Dialogues des Masturbées (25, 26, 27, [28], 29, 30, 31, 32, 33) – 9 dialogues; Quatrième douzain : Dialogues des Lécheuses (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 44) – 7 dialogues; Cinquième douzain : Dialogues des Phallophores (49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54) – 6 dialogues; Sixième douzain : Dialogues des Goules (61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 65 (i.e. 66), 67, 68, 69, 70, 71) – 11 dialogues; Septième douzain : Dialogues des Amoureuses (73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, [80]) – 8 dialogues; Huitième douzain : Dialogues des Enculées (85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, [95])  – 11 dialogues; Neuvième douzain : Dialogues des Chieuses (97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 104) – 7 dialogues; Dixième douzain : Dialogues des Pisseuses (109, 110, 111, 112, 114) – 5 dialogues; Onzième douzain : Dialogues des Mères (121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132) – 12 dialogues; Douzième douzain : Dialogues des Enfants (134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, [140])  – 7 dialogues. Collation: unpaginated, unbound [1]2 [16]4; total 66 leaves plus 12 plates, incl. t.p. In reality, when compared with another copy of the same book [LIB-3144.2023], the first gathering should have consisted of four leaves: 11 blanks, 12 engraved t.p. / blank, 13 blank / limitation, 14 faux t.p. Premier Douzain Dialogues des Filles nues. Edition: This copy of "calligraphié" Douze douzains de dialogues ou petites scènes amoureuses was most probably published in Paris by Libraire Robert Télin in 1927, 100 copies on Japon Nacre as per Dutel (1920-1970) № 1427. However, per Dutel (1) the title-page lettering is all in capital letters, (2) the illustration printed on p. 545 differs from the one in my copy, (3) the number of leaves is 68, while in my copy it is 66. Another "calligraphié" edition published in c. 1940 (Dutel 1429) is bound and has 80 leaves. Dutel unequivocally attributes the drawings to André Collot. Plates in this copy are similar to the ones in a pirated copy of Scènes de péripatéticiennes / Douze douzains de dialogues [LIB-2961.2022] (Dutel № 2366). According to Pia (1978) № 358, this is a 1927 edition published in Paris by libraire Robert Télin: « 1 f. blanc, 1 f. (justification), 1 f. (titre) et 65 ff. n. ch., plus 11 gravures à l’eau-forte rehaussées de couleurs ». Pia describes the folder and the box (chemise et étui) with lettering to spine almost as in my case: “P. L. | – | Petites | scènes | amoureuses” (lower case). Per Pia, illustrations are after André Collot (French, 1897 – 1976) or Louis Berthomme Saint-André (French, 1905 – 1977). Edition limited to 100 copies numbered I – C. There is no limitation statement in my copy, which may explain why my copy has fewer leaves than per Dutel and Pia. Catalogue raisonné: Dutel (1920-1970) №№ 1427 and 1429, p. 137 and № 2366, p. 356 ; Pia (1978) 358-9, p. 199-200. Contributors: Pierre Louÿs (French, 1870 – 1925) – author. André Collot (French, 1897 – 1976) – artist.
  • Description: Softcover, 22 x 17 cm, in a blue-grey double slipcase 23.3 x 17.8 cm, publisher’s French flapped wrappers with a pink burning heart pierced with arrow diaper pattern, 15 unbound gatherings in 4to, and a suite of 12 stencil-coloured photogravures (au pochoir) after Shem, printed on wove pur fil paper; numerous tailpieces and in-text vignettes in blue. Half-title: Petites Cousines || Title-page: Alice • Simonne | Marcelle • Andrée | — | Souvenirs érotiques d’un homme | de qualité touchant les petites | cousines... les femmes du monde | et les belles filles de province | AUX DÉPENS D'UN AMATEUR ET | ~~ POUR SES AMIS ~~ || Pagination: [4] [1-4] 5-111 [112] [4], total 120 pages, incl. those in wrappers; 12 unnumbered suite of plates laid-in. Limitation: An edition of 255 copies of which 5 copies on Arches paper, enriched with one suite in b/w and one coloured plus one original drawing and two sketches (№№ 1-5); 15 copies on Arches paper, enriched with one suite in b/w plus one original drawing and one sketch (№№ 6-20); 235 copies on Pur Fil paper (№№ 21-255). This copy is № 85, with a suite of plates in colour. Catalogue raisonné: Dutel № 965, pp. 31-2. Note: Title-page per Dutel ALICE • SIMONNE | MARCELLE • ANDRÉE | — | Souvenirs érotiques d’un homme | de qualité touchant les petites | cousines... les femmes du monde | et les belles filles de Province | AUX DÉPENS D'UN AMATEUR ET | ~~ POUR SES AMIS ~~ || Contributors: Pierre Mac Orlan (born Pierre Dumarchey] (French, 1882 – 1970) – author. Schem [real name Raoul Serres] (French, 1881– 1971) – artist.
  • Pictorial album 31 x 22.8 cm, bound in quarter red calf over marbled boards with gilt lettering “SCÈNES | DE | LA VIE | PRIVÉE” and gilt ornament to spine; marbled endpapers, flyleaf, blue original wrapper (title-page) lettered SCÈNES | DE LA VIE PRIVÉE. | {vignette} | SIX DESSINS || «Six dessins» struck out, ms inscription beneath “Douze”. Twelve hand-coloured lithographs, some inscribed with letters and/or numbers in reverse, each in a double-rule frame 22 x 16.5 cm, images 18 x 14.5 cm (approx.); series title “Scènes de la vie intime” printed above the frame, image title printed in the lower compartment; ms numbers above the upper-right corner of the frame (state before sequential numbers, ms numbers do not correspond with artist numbering). Flyleaf at the end. Two bookplates to front pastedown: “EX-LIBRIS PAUL GAVAULT” and armorial “IN ROBORE ROBUR | Ex Libris Bourlon de Rouvre”. Content (Roman numerals in parenthesis are publisher's numbers; numerals in italic are Armelhault-Bocher reference numbers):
    1. Titre de la couverture (Title-page) – 2001
    2. (III) Un nid dans les blés (A nest in the wheat) – 2004
    3. (II) Amitié de pension (Friendship in the pension) – 2003
    4. (XI) Bras dessus, bras dessous (Arm up, arm down) – 2012
    5. (I) Causerie (Chat) – 2002
    6. (VI) Prélude (Prelude) – 2007
    7. (IX) Le guet-apens (Ambush) – 2010
    8. (V) Le cabinet noir (The dark chamber) – 2006
    9. (IV) Distraction (Entertainment) – 2005
    10. (X) Leçon de paysage (Landscape lesson) – 2011
    11. (VII) Avant le péché (Before sin) – 2008
    12. (VIII) Après le péché (After sin) – 2009
    13. (XII) La femme du peintre (The painter's wife) – 2013
    Catalogue raisonné: Armelhault-Bocher (2004) p. 478-80, №№ 2001-2013, all marked ‘RRR’ – extremely rare. Ref.: J. Armelhault & E. Bocher. Gavarni: Catalogue raisonné of the graphic work / A revision of the 1873 edition, with essays by Gordon N. Ray and Robert J. Wickenden, and 61 new plates. — San Francisco: Alan Wofsy Fine Arts, 2004 [LIB-1581.2018]. Artist: Paul Gavarni [Sulpice Guillaume Chevalier] (French, 1804 – 1866) Provenance: Charles Bourlon de Rouvre (French, 1850 – 1924) and Paul Armand Marcel Gavault (French, 1866 – 1951).    
  • Description: Pictorial album 29.7 x 24 cm, bound in ¾ red morocco over marbled boards with gilt lettering “LA BIBLIOTHÈQUE DES ROMANS” and raised bands to spine; marbled endpapers, two flyleaves, tan original wrapper lettered “La Bibliothèque des Romans. (gothic, arch) | {colour vignette} | UNE VEILLÉE DE JEUNE FILLE. | 1840. || Six hand-coloured lithographs, each in a double-rule border with the series title above it and image title below. Sequential numbers are hand-inscribed within the border in the upper-right corner. Frame 23.5 x 18.3 cm, image 21.5 x 16.5 cm. Three flyleaves at the end. A bookplate to front pastedown: “GERARD NORDMANN EX-LIBRIS”. Content:
    1. Front wrapper (title-page)
    2. SŒUR ANNE (Sister Anne)
    3. LA GRISETTE (The grisette)
    4. LÉONIDE OU LA VIEILLE DE SURÊNE (Léonide or the old lady of Surêne)
    5. LA PUCELLE DE BELLEVILLE (The maid of Belleville)
    6. MON VOISIN RAYMOND (My neighbor Raymond)
    7. LE COCU (The cuckold)
    Catalogue raisonné: Nordmann/Christie’s (I) № 127, p. 86 (Lithographic title and 6 erotic plates, in the Romantic style of Achille Devéria. Original pictorial front wrapper preserved) Provenance: Gérard Nordmann (French, 1930 – 1992). Achille Jacques-Jean-Marie Devéria (French, 1800 – 1857).
  • Description: Publisher’s wrappers 24 x 17 cm, pp. [1-6] 7-125 [3], total 64 leaves, edition limited to 150 copies. Includes “Errata & Addenda”, published in 2022. Cover and title-page: JEAN-PIERRE DUTEL | – | BIBLIOGRAPHIE | DES | OUVRAGES ÉROTIQUES | PUBLIÉS CLANDESTINEMENT EN FRANÇAIS | ENTRE 1650 ET 1970 (SUPPLÉMENT) | {publisher’s device} | J-P DUTEL, LIBRAIRE-ÉDITEUR | 16, RUE JACQUES-CALLOT 75006 PARIS | MMXXI ||
  • A pictorial photographic album, 19.5 x 15.3 cm, hardcover, paper pictorial covers, pictorial endpapers, pp. [2] 3-39 [40]; total 20 leaves; text by Susan Jacobasch, photographs by Josef Breitenbach. Published in connection with the exhibition "Josef Breitenbach" on October, 10 – November 28, 1998, at Galerie Bodo Niemann in Berlin. Josef Breitenbach (Jewish-German-American, 1896 – 1984).
  • Description: Hardcover photographic pictorial album, 29.2 x 23.1 cm, quarter crimson percaline over grey cloth with lettered paper labels to front cover and spine, grey endpapers; pp. [1-4] 5-109 [3], total 56 leaves, additional spine and cover labels tipped-in. Oliver Hill (British, 1887 – 1968).
  • Description: Original pictorial wrappers, folio, unbound, in a double slipcase with gilt lettering to spine; pp. [4] [1-12] 13-204 [4], 53 folded leaves, 47 dry-point illustrations after Marcel Vertès. Limitation: Edition of 140 copies on Arches paper of which 20 copies (№ 1-20) enriched with one original drawing, one suite of plates incl. 5 cancels and 5 full-page prints; 105 copies (№ 21-125); 15 copies (№ I-XV) for collaborators of witch 5 enriched with an original drawing and a complete suite of plates. This is copy № 45, enriched with an A.L. signed by Claude Roger-Marx (Jewish- French, 1888 – 1977). Colophon: Printed on January 15, 1954 in Paris on a press of madame J.-G. Daragnès by Éditions Manuel Bruker. Catalogue raisonné: Vokaer № 57. Other titles: Daphnis and Chloe (en), Daphnis et Chloé (fr), Daphnis und Chloe (de), Dafnis y Cloe (es),  Gli amori pastorali di Dafni e Cloe (it). Other editions in this collection: LIB-2870.2021 and LIB-1926.2019. Contributors: Longus [Λόγγος] (Greek, 2nd century AD) – author Jacques Amyot (French, 1513 – 1593) – translator Paul Louis Courier (French, 1772 – 1825) – editor Marcel Vertès [Marcell Vértes] (Jewish-Hungarian-French, 1895 – 1961) – artist/illustrator Jean-Gabriel Daragnès (French, 1886 – 1950) – printer Manuel Bruker [Mendel Brucker] (Jewish-Hungarian-French, 1891 – 1979) – publisher Portrait of Jacques Amyot engraved by Nicolas de Larmessin I (French, 1632 – 1694) in this collection: Isaac Bullart. Academie des sciences et des arts / 2 volumes. — Amsterdam: Elzevier [i.e. Brussels: Foppens], 1682. [LIB-2676.2021]:
  • Portfolio of 14 original watercolour illustrations for Vers Libres by Raymond Radiguet. Painted on wove paper of different sizes, each mounted in a passe-partout 39,5 x 33 cm and enclosed in a flapped portfolio with a white label to front cover lettered "14 études originales | pour | VERS LIBRES | de | Raymond Radiguet | par | ROJAN". For published versions, see:
    1. [LIB-2830.2021] Raymond Radiguet. Vers libres / [Illustrés par Rojan]. — Champigny: Au Panier Fleuri [i.e. Paris, René Bonnel, c. 1935].
    2. [LIB-2827.2021] Raymond Radiguet. Vers libres / Illustrés par Rojan. — Nogent: Au Panier Fleuri [i.e. Paris, c. 1937].
  • Hardcover volume, 33 x 25.5 cm, bound in grey cloth, vignette and Vertès signature fac-simile to front cover, unclipped ($ 17.50) pictorial dust jacket with black lettering, polyester jacket cover, pp.: [2] [1-4] 5-150 [2], 77 leaves total, ils. Title-page: VARIATIONS | Drawings, water colors, etchings and lithographs | by | VERTÈS | Text by | CLAUDE ROGER-MARX | { publisher’s device} | NEW YORK GRAPHIC SOCIETY | GREENWICH, CONNECTICUT || Limitation: edition of 1,000 copies, of which 5 copies (A-E) were enriched with one original drawing; 100 copies (1-100) were enriched with one original signed lithograph; and 895 copies (101-1000). This is copy № 984. Contributors: Roger-Marx, Claude (Jewish-French, 1888 – 1977) – author. Vertès, Marcel [Vértes, Marcell] (Jewish-Hungarian-French, 1895 – 1961) – artist  
  • Description: One volume 22.8 x 25.4 cm, in contemporary gilt-ruled brown half morocco over green buckram boards, spine with raised bands, gilt in compartments, lettered in gilt, marbled endpapers, all edges marbled, printed in sanguine; pp. [6] [1-3] 4-234 [4], 36 blank leaves ruled red, 12 blank leaves; total 170 leaves; 35 mounted marbled paper samples on 10 sheets. Title-page: THE PROGRESS | OF THE MARBLING ART | FROM | TECHNICAL SCIENTIFIC PRINCIPLES | BY JOSEF HALFER | WITH A SUPPLEMENT ON THE | DECORATION OF BOOK EDGES | Translated by Herman Dieck, Philadelphia {gothic} | BUFFALO, N. Y. | LOUIS H. KINDER | 1893 || Edition: 1st American edition (and first edition in English) after two editions in Budapest (Austro-Hungary) in 1884 and 1890. Contributors: Josef Halfer (Austrian, 1846 – 1916) – author. Herman Dieck (American, fl. 1883 – 1896) – translator. Louis H. Kinder (American, 1867 – 1938) – publisher.  
  • Publisher's flapped portfolio 32.8 x 26.8 cm, gilt-ruled and gilt-lettered quarter faux-parchment waxed paper over brown paper boards with pasted illustration after von Bayros within gilt arabesque frame. Possibly published in Vienna by Heinrich Conrad in 1905 or 1908. The portfolio contains the title page with a vignette and 15 loose wove paper sheets 32 x 26.2 cm of collotype reproductions after drawings by Franz von Bayros. Cover gilt lettering: Choisÿ | le Conin | Erzählungen | am | Toiletten- | tische || Title-page: Erzählungen | am Toilettentische | von | CHOISY LE CONIN | {vignette} || Title-page verso: Inhalt: | 1. Die Tabaksdose | 2. Viola de Gamba | 3. Der Bote | 4. Nicht drängeln, Kinder! | 5. Die blaue Feder | 6. O what a pretty like-place! | 7. Die Sonnenuhr |8. Der Temel der der Cotÿs | 9. Der Fetischist | 10. Jupiter und Europa | 11. Die Witwe | 12. Paroxÿsme-erotique | 13. Der Rivale | 14. Die rote Lehrerin | 15. Tantalus | Nicht im Handel. || Catalogue raisonné: The amorous drawings of the Marquis von Bayros / Part I and II. — NY: Cythera Press, 1968; pp. 95-111 [LIB-2246.2019]  
  • Description: Hardcover oblong volume 16 x 23.3 cm with black pictorial paper boards lettered in red and white to front cover and spine, in an ochre slipcase sprinkled brown and lettered in black to front and spine; grey endpapers, pp. [2] 3-130 [2], with a bookshop ticket to back pastedown “ISSHINDō”. Illustrated descriptions of 100 Japanese sword handguards (tsuba) with brass inlay. Title-page: 楽しい真鍮象嵌つば | 100 鐔 | 大谷定夫著 [Tanoshii Shinchū-Zōgan Tsuba | Hyakutan | Ōya Sadao cho]  (Enjoying Brass Inlay Sword Guards | 100 Sword Guards | Author: Ōya Sadao) Colophon: Published December 15, 1999 Price: ¥3,800 (base price ¥3,619) Author: Ōya Sadao (大谷定夫) Producer: Ōtsuka Kōgeisha International Publisher: Ōtsuka Kōgeisha Co. Ltd. (大塚工藝社)Phone 103–0016 Tōkyō-to, Chūō-ku, Nihonbashi Koami-chō 1–5 Tel. 03–5642–3511 (Representative) Fax 03–5642–3618 Design: Takahashi Tōru (高橋享) Photography: Kitami Noboru (北見登) Kishioka Yasuhiro (岸岡保弘) ISBN4–900298–03–4 C0072 ¥3619E Subject: Ōnin tsuba; Heianjō tsuba; Suemon-zōgan; Ten-zōgan; Japanese sword handguards; Japanese sword fittings; Tosogu.
  • Description: 4to, 26 x 21 cm, hardcover ¾ brown percaline over marbled boards, gilt lettering to spine, marbled endpapers, publisher’s original wrappers preserved (bound-in), engraved bookplate “EX LIBRIS | Rodolfo …“ to verso of the 1st blank leaf. Printed in 1905 by Imprimerie Humbert Allegretti (Milan). Collation: 4to; front wrapper, π3 (blank, h.t., t.p.), 1-684, back wrapper; total 275 leaves within the wrappers. Pagination: [6] [1] 2-542 [2], total 550 pages. Contributors: Alessandro Baudi di Vesme [Alexandre de Vesme] (Italian, 1854 – 1923) Adam Bartsch (Austrian, 1757 – 1821) Ulrico Hoepli [Johannes Ulrich Höpli] (Swiss-Italian, 1846 – 1935) U. Hoepli (Milan)
  • Description: Volume 2 of 3, 16 x 12.5 cm, publisher’s grey wrappers, lettered in black and white to front cover, black to spine. Half-title: publisher’s device «ЗиФ» to recto, to verso: ГЮИ ДЕ-МОПАССАН | СОБРАНИЕ СОЧИНЕНИЙ | ТОМ II | — | «ЗЕМЛЯ и ФАБРИКА» | МОСКВА – ЛЕНИНГРАД || Title-page: ГЮИ ДЕ-МОПАССАН | НАГРАЖДЕН | ОРДЕНОМ | ПЕРЕВОД С ФРАНЦУЗСКОГО | ПОД РЕДАКЦИЕЙ | И. БАБЕЛЯ | ЧЕТВЕРТАЯ ТЫСЯЧА | — | «ЗЕМЛЯ и ФАБРИКА» | МОСКВА – ЛЕНИНГРАД || Imprint: Обложка худ. Н. Альтман | Отпечатано в типогр. рабоч. | Изд-ва «Прибой» им. Евг. | Соколовой, Пр. Красн. | Командиров, 29, в ко- | личестве 4.000 экз. | Главлит № 61.389. | 10 и. лист. | Ленинград | 1926 || Collation: 8vo; 1-108 111, total 81 leaves. Pagination: [1-5] 6-161 [162 contents], total 162 pages. Edition: 1st thus. Print run: 4,000 copies. Contents: Награжден орденом (пер. Александры Чеботаревской); Порт (пер. И. Смидович); Верхом (пер. Валентины Дынник); Ночь под Рождество  (пер. Александры Чеботаревской); Пьерро (пер. Валентины Дынник); Болезнь Андрэ (пер. И. Бабеля); Ожерелье (пер. Александра Элиасберга); Мститель  (пер. Александры Чеботаревской); Шкаф (пер. Александры Чеботаревской); Заместитель  (пер. Александры Чеботаревской); Дождевой зантик; Покинутый (пер. А. Мирэ). Contributors: Guy de Maupassant (French, 1850 – 1893) – author. Исаак Эммануилович Бабель [Isaac Babel] (Russian-Jewish, 1894 – 1940) – translation editor. Натан Исаевич Альтман [Nathan Altman] (Russian-Jewish, 1889 – 1970) – artist. Александра Николаевна Чеботаревская (Russian, 1869 – 1925) – translator. Инна Гермогеновна Смидович (Russian, 1870 – 1940/42) – translator. Валентина Александровна Дынник-Соколова (Russian, 1898 – 1979) – translator. Александр Самойлович Элиасберг [Alexander Eliasberg] (Russian-Jewish, 1878 – 1924) – translator. Александра Михайловна Моисеева [А. Мирэ] (Russian, 1874 – 1913) – translator.
  • Description: One volume, 20.6 x 13.7 cm, pictorial glossy paper boards; pp.: [1-6] 7-480 [481] [7 advert.]; total 488 pages, ils. ISBN: 978-5-4448-0627-2. Contributor: Вера Аркадьевна Мильчина [Vera Miltchina] (Russian, b. 1953)
  • Iron tsuba of round form, slightly convex, decorated with persimmon (kaki), simplified Genji-kō (incense game symbol) and halves of plum blossoms (ume) in brass inlay on both sides, and with part of bellflower (kikyo) in openwork. Outer rim, seppa-dai, bellflower openwork, and kozuka-ana outlined with brass inlay; traces of lacquer to surface. The symbolic meaning alludes to Chapter 20: Asagao (朝顔, the bellflower or "morning face") of Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu (11th century AD). The events take place in the 9th lunar month (Nagatsuki) and involve the following poetry by Prince Genji: saku hana ni / utsuru chō na wa / tsutsumedomo / orade sugiuki / kesa no asagao [I would not have it said / that my heart has turned toward / a flower in bloom — / yet how hard it is to pass / without plucking a “morning face”!]. Measurements: H: 76.6 mm; W: 76.3 mm; Th.: 3.6 mm (seppa-dai), 3.0 mm (rim) Time: Late Muromachi (1514 – 1573).
  • Iron tsuba of round form pierced (sukashi) in a chessboard fashion and decorated with linear (sen-zōgan) and cast (suemon-zōgan) brass inlay, including symbols of the swastika, flower-lozenge, maple leaf, pine needle, etc. on both sides; rim and openings outlined with brass inlay. Nakagō-ana plugged with copper fittings (sekigane).

    Momoyama period. End of the 16th - beginning of the 17th century. Dimensions: Diameter: 75.5; Thickness: 4.5 mm.  
  • Iron tsuba of round form (maru-gata) with 8 openwork petals outlined with brass wire (sen-zōgan) and decorated with brass dots (ten-zōgan), on both sides. Seppa-dai and hitsu-ana outlined with brass wire. Late Muromachi period (Ca. 1514-1573). Ōnin school. Unsigned. Dimensions (mm): 80.4 x 79.8 x 3.6 (center) 3.2 (rim). Similar tsuba in this collection: TSU-0374.2018
  • Description: One volume, 8vo, 22 x 14.5 cm, in brown paper boards with orange and black lettering to spine, pictorial dust jacket, unclipped “PRICE | 30s net | IN U.K. ONLY”, collated [A]-S8, pp.: [i-vi] vii-xiii [xiv blank], 1-273 [274 blank], 144 leaves total. Edition: 1st English edition. Original title: Das Sogenannte Böse: zur Naturgeschichte der Aggression. — Wien : Dr. G. Borotha-Schoeler, 1963. Contributors: Konrad Zacharias Lorenz (Austrian, 1903 – 1989) – author. Sir Julian Sorell Huxley (British, 1887 – 1975) – author of the foreword. Marjorie Latzke [Kerr Wilson] (American, 20th century) – translator from German. Methuen & Co Ltd. (London) – publisher. Cox & Wyman Ltd. (Fakenham, Norfolk) – printer.
  • Description: Two parts in one volume, collated 4to, 26.3 x 18 cm, bound in quarter green pebbled morocco over green percaline panelled boards, spine with raised bands, gilt in compartments, lettered in gilt, signed in the bottom “L. Curmer”; marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. Part 1 is illustrated with a hand-coloured wood-engraved title-page by Porret and Blanadet and 28 hand-coloured steel engravings by Charles Geoffroy after J.-J. Grandville; part 2 is illustrated with a hand-coloured wood-engraved title-page by Quichon and 22 steel engravings by Charles Geoffroy after J.-J. Grandville, and two uncoloured botanical plates, unsigned. Title-page: LES | FLEURS ANIMÉES | PAR | J.-J. GRANDVILLE | INTRODUCTIONS | Par ALPH. KARR | TEXTE | Par TAXILE DELORD | — | PREMIÈRE (DEUXIÈME) PARTIE | — | PARIS | GABRIEL DE GONET, ÉDITEUR | 6, RUE DES BEAUX-ARTS, 6 || Collation: part 1: blank, [1] h.t./imprint (PARIS WALDER), hand-coloured engraved t.p., [1] t.p./blank, 1-324, [1] contents/blank, 28 hand-coloured plates; part 2: [1] h.t./imprint (PARIS WALDER), hand-coloured engraved t.p., [1] t.p./blank, [2] intro., [1]-294, 302, blank, 22 hand-coloured plates and 2 uncoloured plates. Pagination: part 1: [1-5] 6-260 [2] (total 262 pages), ils; part 2: [4] [i] ii-iv [1] 2-102, [2] [i] ii-iv, [105] 106-234 [2] (total 248 pages), ils. Coloured steel-engraved plates: Part 1: Bleuet et Coquelicot. Lis. Pensée. Tabac. Tulipe. Rose. Narcisse. Violette. Nenuphar. Laurier. Myrte. Marguerite. Camelia. Immortelle. Chèvre-feuille. Belle-de-nuit. Oeillet. Ciguë. Soleil. Fleur de grenadier. Lin. Eglantine. Pavot. Chardon. Fleur d'oranger. Capucine. Guimauve. Primevère – Perce-neige. Part 2: Pois de senteur. Cactus. Dahlia. Sensitive. Fleur de pêcher. Aubépine. Vigne. Myosotis. Jasmin. Scabieuse & Souci. Traite des fleurs. Flèche-d'eau. Hortensia, couronne impériale. Verveine. Giroflée. Thé et Café. Lilas. Tubéreuse Jonquille. Bal. Retour des fleurs. Erratum. Pervenche desséchée. Plates signed "Grandville del. – Ch. Geoffroy sc. – G. de Gonet, editeur" but some signed "Imp. Delamain et Sarazin rue Git le Cœur 8 Paris." Plates accompanied by tissue guards. Gordon N. Ray: "Most of the plates show an elegant lady in a garden, her dress covered with an extraordinary pattern of flowers. She is sometimes accompanied by respectful creatures, animals and insects, even fish and reptiles". Edition: 2nd edition of 1847, each part has separate pagination; imprint: "Paris. — Typographie Walder, rue Bonaparte, 44". Second "tirage", the volumes being paged separately; the first "tirage", issued also in 1847, is paged continuously. Point of issue: Table des Matières has "Imprimerte Walder." Originally appeared in 83 separate parts in pictorial yellow wrappers. Contributors: J.-J. Grandville [Gèrard, Isidore-Adolphe] (French, 1803 – 1847) – artist. Taxile Delord (French, 1815 – 1877) – author. Comte Foelix [Louis-François Raban] (French, 1795 – 1870) – author. Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr (French, 1808 – 1890) – author. Charles Michel Geoffroy (French, 1819 – 1882) – engraver (on steel). Gabriel de Gonet (French, fl. 1847 – 1862) – publisher. Typographie Walder (Paris) – printer. Plon Freres (Paris) – printer. Delamain et Sarrazin (Paris) – printer. Henri Désiré Porret (French, 1800 – 1867) – engraver (on wood). Jules Blanadet (French, 1824 – ?) – engraver (on wood). Quichon (French, fl. c. 1850s) – engraver (on wood). Catalogue raisonné: L. Carteret (Le trésor): p. 286; Ray (French): 198, pp. 278-9; Vicaire (Manuel): D III, p. 133-4; Brivois (Guide): pp. 147-150. In collections: MET 1970.565.423.1–.2Vanderbilt University; V&A L.755-1943. Provenance: Léon Curmer (French, ).
  • Description: Hardcover, 22.2 x 17.2 cm, in green buckram with gilt lettering to front cover and spine, pp.: [1-4] 5-638 [2], 640 pages total. Incl.: Ф.-Р. де Шатобриан. Из «гения христианства». Title-page: ЛИТЕРАТУРНЫЕ | МАНИФЕСТЫ | ЗАПАДНОЕВРОПЕЙСКИХ | РОМАНТИКОВ | Собрание текстов, | вступительная статья и общая редакция | проф. А. С. Дмитриева | Издательство Московского университета | 1980 || Contributors: Дмитриев, Александр Сергеевич (Russian, 1919 – 2001) François-René de Chateaubriand (French, 1768 – 1848)
  • Description: Hardcover, 20.8 x 13.3 cm, green buckram with gilt lettering to spine, gilt serial design and lettering to front cover, pp.: [1-6] 7-479 [480]. Incl. Ф.-Р. де Шатобриан. «Гений христианства», пер. О. Э. Гринберг. Title-page : | — | ЭСТЕТИКА РАННЕГО ФРАНЦУЗСКОГО РОМАНТИЗМА |— | {publisher’s device} | МОСКВА | ИСКУССТВО | 1982 | 3 || François-René de Chateaubriand (French, 1768 – 1848) – author Ольга Эммануиловна Гринберг (Russian, 1950 – 2008) – translator Вера Аркадьевна Мильчина [Vera Miltchina] (Russian, b. 1953) – foreword, translator
  • Small iron tsuba for a dagger (tantō), of quatrefoil form (mokkō-gata), with raised rim (mimi), decorated with flat brass inlay (hira-zōgan) to form an abstract design alluding to the mushroom of immortality (reishi). Opening (hitsu-ana) to the left of nakaga-ana probably cut later and fitted with shakudo sekigane. Maker's signature on seppa-dai: Koike Naomasa (小池 直正).

    Momoyama period: End of the 16th - beginning of the 17th century. Dimensions: Height 53.7 mm; Width: 45.5 mm; Thickness at centre: 3.5 mm; at rim: 4.9 mm. Other examples of signed Koike Naomasa work in this collection: TSU-0346. Reference: The closest example in literature is in Compton Collection (II): №11 with the description: “A Koike School tsuba, Edo period (circa 1625), signed Koike Yoshiro. Sheet-brass flush inlay of cloud forms and wire inlay creating the same shape. Koike Yoshiro Naomasa worked from the Keicho to the Genna periods (1596-1623). He arrived in Kyoto from Kaga.” [Japanese Swords and Sword Fittings from the Collection of Dr. Walter Ames Compton (Part II) / Sebastian Izzard, Yoshinori Munemura. — Christie's, New York, October 22, 1992]. See: Yoshirō tsuba.    
  • Title-page: VICTORIA AND ALBERT MUSEUM | KUNIYOSHI | BY B. W. ROBINSON | SPACE | LONDON: HER MAJESTY'S STATIONERY OFFICE | 1961 || Description: hardcover, 25.3 x 19 cm, bound in red cloth with embossed vignette to front cover and gilt lettering over the black label to spine, pictorial endpapers, pictorial olive/cyan dust jacket; pp. [i-vi] vii-xv [xvi blank] 1-71 [72 blank] plus frontispiece in colour and 50 leaves of plates (98 pages of b/w ils.) between pp. 64 and 65. Contributor: Robinson, Basil William (British, 1912 – 2005).
  • Hardcover, 31 x 24 cm, red paper with black and white lettering to front cover and spine, pictorial endpapers, pictorial dust jacket; pp.: [1-8] 9-336, profusely illustrated in colour. Title-page (black and red): Japanese | woodblock prints | ARTISTS, PUBLISHERS AND MASTERWORKS | 1680 – 1900 | Andreas Marks {|} Foreword by Stephen Addiss | TUTTLE PUBLISHING | Tokyo • Rutland, Vermont • Singapore ||
  • Iron tsuba of the round form (maru gata) with a grey patina pierced with the design of slanting rays of light (Jesuit’s IHS symbol) and a pair of ginger symbols [茗荷] (myōga) at top and bottom, in positive silhouette (ji-sukashi). This design is often called “tokei” [時計] or “clock gear”. Rounded rim, large hitsu-ana, copper fittings (sekigane). Unsigned, unpapered. Owari school. Early Edo period, early 17th century.

    Size: H 71.9 x W 71.1 x Th (centre) 5.5 cm.

    For information regarding this type of tsuba see the article 'Kirishitan Ikenie Tsuba by Fred Geyer at Kokusai Tosogu Kai; The 2nd International Convention & Exhibition, October 18-23, 2006, pp. 84-91. ​

    IHS emblem of the Jesuits

    茗荷 Myoga or Japanese ginger

     
  • Series: Pictures Associated with the Iroha Syllabary [伊呂波画合]. Artist: Utagawa Kuniyoshi [歌川 國芳] (1798 – 1861). Signed: Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi giga [一勇斎 國芳戯画] (Playfully drawn by Ichiyūsai Kuniyoshi) in a red double-gourd cartouche with a kiri-mon seal beneath. Publisher: Iseya Ichiemon [伊勢屋市右衛門] (Japanese, fl. 1823 – c. 1864); seal [辻]  (Marks 16-029 | 143a). Single nanushi censor seal: Mura [村] = Murata Sahei [村田佐右衛] (VI/1842 – V/1846). Media: Fan print (uchiwa-e, 団扇絵), 231 x 296 mm. Theme: The Treasury of Loyal Retainers [仮名手本忠臣蔵] (Kanadehon Chūshingura) – an 11-act puppet play composed in 1748, based on a historical event. "Most historians now agree that there were forty-seven rōnin of Ako who attacked and killed Kira Yoshinaka (吉良 義央, 1641 – 1703) in Edo in the twelfth month of 1702, twenty-two months after their lord Asano Naganori (浅野 長矩, 1667 – 1701) had been put to death for his own failed attempt on Kira’s life". [Henry D. SMITH II. The Trouble with Terasaka: The Forty-Seventh Rōnin and the Chūshingura Imagination / Japan Review, 2004, 16:3-65]. The reader shall remember that the fictional, romantic version of the Akō incident [赤穂事件] (Akō jiken) may not (and most probably does not) reflect the historical truth of events. Uncut fan print depicting a beautiful young woman covering another woman's mouth with a blue striped cloth, possibly an obi. The picture on the wall represents the scene from the final act of The Treasury of Loyal Retainers (Kanadehon Chūshingura, Act 11) when 47 loyal retainers (rōnin) of the late lord En'ya Hangan came to the house of Kō no Moronao in order to avenge their dead master. The leader of 47 rōnin, Ōboshi Yuranosuke, divided his accomplices into several groups which attacked the Moronao mansion from different directions. To coordinate the attack and keep communication among the groups, the rōnin were signing the first syllables of their names in the hiragana syllabary. There are two major types of the ordering of the hiragana syllabary, the Gojūon one and the Iroha order (pangram poem), the latter being used here. The number of avengers exactly matches the 47 letters of that syllabary. The group entering Moronao's house from the front gate was 'chi-ri-nu-ru-wo-wa-ka'Yoshida Sadaemon Kanesada [葦田貞右衛門兼貞] (1675 – 1703) depicted on this fan print belongs to this group. The character on the lantern hanging from Yoshida's spear reads Chū [忠] – for Chūshingura.  Alternating black and white triangles on the picture frame allude to the 'signature' 47 ronin's uniform. This motif is usually described as a zigzag pattern [雁木模様] (gangi moyō), a mountain-shaped pattern [山形模様] (yamagata moyō), or a mountain road [山道] (yamamichi). The rōnin were allegedly wearing this uniform in imitation of firefighters. The government allowed the firefighters alone to gather in large groups and carry equipment akin to that of the military. Such equipment was necessary for firemen to tear down the burning buildings to stop the flames. The design can be seen in Kunimaru's fan print [SVJP-0233.2018] in this collection.
    Utagawa Kunimaru .

    Utagawa Kunimaru. Chūshingura, Act 11.

    Fighting Moronao's guards, the 47 rōnin entered the mansion and searched for their enemy but in vain. Finally, Yazama Jujiro Motooki [矢間重次郎元興]  found the villain in the charcoal chamber and called his friends. This is the exact moment we see in the picture on the wall: Yoshida entering the charcoal chamber with a spear in his hand amid falling baskets and charcoal. Kō no Moronao was brought to justice and beheaded; his head was offered before the memorial tablet of En'ya Hangan to appease his spirit. After that, Ōboshi Yuranosuke and his 46 friends committed seppuku. They were buried at Sengakuji (泉岳寺) – a small temple near Shinagawa in Edo (Tokyo). Another fan print from the same series can be found at Kuniyoshi Project: The same subject is portrayed by Kuniyoshi  in the series Mirror of the True Loyalty of the Faithful Retainers [誠忠義臣鏡] (Seichû gishin kagami), publisher: Kagiya Hanjirô, c. 1851 (Kuniyoshi Project) – Yoshida Sadaemon Kanesada (葦田貞右衛門兼貞) raising his sword amid falling baskets and charcoal:  
  • Artist: Tsukioka Tanka [旦霞] (Japanese, fl. c. 1830s – 1840s). Publisher: Enshūya Matabei [遠州屋又兵衛] (Japanese, fl. c. 1768 – 1881); seal: Enmata. Title: Picture of Fuji, Tsukuba and Sumida River [富士筑波隅田川の圖] (フジ ツクバ スミダガワ ノ ズ | Fuji Tsukuba Sumidagawa no zu). Date seal 巳 + kiwame: Tenpō 4 (1833). Media: Fan print (uchiwa-e, 団扇絵), 235 x 302 mm, aizuri-e. Only four prints are known from this artist, all fans: (1) National Diet Library 2542868:
    (2) Ritsumeikan University mai30_07: (3) RISD Museum 34.334:
  • Artist: Utagawa Sadahide [歌川貞秀] (Japanese, 1807 – 1879) Publisher: Kojimaya Jūbei [小島屋重兵衛] (Japanese, c. 1797 – 1869) No date seal, no censor seal (privately printed?) Media: Fan print (uchiwa-e, 団扇絵), 235 x 297 mm. Kalimeris incisa, or Japanese Aster, is a daisy-like flower that belongs to the family of Asteraceae; it blossoms all summer and attracts butterflies. Peony [牡丹] (botan) – per Merrily Baird it is "the king of flowers", associated with erotic love, and especially with the sexual activities of women.
  • Artist: Utagawa Hiroshige II (二代目 歌川広重] (Japanese, 1826 – 1869). Signed: Hiroshige ga. Publisher: Iseya Sōemon [伊勢屋惣右衛門] (Japanese, c. 1776 – 1862); seal: Hanmoto, Ue [板元 上] (Marks 19-047 | 156d). Combined date seal and kiwame censor seal: Bunkyū 2 (1862) Media: Fan print (uchiwa-e, 団扇絵), 230 x 296 mm.
  • Artist: Utagawa Fusatane [歌川 房種] (Japanese, fl. 1854 – 1889), other names: Ippyosai; Isshosai; Murai Seima; Utagawa Seimas; Osai; Signed: Ōsai Fusatane Hitsu [桜斎房種筆] in a cartouche, with a round stamp. Block carver: Watanabe Yatarō (Japanese, 1850 – 1913); seal [彫弥太] – Hori Yata (Friese 2009b: 117). Publisher [板元] (Hammoto): Satō Ise [佐藤いせ], address: Horiechō, Nichōme, ichi-banchi [堀江町二丁目一番地] Publication date [御届] (otodoke): Meiji 10th year, 3rd month, 22nd day (1877). Artist [画工] (Gakō): Murai Seima [村井 静馬], address: Honjo-Sotodechō, 18 [本所外手丁十八番地]. Uncut fan print (uchiwa-e), 236 x 297 mm, depicting two harlots or courtesans playing [娼妓あそび] (shōgi asobi) go game in the famous Kinpeiro [金瓶楼内] brothel in New Yoshiwara in Tokyo. In the courtesan's name, the second character seems to be 紫 (Murasaki); the first character is unclear, so we do not know her name yet.
  • Artist: Toyohara Chikanobu [豊原周延] (Japanese, 1838 – 1912) Signed: Chikanobu hitsu [周延筆] Publisher: [ 東京掘江町] Tokyo Horiemachi | [えん市製] Enshi-sei. Media: Fan print (uchiwa-e, 団扇絵), 192 x 172 mm. Possibly Iwai Kumesaburō IV [岩井粂三郎] (1856 – 1886) a.k.a. Iwai Hisajirō III [岩井久次郎] in the role of Ono no Komachi [小野乃小町] and Nakamura Shikan IV [中村芝翫] in the role of Kisen Hōshi [喜せん法師]. Play: The Six Immortal Poets in Colorful Guises [六歌仙体綵] (Rokkasen Sugata no irodori). Inscription: Left: Kisen [喜せん] | Shikan [芝翫]  Right: Komachi [小町] | Kumesaburō [粂三郎]. Actors: Iwai Kumesaburō IV [岩井粂三郎] (1856 – 1886) a.k.a. Iwai Hisajirō III [岩井久次郎]. Nakamura Shikan IV [中村芝翫] (Japanese, 1831 –  1899); other names: Nakamura Fukusuke I [中村福助], Nakamura Masanosuke I, Nakamura Komasaburō, Nakamura Tamatarō I.
  • Artist: Toyohara Chikanobu [豊原周延] (Japanese, 1838 – 1912) Signed: Chikanobu ga [周延画] Publisher: [ 東京掘江町] Tokyo Horiemachi | [えん市製] Enshi-sei. Media: Fan print (uchiwa-e, 団扇絵), 192 x 172 mm. Actors: Female: Bandō Kakitsu I in the role of Shizuka Gozen [静御前]. Male: Ichikawa Sadanji I in the role of Kitsune Tadanobu [狐忠信], a.k.a. Satō Tadanobu [佐藤 忠信]. Bandō Kakitsu I [初代 坂東 家橘] (Japanese, 1847 – 1893); other names: Ichimura Kakitsu V, Ichimura Uzaemon XIV, Ichimura Kakitsu V, Ichimura Uzaemon XIV, Ichimura Takematsu III. Ichikawa Sadanji I [市川左団次] (Japanese, 1842 – 1904); other names: Ichikawa Shōjaku I, Ichikawa Koyone, Ichikawa Tatsuzō.
  • Book title: Kabuki fan-prints from Edo: Genroku to Enkyō periods (1688-1748) [江戸歌舞伎団扇絵]  (Edo kabuki uchiwa-e: Genroku - Enkyō hen). Author: Shigeo Miyao [宮尾しげを] (Japanese, 1902 – 1982). Comments by: Sutezō Kimura [木村仙集] (Japanese, 20th century). Publisher: Inoue Shobō [井上書房] (Tokyo). Oblong volume bound in black washi paper with silver kabuki face design to front and silver lettering to spine and silver publisher’s name to back; three-colour title, folding frontispiece, second frontispiece, pp.: [6] foreword, contents, [2] f.t.p./blank, 3-134 [2], 43 full-page black & white illustrations, colophon slip pasted, bookstore label to back pastedown, in a pink slipcase with black lettering. Primitive fan prints from the Kaga collection, from 1691 to 1747. Edition: 1st edition, limited to 500 copies.