• Poem by Ariwara no Narihira Ason: (Actor Ichikawa Danjûrô VIII as) Seigen, from the series Comparisons for Thirty-six Selected Poems (Mitate sanjûrokkasen no uchi)「見立三十六歌撰之内 有原業平朝臣 清玄」 八代目市川団十郎. Poem: Yo no naka ni/ taete sakura no/ nakariseba/ haru no kokoro wa/ nodokekaramashi. Kabuki actor: Ichikawa Danjūrō VIII [八代目 市川 團十郎] (Japanese, 1823 – 1854); other names: Ichikawa Ebizô VI, Ichikawa Shinnosuke II. Artist: Utagawa Kunisada [歌川 国貞] a.k.a. Utagawa Toyokuni III [三代歌川豊国] (Japanese, 1786 – 1865). Block cutter: Yokokawa Horitake [横川彫武] a.k.a. Yokokawa Takejiro [横川竹二郎] (Japanese, fl. 1860s). Publisher: Iseya Kanekichi [伊勢屋兼吉] (Japanese, fl. 1840s – c. 1875) Year: 1852 (Kaei 5), 10th month. Size: Vertical ōban; 36.5 × 25.4 cm. Signed: Toyokuni ga, in toshidama cartouche [豊国画(年玉枠] Censors' seals: Fuku, (Muramatsu), Rat 10. Ref: MFA Accession № 11.36779.43.
  • 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.
  • Softcover volume, 17.5 x 11 cm, in-12, brown wrappers without lettering, text printed on laid paper, six plates on India paper barbarously glued in, pp.: fep, [4] (h.t. t.p.), [1-3] 4-182, fep. Title-page (red and black): L’ENFANT | DU | BORDEL | OU | LES AVENTURES DE CHÉRUBIN | – | NOUVELLE ÉDITION | ORNÉE DE SIX GRAVURES SUR ACIER | {fleuron} | Sur l’imprimé de Paris MDCCC | LE MANS | A L’ENSEIGNE DES CITOYENS DU MAINE || Catalogue raisonné: Dutel I: A-325; Pia 395: 222 pages (we have 182 as per Dutel), attributes publication to Poulet-Malassis, 1866. Catalogue Poulet-Malassis & ses amis description: № 82.[PIGAULT-LEBRUN]. L’Enfant du Bordel, ou Les Aventures de Chérubin, nouvelle édition, ornée de six gravures sur acier. Sur l’imprimé de Paris, MDCCC, Le Mans, à l’enseigne des citoyens du Maine. [A. Christiaens, 1875 ?]. In-12, broché. 2 .n.ch., 182 pages, 1 f. blanc, couverture muette en papier vieux orange. Illustré de 6 figures hors-texte sur acier. Bibliographie : G* 553 (40 frs), Dutel A-325. Contributors: Guillaume Charles Antoine Pigault de l'Espinoy [Pigault-Lebrun] (French, 1753 – 1835) – author. Alexis Christiaens (Belgian, d. 1880) – publisher.
  • Hand-coloured woodcut on wove paper, 268 x 381 mm, vertical centerfold. On reverse: black ink stamp “5324”. Top centre: "PRISE DE SAARBRUCK"; left: "PELLERIN & Cie, imp. -édit."; right: "IMAGERIE D'EPINAL, № 134." Under the frame text starts with « La cri de guerre a retenti. La France a été forcée de tirer l’épée pour arrêter… ».[...] Prise de Saarbruck. | Depuis quelques jours, l’armée française occupait la frontière française en face de la Prusse.... Jean Charles Pellerin (French, 1756 – 1836) – publisher/printer. The Battle of Saarbrücken (2 August 1870).
  • The right sheet of (optional) triptych: Geisha (Geiko) and kabuki actor Iwai Hanshirō V as Katanaya Hanshichi from Three pleasures of present-day Osaka (Tōsei Naniwa no sankō)「当世浪花の三興 芸子」 「刀屋半七」五代目岩井半四郎. Publisher: Iseya Rihei [伊勢屋利兵衛] (Japanese, fl. 1790s – c. 1879) Year: 1821 (Bunsei 4). Size: Vertical ōban; 36.5 x 25.2 cm. Signed: 於浮瀬亭国貞画 – Drawn by Kunisada in Ukabuse (Ukabuse ni oite Kunisada ga). Ukabuse is the name of a famous restaurant in Osaka, this signature can be found only on a three print bijin series [Kunisada Project]. Censor's seal: kiwame 改印:極 Actor Iwai Hanshirō V [岩井半四郎] (Japanese, 1776 – 1847); other names: Iwai Tojaku, Iwai Kumesaburō I. Character: Katanaya Hanshichi  [刀屋半七] Ref: MFA ACCESSION NUMBER 11.21938LIB-2967.2022 Izzard. Full series (triptych) Three Pleasures of Present-day Osaka (Tōsei Naniwa no sankō):
  • Late 19th-century (1850-1870) Japanese export fan. This fan has a double leaf painted with a different design on either side. Ivory encrusted with gemstones and other materials. Subject matter such as women wearing kimono is also more typical of export than domestic products (V&A). Summer (birds and flowers) theme on the reverse.
  • Ichikawa Ebizo V (1791 – 1859) a.k.a. Ichikawa Danjûrô VII was a great-great-great-son of Ichikawa Danjûrô I. He started his stage career in 1794, at the age of 4, playing in Shibaraku (the role he is depicted here). During his stage life, he played every role type. He was later banished from Edo for living too luxurious life for an actor. While in exile he flourished in Kioto and Osaka. Kichirei (Festive Annual Custom). Publisher: Takenouchi Magohachi (Hoeidô) Circa 1833. Description: 役者の舞台姿を描いた「舞台姿」シリーズと、日常図を描いた「千社詣」シリーズがあり、同じ役者が向かい合って対になる。(『五渡亭国貞』). Signed: Gototei Kunisada ga [五渡亭国貞画]. Censor's seal: kiwame 改印:極. Ref.: Shindo, Gototei Kunisada Yakusha-e no Sekai (1993), plate 88; Utagawa Kunisada, 150th Anniversary of His Death, Ota Memorial Museum, no. 169; MFA ACCESSION NUMBER 11.43128.
  • Title: AN ESSAY | ON THE | PRINCIPLE OF POPULATION; | OR, | A VIEW OF ITS PAST AND PRESENT EFFECTS | ON | HUMAN HAPPINESS; | WITH | AN INQUIRY INTO OUR PROSPECTS RESPECTING THE FUTURE | REMOVAL OR MITIGATION OF THE EVILS WHICH | IT OCCASIONS | BY T. R. MALTHUS, A. M. | Late Fellow of Jesus College, Cambridge, and Professor of History and Political Economy in the East-India College, Hertfordshire. | IN THREE VOLUMES. | VOL. I. [or II. or III.] | THE FIFTH EDITION, | WITH IMPORTANT ADDITIONS. | LONDON: | JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE-STREET. | 1817. || Pagination and collation: Vol. 1: ffl, [i, ii] – t. p. / imprint., [iii] iv-xvi, [1] 2-496, bfl; A-Z8 2A-2I8. Vol. 2: ffl, [i, ii] – t. p. / imprint., [iii]-iv – contents, [1]-2-507 [508], bfl; [A]2 B-Z8 2A-2I8 2K6. Vol. 3: ffl, [i, ii] – t. p. / imprint., [iii]-iv – contents, [1]-2-500, bfl; [A]2 B-Z8 2A-2I8 2K2. Binding: Three volumes printed on wove paper, uniformly bound in quarter brown polished calf, blind-ruled, black label, ruled and lettered in gilt to spine, green buckram boards; 22.2 x 13.5 cm. Edition: 5th edition, corrected with a new preface, an updated appendix of Malthus’ responses to his critics, and addition of several chapters to the whole: on France, England, and on the poor laws. Lifetime edition. Ref.: Einaudi 3670; Goldsmiths’ 21761; Kress B.6974; Mattioli 2210. Printed by W. Clowes: William Clowes Ltd. (London). Clowes, William (British, 1779 – 1847). Malthus, Thomas Robert (British, 1766 – 1834). Murray, John (British, 1737 – 1793) Murray, John II (British, 1778 – 1843) John Murray (publishing house)
  • Two volumes uniformly bound by J. Mackenzie, in brown straight-grain morocco, boards with 7 gilt fillet border, fleuron corners, spine with raised bands, gilt in compartments, gilt-lettered DIBDIN’S | LITERARY | REMINISCENCES | I (or) II | 1836. All margins gilt, cream endpapers, armorial bookplate of William Henry Rossington to the front pastedown. Vol. 1: Title page: REMINISCENCES | OF | A LITERARY LIFE; | BY THE REVEREND | THOS. FROGNALL DIBDIN, D.D. | {vignette} | {one line citation | Richard de Bury} | LONDON: | JOHN MAJOR, 71, GREAT RUSSELL-STREET, | BLOOMSBURY. | MDCCCXXXVI. || Pagination: [4] two blank leaves, [i-v] vi-xxxii [4] list of plates, corrections, [1] 2-556 [4] two blank leaves. Collation: 8vo; [a]8 b8 [c]2, B-Z8, AA-MM8 NN6, 5 plates (incl. frontis. portrait by James Posselwhite after George Richmond) extraneous to collation, and a few vignettes in text. Vol. 2: Title page: REMINISCENCES | OF | A LITERARY LIFE; | WITH ANECDOTES OF BOOKS, | AND OF | BOOK COLLECTORS: | BY THE REVEREND | THOS. FROGNALL DIBDIN, D.D. | PART THE SECOND. | LONDON: | JOHN MAJOR, 71, GREAT RUSSELL-STREET, | BLOOMSBURY. | MDCCCXXXVI. || Pagination: [4] two blank leaves, [2] title/blank, 557-982, [1-3] 4-44 index, [4] two blank leaves. Collation: 8vo; [NN]2 OO-ZZ8 3A-3Q8 3R3, B-C8 D4, 5 plates (incl. frontis. “The Library, Eshton Hall”) extraneous to collation, and a few vignettes in text. Catalogue raisonné: Windle, Pippin (1999): A62 / pp. 171-177. Contributors: Author: Thomas Frognall Dibdin (British, 1776 – 1847) Artists: George Richmond (British, 1809 – 1896); Mary Dawson Turner [neé Mary Palgrave] (British, 1774 – 1850); Frederick Mackenzie (British, 1788? – 1854); C. J. Stewart (British, fl. 1830s). Copper engravers: James Posselwhite (British, 1798-1884); Philip Audinet (British, 1766 – 1837); William Henry Worthington. (British, c. 1790 – after 1839); Samuel Rawle (British, 1771 – 1860); Samuel Freeman (British, 1773 – 1857); James Thomson (British, 1788–1850). Wood engravings by John Byfield (British, 1788-1841) and his sister Mary Byfield (British, 1795 – 1871). Printer: William Wilcockson, Rolls Buildings, Fetter Lane. Publisher: John Major (British, 1782 – 1849) Binder: John Mackenzie (British, 1788 – c.1850) – held the office of bookbinder to both King George IV and King William IV. Bookplate: Colonel William Henry Rossington (American, 1848 – 1908)
  • Soft-ground etching on laid paper. Inscribed on plate: "Le dessous de cartes d'une partie de whist" [The underside of a game of whist]. Owner's stamp 'LvM' on verso.

    Dimensions: Paper: 26 x 20 cm; Image: 24 x 17.7 cm.

    Catalogue raisonné: Arthur Hubschmid (1977): 43; Graphics irreverent and erotic (1968): 273.

  • Description: Owner’s quarter calf over marbled boards, 14.5 x 10.5 x 4.5 cm, spine with raised bands, gilt-lettered brown label “H. ROCHEFORT | LA LANTERNE | 1868 | LÉON NOËL”, marbled endpapers; first 11 issues of Henri Rochefort’s journal bound together with original front and back red pictorial wrappers. Front wrapper (first two issues white of red, subsequent issues black on orange background, the text is similar): La | Lanterne | par | {vignette of the lantern} Henri Rochefort | Prix: 40 centes | Bureaux : | 3 rue Rossini & rue Coq Héron, 5 | PARIS || Back wrapper (first two issues white of red, subsequent issues black on orange background, the text is similar): La Lanterne | PARTAIT TOUS LES SAMEDIS | (52 fois par an). | — | Prix d’Abonnement | Un An 20 fr | Six Mois 10 fr | Trois Mois 5 fr | — | Les Mandats doivent être adresses | A Mr. Dumont ADMINISTRATEUR | ❦ | Imprimerie Central des Chemins de Fer A. Chaix & Cie | 20, rue Bergère, à Paris_4608 _ 8 || Collation/pagination: 3 blanks, № 1: fw [1] 2-56 [8] bw; № 2: fw, [57] 58-115 [116] [2] bw; № 3: fw [117] 178 bw; № 4: fw [179] 180-238 [4] bw; № 5: fw [239] 240-298 [4] bw; № 6:  fw [299] 300-361 [362] bw; № 7: fw [363] 364-423 [424] [2] bw; № 8: fw [425] 426-483 [484] [4] bw; № 9: fw [1] 2-58 [6] bw; № 10: fw [1] 2-58 [6] bw; № 11: fw [1] 2-59 [60] [4] bw; 3blanks. Contributors: Victor Henri Rochefort, Marquis de Rochefort-Luçay (French, 1831 – 1913) – editor. Alban Chaix (French, 1860 – 1930); Napoléon Chaix (French, 1807 – 1865) – publishers. Dubuisson et Cie (Paris) – printer.
  • Artist: Utagawa Kunisada [歌川 国貞] a.k.a. Utagawa Toyokuni III [三代歌川豊国] (Japanese, 1786 – 1865). Signed: Kochoro Kuisada ga [香蝶楼国貞画] in a red double-gourd cartouche Publisher: Enshūya Matabei [遠州屋又兵衛] (Japanese, fl. c. 1768 – 1881). Series: Fashionable Youths [流行若手揃] (Ryuko Wakate Zoroi). Actor: Bandō Minosuke II [坂東蓑助] (Japanese, 1802 – 1863); other names: Morita Kan'ya XI, Bandô Mitsugorō IV. Date-kiwame seals: Bunsei 13 / Tenpō 1 (1830). One more print from the same series (See Waseda 201-2125); not in this collection: Segawa Kikunojō V [瀬川菊之丞] (Japanese, 1802 – 1832); other names: Segawa Tamon I.
  • 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.
  • Hardcover volume 20 x 14 cm, bound in burgundy half faux chagrin over brown faux chagrin boards, gilt lettering to spine, marbled endpapers, all margins sprinkled blue. Convolute: 1) SPIRITOMANES ET SPIRITOPHOBES |— | ÉTUDE | SUR LE | SPIRITISME | PAR LE | DOCTEUR HUGUET | De la Faculté de Paris | {« ED » publsiher’s device} | PARIS | E. DENTU, LIBRAIRE-ÉDUTEUR | Palais-Royal, 17-19, Galerie d’Orléans | – | 1875 | Tous droits réservés ||; pp. [1-7] 8-48, with Dr Huguet signature to h.t. verso. Contents: Introduction. I. Le procès du 16 juin 1875; MM. Firman, Buguet, Leymarie. II. Le Spiritisme dans ses rapports avec le dogme, l’histoire, la science. Conclusion. 2) Same, pp. [1-7] 8-48, with Dr Huguet signature to h.t. verso. 3) FÉDÉRATION SPIRITE BELGE | — | Étude critique | DU LIVRE INTITULÉ | L'Hypnotisme | et le Spiritisme | du Docteur Joseph LAPPONI | Médecin de L. L. S. S. LÉON XIII et PIE X. | * | CONFÉRENCE | PAR | J. FRAIKIN | Président de la Fédération Spirite de Liége, | Vice-Président de la Fédération Spirite Belge. | * | Imp. Emile Dumon | Rue Haute-Marexhe, 27, Herstal-Liége. ||;  pp. [1-3] 4-50 [51] errata/blank. 4) BUREAU PERMANENT D’ÉTUDE | DES | PHÉNOMÈNES SPIRITES | ANVERS | * | Cours De Doctrine Spirite | — |       Imprimerie et Publicité « LA GÉNÉRALE » (SOC. AN.) Anvers. ||; 6 leaves, pagination trimmed out with partly visible numbers 13 and 18 ; includes Deuxième leçon « Du passage de la vie… », t.p., 7 pp. of text, last three pages blank. 5) LA PSYCHOLOGIE EXPERIMENTALE || Manifeste adresse par le « Syndicat de la Presse spiritualiste de France » | au Congres spiritualiste de Londres (Juin 1898); pp. [1] 2-31 [32]. Contents: I. Prolégomènes. II. Télépathie. III. Médiumnité. Conclusion. 6) LE FLUIDE HUMAIN | Son existence/ | Ses lois * Ses propriétés | — |  CONFÉRENCE | DONNÉE PAR LE | Sous-Lieutenant DE BACKERE | — ||; pp. [1-3] 4-28. Contributors: Hilarion Huguet (French, ? – ?) Alfred-Henri Firman (American, ? – ?) Édouard Isidore Buguet (1840 – 1901) Pierre-Gaëtan Leymarie (1827 – 1901) Giuseppe Lapponi (Italian, 1851 – 1906) Jacques Fraikin (Belgian, ? – ?) Franz de Backere (Belgian, ? – ?)
  • Hand-coloured woodcut on wove paper, 400 x 280 mm; black ink stamp “5321” to reverse. Top: "LES LOISIRS DU PRINCE IMPERIAL AU PALAIS DE SAINT- CLOUD" — "65". Below: nine cartoons with captions.
    1. Les essais d'un magnifique canon modèle par le Prince et ses amis.
    2. Promenade dans le parc.
    3. Partie de ballon sur la pelouse.
    4. Simulacre de combat. — Le Prince commande ses jeunes amis.
    5. le Prince impérial reçoit la visite de l'Empereur de Russie.
    6. Chasse à courre dans le parc.
    7. Quelques heures à la faisanderie.
    8. Visite de LL. MM. au jeune Prince.
    9. La revue des Pupilles de la Garde.
    Bottom: Fabrique d'images de Gangel et P. Didion, à Metz. Château de Saint-Cloud Paulin Didion (French, 1831 – 1879) – printer/publisher.
  • Fuchi: 37 x 21 x 11 mm; Weight: 13 g Kashira: 34 x 16 x 6 mm ; Weight: 10 g Material : Shakudo; Gold. Signature: Unsigned Technique: Sunameji Sukibori Zogan Decoration: Nami Chidori zu (wave & plover)
     
  • Similar image at MFA under title: Actors and Women in the Snow MFA ACCESSION NUMBER: 11.13568 Date: 1809 (Bunka 6), 12th month Artist: Utagawa Toyokuni I (1769–1825) Publisher Tsuruya Kinsuke (firm name Sôkakudô), № 554 in Marks's "Publishers". DIMENSIONS: Vertical ôban; 38.2 x 25.8 cm (15 1/16 x 10 3/16 in.) MEDIUM OR TECHNIQUE: Woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper. Signed: Toyokuni ga (豊国画) Censor's seals: kiwame (改印:極) MFA assumes that this may be "one sheet of incomplete triptych?"  
  • 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.