• Small softcover volume, édition minuscule’ in-32, 13 x 8 cm, publisher’s wrappers, pp.: [1-6] (h.t., t.p., advert.), [7] 8-160 [2 table/blank], included in pagination 8 pasted etchings on India paper after Félicien Rops and one blank leaf next to plate 1; laid paper with watermarks, some pages uncut. Title-page: DOCUMENTS | POUR SERVIR A L’HISTOIRE DE NOS MŒURS | – | LES | BAS-FONDS | DE LA SOCIÉTÉ | PAR | HENRY MONNIER | AVEC | 8 dessins à la plume | de F. R. | {fleuron} | ÉDITION MINUSCULE | tirée | à 64 exemplaires. || Pencil handwriting on top: 8 gravures de Felicien Rops | 250 –, in the bottom: [1879]. Print run: 64 copies; clandestine edition. Catalogue raisonné: Vicaire V, 1019; Bory p. 100 (though here is the frontispiece for Les Bas-fonds de la société par Joseph Prudhomme [Henry Monnier], 1864, with all the sheets together; Dutel I, A-134. Ref: (1) Poulet-Malassis & ses amis № 90 [LIB-3118.2022] ; (2) Félicien Rops: L'oeuvre graphique complète. / Ouvrage établi et présenté par Jean-François Bory. Avec un texte contemporain de l'artiste par J. K. Huysmans. — Arthur Hubschmidt, 1977. [LIB-2241.2019] Contributors: Henry Monnier (French, 1799 – 1877) – author. Félicien Rops (Belgian, 1833 – 1898) – artist. Henry Kistemaeckers (Belgian, 1851 – 1934) – publisher. Auguste Poulet-Malassis (French, 1825 – 1878)
  • 4to volume, ‘cartonnage percaline romantique’, 27.5 x 19.5 cm, green cloth with gilt fillet border and fictional coat of arms to front, border and fleuron to back, gilt and embossed vignette to spine, yellow endpapers, all edges gilt, 32 plates, incl. frontispiece, with tissue guards, and numerous in-text woodcuts after J.-J. Grandville by various engravers, mostly by Best, Leloir, Hotelin et Régnier group. Page 102 is numbered correctly. Title-page: JÉROME | PATUROT | A LA RECHERCHE | D'UNE POSITION SOCIALE | PAR | LOUIS REYBAUD, | Auteur des Études sur les Reformateurs ou Socialistes modernes. | — | Édition illustrée par J.-J. Grandville. | {vignette} | PARIS, | J.-J. DUBOCHET, LE CHEVALIER ET Cie, ÉDITEURS, | RUE DE RICHELIEU, 60. | – | 1846 || Collation: π4 1-574 582; total 234 leaves plus 32 wood-engraved plates extraneous to collation. Pagination: [8] [1] 2-460; total 468 pages, ils. Catalogue raisonné: L. Carteret 516; Ray 197 (pp. 277-8); Brivois: 350-1. Contributors: Louis Reybaud [Jérôme Paturot] (French, 1799 – 1879) – author. J.-J. Grandville [Isidore-Adolphe Gèrard] (French, 1803 – 1847) – artist. Schneider et Legrand (Paris) – printer. J.-J. Dubochet, Le Chevalier et Cie – publsiher. Engravers: Lucjan Stypulkowski (Polish, 1806 – 1849) Best, Leloir, Hotelin et Régnier Jean Baptiste Best (French, 1808 – 1879) or Adolphe Best (French, 1808 – 1860) Isidore Leloir (French, 1806 – 1851) Laurent Éloi Hotelin (French, 1821 – 1894) Eugène Laurent Isidore Régnier (?)
  • Two volumes 23.2 x 15.6 cm, uniformly bound in full polished calf by Riviere and Son (signed on fep verso), boards with triple gilt fillet border, spine with raised bands, gilt in compartments, gilt-lettered labels; dark blue endpapers, armorial bookplate of William Jennings with the motto “Honor Virtutis Premium” to front pastedown. Vol. 1: THE | ENGLISH SPY: | An Original Work | CHARACTERISTIC, SATIRICAL, AND | HUMOROUS. | COMPRISING | SCENES AND SKETCHES IN EVERY RANK OF SOCIETY, | BEING | PORTRAITS | OF THE | Illustrious, Eminent, Eccentric, and Notorious. | DRAWN FROM THE LIFE | BY BERNARD BLACKMANTLE. | THE ILLUSTRATIONS | DESIGNED BY | ROBERT CRUIKSHANK. | {vignette w/inscription: ‘By Frolic, Mirth, and Fancy gay, | Old Father Time is borne away.’ | — |  LONDON : | PUBLISHED BY SHERWOOD, JONES, AND CO. | PATERNOSTER-ROW. | – | 1825. || Collation: [a]8 b4 B-H8 I4 K2 L-Z8 2A-2E8 2F3; total 221 leaves Pagination: [i-iii] iv-xxiii [xxiv] [1-3] 4-417 [418]; total 442 pages. Illustrations: 35 coloured plates, 1 uncoloured plate, and 29 woodcuts in text, incl vignette on title, all but four by Robert Cruikshank, 1 by G. M.B rightly (p. 335), 1 by T. Wageman (p. 413), and 2 by T. Rowlandson (pp. 411 and 416) Vol. 2: THE | ENGLISH SPY: | An Original Work | CHARACTERISTIC, SATIRICAL, AND | HUMOROUS. | COMPRISING | SCENES AND SKETCHES IN EVERY RANK OF SOCIETY, | BEING | PORTRAITS | OF THE | Illustrious, Eminent, Eccentric, and Notorious. | DRAWN FROM THE LIFE | BY BERNARD BLACKMANTLE. | THE ILLUSTRATIONS | DESIGNED BY | ROBERT CRUIKSHANK. | — | VOL. II. | — | {vignette w/inscription: ‘By Frolic, Mirth, and Fancy gay, | Old Father Time is borne away.’ | — |  LONDON : | PUBLISHED BY SHERWOOD, GILBERT, AND PIPER, | PATERNOSTER-ROW. | – | 1826. || Collation: [A]-Z8 2A-2C8; total 208 leaves. [i-iii] iv-xv [xvi] [1-3] 4-399 [400]; total 416 pages. Illustrations: 36 coloured plates and 25 woodcuts in text. Catalogue raisonné: Martin-Hardie pp. 191-2; Tooley pp. 266-9; Abbey 325, pp.272-4 (see reflections regarding the ‘first issue’). Contributors: Charles Molloy Westmacott (British, c. 1788 – 1868) – author. Isaac Robert Cruikshank (British, 1789 – 1856) – artist, engraver. G. M. Brightly (British, fl. 1809 – 1827) – artist, engraver. Thomas Charles Wageman (British, 1787-1868) – artist, engraver Thomas Rowlandson (British, 1757 – 1827) – artist. Thomas Davison (British, 1794 – 1826) – printer. Sherwood, Jones, and Co. (London) – publisher. Sherwood, Gilbert, and Piper (London) – publisher. William Jennings – provenance
  • Hardcover, 28 x 20 cm, quarter sheepskin over marbled boards, marbled endpapers, gilt lettering to flat spine with gilt fillet bands, clipping pasted to front fep verso. Title-page: GRANIER DE CASSAGNAC — PAUL DE CASSAGNAC | ~ | HISTOIRE POPULAIRE | ILLUSTRÉE | DE | L'EMPEREUR NAPOLEON III | TOME I (II) | {publisher’s device} | PARIS | E. LACHAUD ET Cie, LIBRAIRES-ÉDITEURS | 4, PLACE DU THÉATRE-FRANÇAIS, 4 | – | Tous droits réservés || Collation: (v.1) π2 [1]-504, (v.2) π2 1-494; total 400 leaves plus albumen photograph pasted to frontispiece and 96 full-page woodcuts within collation. Pagination: [4] [1] 2-398 [2], [4] [1] 2-390 [2], ils.; total 800 pp. Contributors: Bernard Adolphe Granier de Cassagnac (French, 1806 – 1880) – father. Paul Adolphe Marie Prosper Granier de Cassagnac (French, 1843 – 1904) – son.
  • Two 8vo volumes bound in one, 19 x 12.5 cm, in full mottled sheepskin with gilt-bordered boards, gilt decorated flat spine with gilt-lettered red and black calf labels, rebacked, marbled endpapers and edges, printed on wove paper, plates on thicker laid paper. Title-page: FABLES | MISES EN VERS | PAR J. DE LA FONTAINE. | TOME PREMIER (SECOND). | {medallion portrait} (printer’s device “PC”) | A PARIS, | CHEZ ANT. AUG. RENOUARD. | M. DCC. XCV. || Collation: Vol. 1: π2 (h.t./imprint, t.p. medallion portrait/blank), [1]-38 (Notice sur la vie…), 1-58 64 (Vie de la Fontaine, Épitre, Préface, Vie d’Ésope), [7]-148 156 χ3 (table); pagination [4] [i] ii-xlviii, [1] 2-234. Total 143 leaves (286 pages) plus 6 plates after Moreau le Jeune by Devilliers fratres (p. 112), E. De Ghendt (pp. 122 and 181), Jean Louis Delignon (p. 140), Delvaux (p. 197), and Ph. Trière (p. 219). Title medallion portrait of La Fontaine (G Rigault pinx. – C S Gaucher inc.) by Gaucher after Rigaud. Vol. 2: π2 1-158 164; pagination [4] [1] 2-247 [248 blank]. Total 126 leaves (252 pages) plus 6 plates after Moreau le Jeune by Devilliers fratres (p. 19), Villerey (pp. 37, 80, and 146), Bosq (p. 121), and Ph. Trière (p. 199). The book published in 1795 (An 3) supplemented with plates produced in 1811 and 1812 for Œuvres complèttes (sic) de Jean de la Fontaine published by Lefèvre in 1814. The reason for choosing this particular edition for someone's library shortly after 1814 was probably the absence of censorship in 1795. Catalogue raisonné: (1) Lewine [LIB-2538.2020] on p. 276 (Paris, chez Renouard, 1795, 2 vols., 8vo., medal portrait on first title, and 12 plates after Moreau by Delvaux, Bosq, Ghendt, Trière, and Villerey). (2) M.-J.-F. Mahérault. L' oeuvre de Moreau le Jeune : catalogue raisonné et descriptif avec notes iconographiques et bibliographiques. — Paris: A. Labitte, 1880. Contributors: Jean de La Fontaine (French, 1621–1695) – author. Jean-Michel Moreau le Jeune (French, 1741–1814) – artist. Hyacinthe Rigaud (French, 1659 – 1743) – artist. Antoine-Augustin Renouard (French, 1765 – 1853) – publisher. Pierre Causse (French, 1761 – 1834) – printer. Engravers: Charles Étienne Gaucher (French, 1741 – 1804) Etienne De Villiers [Devilliers, Devilliers fratres] (French, 1784 – after 1844) Emmanuel Jean Nepomucène de Ghendt (Flemish, worked in France, 1738 – 1815) Jean-Louis Delignon (French, 1755 – 1820) Rémi Henri Joseph Delvaux (French, 1748 – 1823) Philippe Trière (French, 1756 – c. 1815) Auguste Villerey (French, 1801 – 1846) Jean Bosq (French, fl. c. 1801 – 1844)
  • Artist: Utagawa Kunisada [歌川 国貞] a.k.a. Utagawa Toyokuni III [三代歌川豊国] (Japanese, 1786 – 1865). Artist signature: By the brush of the 79-year-old Toyokuni [七十九歳豊國画] (Nanajūkyū-sai Toyokuni ga). Publisher: Ebiya Rinnosuke [海老屋林之助] (Japanese, fl. c. 1832 – 1895); seal: ト/ 海老林 (to, Ebirin). Block carver: Matsushima Masakichi [松島政吉]; seal: carved by Masa [彫政] (Hori Masa). Combined date seal and kiwame censor seal: [子極] 1864 (Bunkyū 4/Genji 1). Media: Untrimmed fan print (uchiwa-e), 223 x 297 mm. Inscription in the cartouches: (R) Wakana-hime [若菜姫], Sawamura Tanosuke III [沢村田之助]; (L) Ashikaga Sanshichirō [足利三七郎], Sawamura Tosshō II [沢村訥升]. Play: Kinoene Soga Daikoku-bashira [甲子曽我大国柱], performed at the Morita theatre [森田座・守田座] (Morita-za) in 1864 (Bunkyū 4/Genji 1), 2nd month (see playbill at MFA-Boston Collection). Playwright: Muraoka Kōji II [村岡幸治]. Actors and Characters: Sawamura Tanosuke III [三代目沢村田之助] (Japanese, 1859 – 1878); other names: Shozan [曙山] (poetry name), Sawamura Yoshijirō I [初代沢村由次郎], here in the role of Princess Wakana [若菜姫] (Wakana-hime) (R). The story about Princess Wakana, Shiranui Monogatari, was written by Ryukatei Tanekazu [柳下亭種員] (Japanese, 1807 – 1858) and published as a 90-volume book of comics between 1849 and 1855. ...The tale revolves around the clash between the Kikuchi and Ōtomo clans. Princess Wakana’s father Ōtomo Sōrin [大友 宗麟] (1530 – 1587) was killed in a battle, and his spirit demanded revenge. To appease her late father's spirit, Princes Wakana acquired the power of the Earth Spider. She often appears in prints with a magic scroll, which helps her fight various enemies. Sawamura Tosshō II [二代目沢村訥升] (Japanese, 1854 – 1879); other names: Kōga [高賀] (poetry name), Sawamura Genpei II [二代目沢村源平], Sawamura Sōjūrō [澤村宗十郎], Suketakaya Takasuke IV [四代目助高屋高助], Sawamura Tosshi VI [六代目澤村訥子] (poetry name), here in the role of Ashikaga Sanshichirō [足利三七郎] (L) with a horse. According to Markus Sesko, the scene comes from the kabuki play Umakiri (馬斬り) by Tatsuoka Mansaku [辰岡万作] (17432 – 1809), which premiered in 1794. It was later assimilated into the Kabuki play Kozotte Mimasu Kuruwa no Datezome [襷廓三升伊達染], which was staged in the 1st lunar month of 1853 at the Nakamura-za. Umakiri is based on a Kyōgen play featured in Hideyoshi’s biography Taikōki [太閤記]. Its plot is that Ashikaga Sanchichirō Yoshitaka [足利三七郎義孝・義高], who is supposed to allude to Nobunaga’s son Oda Sanshichirō Nobutaka [織田三七郎信孝], attacks and kills a horse that is carrying 3,000 ryō (金三千両), money Mashiba Hisayoshi [真柴久吉] (an allusion to Hashiba Hideyoshi [羽柴秀吉]) had sent to be donated to a shrine on Mt. Kōya. The surrounding people try to catch him, but when they hear it is Yoshitaka who killed the horse, they fall to the ground and prostrate, and Yoshitaka leisurely leaves with the money. The plot is very simple, but Yoshitaka’s dashing appearance makes it very pleasing to watch. There are also prints that quote the main protagonist as Ashikaga Sanshichirō Harutaka [足利三七郎春高], and there is another title for the play, Sanzen-Ryō Kogane no Kurairi [三千両黄金蔵入] (Pocketing 3,000 ryō of gold). For reference, see also the BLOG. What these two characters are doing in one play remains a riddle. As Mr Graebner comments: "Most kabuki plays were only performed for one season (two months), and the books were lost. The playwrights have repeatedly used parts of plots from other plays, they have adopted characters, sometimes with the same or similar names. What can be found is the Kabuki Playbill (Tsuji banzuke) with cast and roles; the content is lost".

    MBA-Boston Accession number 11.28192

    Acknowledgements: Special thanks to Horst Graebner of the Kunisada Project and to Markus Sesko of The Metropolitan Museum, NY, for the analysis of the image and their invaluable contribution. For reference, see also:        
  • Artist: Utagawa Kunisada [歌川 国貞] a.k.a. Utagawa Toyokuni III [三代歌川豊国] (Japanese, 1786 – 1865). No publisher seal, no date or censor seal; probably a private printing. Signed: Kunisada ga [国貞画] in a red double gourd cartouche. Media: Untrimmed fan print (uchiwa-e), 231 x 294 mm, with the use of mica and black lacquer.    
  • Artist: Utagawa Kunisada [歌川 国貞] a.k.a. Utagawa Toyokuni III [三代歌川豊国] (Japanese, 1786 – 1865). Pubisher (accorfding to Suzuki & Oka): Ibaya Senzaburō [伊場屋仙三郎] (Japanese, 1815 – 1869), Dansendō [伊場仙]. Title: Beauty holding a roll of paper (by seller); A woman of Edo (by Suzuki & Oka) Date seal and aratame censor seal: 1822 (Bunsei 5). Signed: Gototei Kunisada ga [五渡亭国貞画]. Media: Untrimmed fan print (uchiwa-e), 228 x 295 mm. Ref: [LIB-3085.2022] Jūzō Suzuki, Isaburō Oka. “The decadents”. — Tokyo: Kodansha International, 1969, p. 35, plate 30: exactly this print:  
  • Title: Early Spring [初春之図] (Hatsuharu no zu); Series: Fashionable Twelve Months [今様十二ヶ月] (Imayo juni-kagetsu). Another version of translation: Modern Beauties of Twelve Months. Artist: Utagawa Toyokuni I [歌川豊国] (1769–1825). Pubisher: Ibaya Senzaburō [伊場屋仙三郎] (Japanese, 1815 – 1869), seal: Dansendō [伊場仙]. Signed: Toyokuni ga [豊国画] and sealed with toshidama. Date-kiwame seal: Ushi (ox), Bunsei 5 (1822). Size: double-sheet uncut fan print ( aiban uchiwa-e), each 217 x 288 mm. Ref: Tokyo Museum Collection.
    Other five prints of this series: SVJP 0326.2020SVJP-0362.2022SVJP-0363.2022SVJP-0364.2022SVJP-0365.2022.
  • An uncut fan print showing Otsu-e [大津絵] (Otsu pictures). Artist: Utagawa Sadahide [歌川貞秀] (Japanese, 1807 – 1879). Signed: Gountei Sadahide ga [五雲亭貞秀画] (Picture by Gountei Sadahide); characters on the Otsu-e. Publisher: Ibaya Senzaburō [伊場屋仙三郎] (Japanese, c. 1815 – 1869). Published: c. 1849. Inscription in a paper-weight shaped cartouche: [大津追 分絵の図] Ōtsu-oi wake-e no zu (Following Otsu – image of separate pictures) No date seal, no censor seal (privately printed?) Media: Fan print (uchiwa-e, 団扇絵), 235 x 298 mm.
  • An uncut aizuri fan print showing travellers arriving at Inba Lake [印旛沼] (Inba-numaon Shimosa Plateau [下総台地] (Shimōsa-daichi). Artist: Utagawa Sadahide [歌川貞秀] (Japanese, 1807 – 1879) Publisher: Unknown. Published: c. 1849. Signed: Gountei Sadahide ga [五雲亭 貞秀画] (Picture by Gountei Sadahide). Inscription in cartouche: Shimosa Plateau, Inbanuma (Inba Lake) [下總國印幡沼]. No date seal, no censor seal (privately printed?) Media: Fan print [団扇絵] (uchiwa-e), 235 x 300 mm.
  • An uncut aizuri fan print showing two travellers admiring the view of the Tama River [多摩川] (Tamagawa) and Mount Kōya [高野山] (Kōyasan) in Kii Province [紀伊国] (Kii no Kuni). Artist: Utagawa Sadahide [歌川貞秀] (Japanese, 1807 – 1879). Signed: Gountei Sadahide ga [五雲亭貞秀画] (Picture by Gountei Sadahide). Publisher: Unknown. Published: c. 1849. No date seal, no censor seal (privately printed?) Media: Fan print [団扇絵] (uchiwa-e), 235 x 300 mm.
  • 26 issues of American political humourous magazine published by Joseph Keppler (Austrian-American, 1838 – 1894) and Adolph Schwarzmann (German-American, 1838 – 1904) with caricatures by Frederick Burr Opper (American, 1857 – 1937); 35 x 27 cm, bound in faux shagreen with half green buckram backing, gilt vignette and lettering to front board: ‘What fools these Mortals be!” | MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM | PUCK ||
  • 129 issues of L'Éclipse, French weekly political magazine; published in Paris, 49 x 34 cm, bound in rebacked green quarter morocco over marbled boards, with gilt fillets and lettering to spine, peacock marbled endpapers, illustrated by André Gill (French, 1840 – 1885). Founder and editor-in-chief François Polo (French, 1838 – 1874). 1874: 271-322 (52 issues) 1875: 323-374 (52 issues) 1876: 375-399 (25 issues)
  • 52 issues of French weekly Gil Blas illustré, 1892: №№ 1-52; published in Paris, 39 x 29 cm, bound in red half cloth over marbled boards, with gilt fillets and lettering to spine, marbled endpapers, profusely illustrated by Théophile Steinlen (Swiss-French, 1859 – 1923) and Albert Guillaume (French, 1873 – 1942).
  • The text attributed to Claude-Prosper Jolyot de Crébillon, dit Crébillon fils (French, 1707 – 1777) or to Anne Claude de Caylus (French, 1692 – 1765). A hardcover volume, 21 x 13.5 cm, collated in-12mo, bound by H. Blanchetière in full crushed brown morocco, spine with raised bands, gilt lettering “VICOMTE | DE NANTEL | – | MA VIE | DE | GARÇON” and “BRUXELLES | 1882” in the bottom compartment; gilt double-fillet to cover margins, six gilt fillets inside, woven silk endpapers, marbled flyleaves, original publisher’s wrappers preserved; the bookplate of Henri Bosc to f.e.p. verso (monogrammed by Martin Van Maële), bookplate of J.-P. Dutel to flyleaf, 18 x 9 cm manuscript list of illustrations tipped in (lettered “12 aquarelles originales | de Martin Van Maële” on top), all margins gilt; printed on tinted paper. Collation: [1] front wrapper lettered in red and black, [1] half-title with limitation to verso, frontispiece by Amédée Lynen, verso inscribed by Van Maële to Bosc, meaning “A jewel for a most sympathetic and sensitive connoisseur Mr H. Bosc”, signed; [1] t.p. in red and black/blank, 06 (pp. [i]-xii) Avant-propos by Jean Richepin, 1-116 (pp. [5]-116) 124 (pp. 117-143, [144] colophon) [1] back wrapper w/advert (Extrait de Gil Blas), spine w/price 10 Fr.; 12 watercolours by Van Maële extraneous to collation, all signed “with his full name in a flowery script”, as per S. A. Perry. Title-page / Cover (red and black): LES FAITS ET GESTES DU VICOMTE DE NANTEL | ~ | MA | Vie de Garçon | AVEC UN AVANT-PROPOS | DE | JEAN RICHEPIN | {publisher’s device} | A BRUXELLES | Chez Henry KISTEMAECKERS, éditeur | – | 1882 || Worldcat : xii, 143 pages frontispiece 20 cm; OCLC Number / Unique Identifier: 5887998. Limitation: 300 copies on papier teinté, 10 copies on papeir du Japon. This is a unique copy enriched with 12 original watercolours by Martin Van Maële. Colophon: ACHEVÉ D’IMPIMER | le 30 mai 1882. | par A. LEFÈVRE, a BRUXELLES | {printer’s device} | POUR | Henry Kistemaeckers, Editeur | à Bruxelles. || Catalogue raisonné: S. A. Perry (2015) № 89 / [LIB-2920.2022] Sheryl A. Perry. Martin van Maële: An illustrated bibliographical checklist. — Las Vegas, 2021. Ref: The Erotica Bibliophile. Contributors: Jean Richepin (French, 1849 – 1926) – author (avant-propos). Maurice François Alfred Martin van Maële [Martin van Maële] (French, 1863 – 1926) – artist. Amédée Ernest Lynen (French, 1852 – 1938) – artist (frontispiece). Henry Kistemaeckers (Belgian, 1851–1934) – publisher. Henri Bosc [Henri Marie Joseph Danviolet] (French, 1884 – 1967) – provenance. J.-P. Dutel description: [Claude-Prosper Jolyot de CRÉBILLON ?]. LES FAITS ET GESTES DU VICOMTE DE NANTEL. MA VIE DE GARÇON. Avec un avant-propos de Jean Richepin. Bruxelles, Henry Kistemaeckers. 1882. In-8 (202 x 120 mm) de XII, 143 pp. et [1] p. Maroquin brun, dos à 5 nerfs, filets dorés sur les coupes et les bordures intérieures, tranches dorées, gardes en moire, double-gardes en papier, couverture et dos conservés. (H. Blanchetière). Le texte est attribué à Claude-Prosper Jolyot de Crébillon, dit Crébillon fils, (1707-1777). Cette édition fut publiée en 1882 à Bruxelles par Kistemaeckers et est ornée d’unfrontispice d’A. Lynen. TIRAGE : 10 ex. sur japon. 500 ex. sur papier teinté. UN DES 500 EXEMPLAIRES SUR PAPIER TEINTÉ ORNÉ DE 12 AQUARELLES ORIGINALES HORSTEXTE SIGNÉES PAR MARTIN VAN MAELE.
  • One volume collated 8vo, 19 x 14 cm, bound in black alligator leather. Front wrapper  (green) / title-page (white): A female figure smoking a pipe next to a beer mug, reclining over an arch ring lettered “…VERSITÉ” (UNI… not shown), her dress ribbon lettered “MUSA STUDIORUM”, holding a book lettered “SCIENTIA”; within the arch « ALMANACH | CROCODILIEN | DÉDIÉ | AUX ÉTUDIANTS BELGES. | BIBLIOTHÈQUE | DE LA JEUNESSE MUSULMANE. »; below lies a book lettered “1856.”, next to it is a smoking skull; three male figures embracing the arch columns. Half-title: ALMANACH CROCODILIEN | POUR | L’ANNÉE BISSEXTILE, MAIS NÉANMOINS DE GRACE | 1856. || Pagination: [1-5] 6-14 [15-41] 42-134 [137] 138, total 136 pages within the wrappers, original publisher's green wrappers preserved, carte de visite ‘Félicien Rops, Étudiant’ and pink invitation card № 129 for ‘Bal des femmes’ on March 19, 1892 at ‘Fête annuelle du Courier Français’ bound in; in-text woodcuts, initials, head- and tail-pieces after Félicien Rops. Bookplate “Ex Libris Marcellus Schlimovich” with motto “Ars naturam adiuvat” on front pastedown. Stamp of the "Sociedad Hebraica Argentina / Coleccion M. Schlimovich / Varios / No. 2-492” to half-title. Pencil inscription to half-title: "Ex. Félicien Rops" – possibly an own copy of the artist. Collation: π2 1-88 92, total 68 leaves within wrappers. Printer: Typ. de J. Vanbuggenhoudt (Bruxelles). Sociedad Hebraica Argentina; Marcelo Schlimovich (Argentine-Jewish, ca. 1880 – 1960) – provenance. Félicien Rops (Belgian, 1833 – 1898) – artist.
  • Hardcover, 25.2 x 17 cm, quarter burgundy shagreen with raised bands and gilt lettering to spine over turkish marbled boards and endpapers, publisher’s wrappers preserved. Title-page: JEAN BERLEUX | LA | CARICATURE POLITIQUE | EN FRANCE | PENDANT LA GUERRE, LE SIÈGE DE PARIS | ET LA COMMUNE | (1870–1871) | {vignette} | PARIS | LABITTE, ÉM. PAUL ET Cie | LIBRAIRES DE LA BIBLIOTHÈQUE NATIONALE | 4, RUE DE LILLE, 4 | – | 1890 || Collation: 4to; π8 1-274 282, plates within collation; total 118 leaves. Pagination: [i-ix] x-xvi, [1] 2-217 (printed 317) [3], total 236 pages, profusely illustrated, incl. in-text and full-page b/w ils, all within pagination. Condition: Good, scattering foxing, pencil marks. Contributors: Maurice Quentin-Bauchart [pseud. Jean Berleux] (French, 1857 – 1910) – author. Georges Chamerot (French, 1845 – 1922) – printer, president of the 'Chambre syndicale des imprimeurs typographes', married to Claudie Viardot (French, 1852 – 1914) in 1874 – printer. Labitte, Ém. Paul et Cie (Paris) – publisher, Adolphe Labitte (French, 1832 – 1882); Émile Paul (French, 1847 – ?). Another copy in poor condition: LIB-1653.2016, and another, a modern reprint: LIB-0814.2015.
  • Softcover, 19 x 12 cm, publisher’s yellow wrappers with lettering to front, rear and spine, pp. [i-v] vi-xix [xx] [1] 2-474 [6], including index pp. 465-71 and contents pp.473-74. Bookseller’s label to front wrapper in the bottom: « LIBRAIRIE CLASSIQUE | ET | MILITAIRE | S. MILON FILS | SAUMUR | FOURNITURES DE BUREAU » Title-page: Pierre Vésinier | ANCIEN MEMBRE DE LA COMMUNE | — | COMMENT A PÉRI | LA COMMUNE | {publisher’s device} | PARIS | NOUVELLE LIBRAIRIE PARISIENNE | ALBERT SAVINE, ÉDITEUR | 12, RUE DES PYRAMIDES, 12 | – | Tous droits réservés. || Contributors: Pierre Vésinier (French, 1824 – 1902) – author. Albert Savine (French, 1859 – 1927) – publisher. Imprimerie de Saint-Denis, H. Bouillant (Paris) – printer.
  • Title-page: CURIOSITÉS | DE L’HISTOIRE | DU VIEUX PARIS | PAR | P. L. JACOB | BIBLIOPHILE | { LES NOMS DES RUES | LES RUES DE CITÉ | LES RUES HONTEUSES AU MOYEN AGE. | PROMENADES DANS LE VIEUX PARIS EN 1834. | PHYSIOLOGIE DU PONT NEUF. | BICÊTRE } | PARIS | ADOLPHE DELAHAYS, LIBRAIRE-ÉDITEUR | 4-6, RUE VOLTAIRE, 4-6 | – | 1858 || Description: Hardcover, in-16o, 17 x 11 cm, quarter brown morocco over marbled boards, spine with raised bands, gilt lettering, gilt fleurons, marbled endpapers, original wrappers with red and black lettering within red frame bound in, some pages uncut. Collation: 8vo; π2 14, 2-238 244, total 186 leaves between original wrappers. Pagination: [4] [1] 2-364 [4], total 372 pages. Catalogue raisonné: Vicar: I, 770. Contributors: Printer: Simon Raçon et Comp. (Paris). Author: Paul Lacroix [P. L. Jacob] (French, 1806 – 1884). Publisher: Adolphe Delahays (French, mid-19th century).
  • Description: Hardcover, 31.5 x 25 cm, yellow cloth adorned with stylized lettering and coloured design elements, blue endpapers, all margins red; Errata slip tipped in p.1. Lacks dust jacket. Inset: newspaper clipping titled "Facsimile of the fan distributed after the Tien-Tsin Massacre". Title-page: Fans of Japan | BY | CHARLOTTE M. SALWEY | née BIRCH | WITH INTRODUCTION BY | WILLIAM ANDERSON, F.R.C.S. | LATE OF H. M’S. LEGATION, JAPAN | AND | WITH TEN FULL-PAGE COLOURED PLATES, AND THIRTY-NINE | ILLUSTRATIONS IN BLACK AND WHITE | {publisher’s device} | LONDON | KEGAN PAUL, TRENCH, TRÜBNER & CO. LTD | PATERNOSTER HOUSE, CHARRING CROSS ROAD | 1894 || Pagination: [i-vi] vii-xix [xx] [1] 2-148 [4]; total 172 pages. Collation: 4to; π10 A-T4 (total 86 leaves) plus 10 colour plates with tissue guards and 39 b/w in-text illustrations. Plate I pasted in a kind of matt, though with red margins as all other pages. Printer: Ballantyne, Hanson and Co. Chromo-lithographer: McLagan and Cumming (Edinburgh) Publisher: Kegan Paul, Trench, Trübner & Co. Charles Kegan Paul (British, 1828 – 1902) – publisher. Author: Charlotte Maria Salwey [née Birch] (British, b. 1847 – after 1919). Introduction: William Anderson (British, 1842 – 1900) Dedicatee: Dr. Samuel Birch (British, 1813 – 1885)
  • 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)
  • Exterior: 4to, 27.3 x 18 cm, quarter black morocco over marbled boards, double gilt fillet border, spine with raised bands, compartments framed in gilt with gilt fleurons, black label lettered in gilt; marbled endpapers. Inscription to half-title in the bottom: no 411. Bookplate to front pastedown. Title-page: LES | PRISONS DE PARIS | HISTOIRE, TYPES, MŒURS, MYSTÈRES | PAR | MAURICE ALHOY ET LOUIS LURINE | ÉDITION ILLUSTRÉE. | {vignette} | PARIS — 1846 | PUBLIÉ PAR GUSTAVE HAVARD | 24, RUE DES MATHURINS-SAINT-JACQUES. || Printer: Lacrampe et Comp. Collation: 4to; π2 a4 1-684 χ2; total 280 leaves and 34 leaves of plates. Pagination: first and last leaves blank; [2 -h.t./imprint.] [2 - t.p./blank] [2 dedication/blank] [i intro] ii-vi, [1] 2-544 [2 - list of plates/advert.] [2 - contents/blank]; total 560 pages, plus 34 wood-engraved plates, incl. a frontispiece by Laisne after Bertall, and numerous in-text woodcuts. Provenance: Bookplate of Selim Hippolyte Ansart (French, 1829 – 1897), commissar of police in the Second Empire and shortly after (chef de la police municipaie ; chevalier du 13 août 1867; vingt-trois ans de service effectif). Authors: Philadelphe-Maurice Alhoy (French, 1802 – 1856) Louis Lurine (French, 1812 – 1860) Artists: Bertall [ Bertal; Charles Albert d’Arnoux (French, 1820 – 1882) Jules [Jean-Baptiste] David (French, 1808–1892) Charles-François Pinot (French, 1817 – 1879) Eustache Lorsay [French, Eugène Lampsonius] (1822 – 1871) Pierre Édouard Frère (French, 1819 – 1886) Charles-Édouard de Beaumont (French, 1819 – 1888) Engravers Laisné Adèle / Aglaé / Alfred (French, fl. 1835 – 1868) Louis Dujardin (French, 1808 – 1859) François Rouget (Belgian, c. 1825 – ?) Janet-Lange [Ange-Louis Janet] (French, 1815 – 1872) Jacques Adrien Lavieille (French, 1818 – 1862) Timms (French, fl. c. 1839 – 1865) Félix Leblanc (French, 1823 – ?) Émile Montigneul (French, fl. 1840 – 1850)  
  • 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.
  • 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: 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: 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 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: 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:
  • 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:  
  • 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 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 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: Tangled Hair and the Evening Braided Hat [乱髪夜編笠] (Midaregami Yoru no Amigasa). The open book starts with the chapter title that reads Amigasa. This play was performed together with Kisohajime Hatsugai Soga [着衣始]初買曽我]. See the playbill for the performance at Moritaza at MFA (Boston) № 11.27208. 乱髪夜編笠(みだれがみよるのあみがさ。「夜の編笠」「白さぎ」とも)– 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). 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 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: The tatami night robe of Iwao [巌の畳夜着] (Kyusue Iwao no tatami yogi); 灸すゑ巌の畳夜着(きゅうすえいわおのたたみよぎ。「灸すえ」– 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). The night robe of Iwao is decorated with characters resembling Arabic numerals, and Latin and Cyrillic letters. A similar kimono can be seen on Kunisada's print Hotoke Gozen, Mirror of Virtuous and Wise Women (Kenjo Kagami) at RISD museum accession number 13.1383, portraying Hotoke Gozen (佛御前), a character of The Tale of the Heike [平家物語] (Heike Monogatari); published by Yamamotoya Heikichi (山本屋平吉) (Japanese, fl. c. 1812 – 1886) in the 1830s (see below).

    RISDM 13-1383

    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 Kunimaru [歌川国丸] (Japanese, 1794 – 1829). Publisher: Ibaya Senzaburō [伊場屋 仙三郎] (fl. 1815 – 1869). Date-kiwame seal: Bunsei 10 (1827). Signed: Ichiensai Kunimaru ga [一円斎国丸画]. Play: Chūshingura [忠臣蔵] (The Treasury of Loyal Retainers), 11th act, Night Battle [十一段目夜討之図]. Act XI: The Attack on Kō no Moronao Mansion. Kō no Moronao [高 師直] (Japanese, d. 1351). Ref: Ako City Museum of History Inscription on the soba peddler box: Nihachi soba udon [二八そば うどん] –  twice eight soba and udon (16 mon per serving).
  • Artist: Utagawa Yoshitsuya [歌川 芳艶] (Japanese, 1822 – 1866). Publisher: Kojimaya Jūbei [小島屋重兵衛] (Japanese, c. 1797 – 1869). Date seal and double nanushi censor seals: Kunigasa & Yoshimura, Kōka 5 (1849). Signed: Ichieisai Yoshitsuya ga [英斎芳艶画] in a red double gourd cartouche. Two men are fishing with a net off the coast of Shinagawa, in the Edo Bay.