• Description: Hardcover small 4to, 20.3 x 15.8 cm, contemporary binding, quarter carrot morocco with raised bands over marbled boards, marbled endpapers, original wrappers preserved, gilt lettering to spine. Content: Scapin Maquereau, drame en un acte par M. Albert Glatigny; La grisette et l’étudiant, pièce en un acte par M. Henry Monnier; Le bout de l’an de la noce, parodie du bout de l’an de l’amour de M. Théodore Barrière par MM. Lemercier de Neuville et J. du Boys; Un caprice par Lemercier de Neuville; Les jeux de l’amour et du bazar, comédie de mœurs en un acte par Lemercier de Neuville. Title-page: LE THÉATRE ÉROTIQUE | DE LA RUE DE LA SANTE | {vignette} | PARIS | — | 1932 || Collation: 3 blanks, original front wrapper with black lettering «LE THÉATRE ÉROTIQUE | DE LA RUE DE LA SANTE», [1]4 (2 blanks, frontis., h.t. / limitation), [2]4 (t.p., f.t.p., 2 leaves of text), 3-184 (incl. 2 blanks), original back wrapper, original spine, 3 blanks; 5 full-page illustrations within collation, 3 original watercolours extraneous to collation bound in between 11 and 12 blank leaves. Pagination: [4] [1-8] 9-135 [136] [4], ils. Limitation: 20 copies on Japon and 250 copies on Vélin, this is copy № 201. Edition: 1st edition thus, illustrated with 20 coloured photogravures, 5 of them full-page after Feodor Rojankovsky [Rojan], enriched with 3 full-page original watercolours by him. Catalogue raisonné: Dutel (1920-1970): 2498, p. 385; Nordmann/Christie’s (2) 515, p. 251 Contributors: Feodor Rojankovsky [Rojan, Фёдор Степанович Рожанковский] (Russian-American, 1891 – 1970) – artist. Joseph Albert Alexandre Glatigny (French, 1839 – 1873) – author. Henry-Bonaventure Monnier (French, 1799 – 1877) – author. Théodore Barrière (French, 1823 – 1877) – author. Louis Lemercier de Neuville [La Haudussière, Louis Lemercier] (French, 1830 – 1918) – author. Jean Charles Duboys [Du Boys] (French, 1836 – 1873) – author. Original watercolours:
  • Thirteen unnumbered loose leaves 323 x 249 mm, watermarked BFK Rives, with manuscript text and vignettes produced by etching or, more likely, drypoint (see microphoto), incl. title-page, one full-page illustration and two leaves of text only; versos blank. Some leaves have registration marks. The set is housed in a cream French flapped folder (chemise) without lettering; the seller’s description is pasted to the front cover verso, glassine dust cover. Seller’s description: Cette édition in-folio du recueil de poèmes de Louis de Gonzague Frick, inconnue de Jean-Pierre Dutel, qui « a été tirée à 50 exemplaires (...) est certainement la plus rare (et a été) publiée après 1940 sur vélin (BFK) Rives » (cf. Ader, 3 mars 2020, n°155). Exemplaire «  de passe », sans justificatif, complet des 13 planches avec 11 eaux-fortes, dont une à pleine page, d'Auguste Brouet. Ref.: According to honesterotica, the first edition was published in 1938 in 65 copies: "The pink Ingres paper and the loose-leaf format tied with a red ribbon". Another source states: "Le tirage a été effectué avec marges, sur papier vélin BFK Rives au format in-4 (32,5 × 25), les planches mesurant 26,5 × 22 cm. Certains exemplaires sont sur papier blanc - Je remercie le libraire qui a pris la peine de me communiquer ces dernières informations. Pour moi, c'est bien l'édition à 65 qui est l'originale, les deux autres étant des retirages légèrement postérieurs, mais dans le détail desquels le principe de l’œuvre - un manuscrit destiné à quelques amis de l'auteur - a été quelque peu trahi." Contributors: Louis de Gonzague Frick (French, 1883 – 1958) Auguste Brouet (French, 1872 – 1941)
  • Title page: L'AN DEUX MILLE QUATRE CENT QUARANTE. | Rêve s'il en fût jamais. | Le temps présent est gros de l'avenir... | Leibnitz. | {letterpress device} | A LONDRES. | MD CCLXXII. || Pagination: [i-iv] v-xii, 1-402 [2]; Collation: 8vo; π6 A-Z8 Aa-Bb8 Cc2. Binding: 19 x 12 cm, full mottled calf, rebacked, spine with gilt-lettered red label, compartments ruled gilt, with gilt fleuron ornament, marbled endpapers and all edges; printed on laid paper, with tall “s”. Probably published in Paris, anonymously. Handwritten nut-ink inscription to the title "Par Mercier". See also: LIB-0979.2016
  • Set of 30 lithographic plates printed on watermarked Van Gelder Simili Japon wove paper, loose in two rexine-backed stiff paper wrappers, 15 in each, together in rexine portfolio with gilt lettering and keyhole on front cover. According to the seller, these are facsimiles of prints/ drawings by Mario Tauzin. Scenes from the series 'Interdit aux adultes'. No publisher indicated; printed in about 1950—a limited edition. Six of these designs used to illustrate 'Bonne à tout faire' were published by Éric Losfeld in the late 1950s (LIB-3293.2024). Dimensions: sheet 320 x 420 mm; album 330 x 430 mm. Contributor: Mario Tauzin (French, 1909 – 1979) — artist
  • NEW
    Twelve etchings printed in black on laid paper, uncoloured, sheet 236 x 140 mm, platemark 155 x 100 mm, red ink stamp “ARS EROTICA | Hans-J. Döpp” to verso; image title in pencil to recto of some sheets. Pale ‘remarque’ on the lower margin of plate 2 ‘L’Eden’. Traces of original binding along the right edge. No folder. Catalogue raisonné: Luc Binet 2017: 100-B, pp. 639-51 ; S. A. Perry 2015: 80, p. 70-1. List of images:
    1. Le Coït des Atomes
    2. L’Éden
    3. La Flûte
    4. Portes d’enfer
    5. Danaë
    6. L’obsession
    7. Europe
    8. Le crâne
    9. Mélancolie blennorhagique [sic]
    10. Parisienne
    11. La chanson du vieux moine
    12. Reine du monde
    Contributors: Haraucourt, Edmond (French, 1856 – 1941) Maële, Martin van (French, 1863 – 1926) – artist.  
  • Oblong album of forty photogravures printed on wove paper in sanguine after drawings by Mihály Zichy; 31.5 x 40.5 cm gilt-decorated half-parchment over red boards with a gilt diaper design; embossed gilt label in the top left corner “Michael | von Zichy. | Liebe”. Anonymous edition. Bookplate to front pastedown: “P•U•H | EX | LIBRIS”. Photogravures made from the original watercolours and crayon drawings produced in 1874-1879; the original album consisted of 51 compositions was sold at Christie’s sale of Gérard Nordmann collection on December 14-15, 2006 in Paris. Some of these photogravures were reproduced photomechanically and printed in 1869 [LIB-2244.2019] and 1989 [LIB-2242.2019]. Limitation: 300 copies were privately printed in Leipzig in 1911 for subscribers only; photogravure copper plates were destroyed. This is copy 285. Title-page (brown and black): MICHAEL VON ZICHY | LIEBE | VIERZIG ZEICHNUNGEN | PRIVATDRUCK LEIPZIG 1911 || Dimensions: album: 31.5 x 40.5 cm; sheets 31 x 40 cm, uncut. Catalogue raisonné: Bibliothèque érotique: Gérard Nordmann; Livres, manuscrits, dessins, photographies du XVIe au XXe siècle / Catalogues de ventes, seconde partie. — Paris: Christie’s, 2006; p. 280, № 564 (drawings); №  565 photogravures [LIB-2810.2021]. Contributors: Mihály Zichy [Michael von Zichy; Михаил Александрович Зичи] (Hungarian, 1827 – 1906).
  • Ten postcards 90 x 140 mm, text in yellow "ВСЕМIРНЫЙ ПОЧТОВЫЙ СОЮЗЪ. РОССIЯ. | UNION POSTALE UNIVERSELLE RUSSIE. | ОТКРЫТОЕ ПИСЬМО. — CARTE POSTALE. || On the reverse, a blue ink woodcut image is printed in the upper left corner, and a blue ink numbered image title is in the bottom centre. Holding the postcard against the backlight reveals a hidden image of an indecent nature (erotic). The use of Latin characters "R" and "N" instead of Russian "Р"  and "Н" suggests that the cards were produced in Europe, probably in France. Inscriptions: 1. ПЕRВЫЕ ДNИ; 2. ПОRА ЛЮБВИ; 3. ВЪ ЛЮДИ; 4. КЪ "СВОБОДNОМУ ИСКУССТВУ"; 5. "СВОБОДNЫЙ ТRУДЪ; 6. БЕЗЪ ГОRЯ И ПЕЧАЛИ; 7. NАЗАДЪ КЪ "СВОБОДNОЙ ЛЮБВИ"; 8. ВСЕ ЧТО ОСТАЛОСЬ!; 9. БЕЗЪ КRОВА И ПRИСТАNИЩА; 10. ИЗЪ ЗА ХЛѢБА.
  • Description: Two volumes 23.1 x 14.9 cm each, collated in 4to, uniformly bound in French flapped wrappers with the title and an engraved vignette, coloured; wrapped in glassine; cased in a cardboard chemise (23.1 x 15 cm) with a diaper of two hearts pierced by an arrow, in pink; and both volumes cased in a slipcase (23.8 x 15.2 cm) with the same diaper. Printed on unpaginated dense wove paper watermarked ‘Arches’, engravings with clear plate marks. Illustrations are by Jean Dulac. Title-page (double-fillet frame, black and red in manuscript) Nelly et Jean | – | nous deux | simples | papiers | du|  tiroir secret | {vignette} | Première partie (Deuxième partie) | – | Gravé | et imprimé | pour les auteurs | et leurs amis || Vol. 1: 1 blank, π4 (blank, h.t., frontis., engr. t.p.), 1-84, [2 blanks]; total 39 leaves with 19 hand-coloured burin engravings, incl. wrapper, frontis., and t.p. Unpag. Vol. 2: 1 blank, π4 (blank, h.t., frontis., engr. t.p.), 1-114, [1 colophon] [2 blanks], total 52 leaves with 27 hand-coloured burin engravings, incl. wrapper, frontis., and t.p. Unpag. Limitation: total print run of 295 copies of which 12 (№№ 1-12) on Japon Impérial, 13 on Vélin d’Arches (№№ 13-25), 30 on Japon Impérial (№№ 26-55) and 240 on Vélin d’Arches (№№ 56-295); this is copy № 97 on Vélin d’Arches. Contributors: Marcel Valotaire (French, 1889 – 1979) – author. Jean Dulac (French, 1902 – 1968) – artist. Printed by Coulouma (Argenteuil) and Vernant (Paris). The same title with illustrations by Gaston de Sainte-Croix was published in 1956:  LIB-2880.2021.
  • One of a series of six anti-allies propaganda cards, printed in colour, inscribed Ou le Tommy est-il resté? (Where did Tommy stay?), where Tommy is slang for a common soldier in the British Army. The postcards visibly depict French soldiers who fight and die at the western front, while the covert watermark image shows a British military having fun in a bordello. Those cards were printed in the Third Reich for France and dropped from aeroplanes to motivate French soldiers to fight against the British. Size: 149 x 104 mm
  • Title page (black lettering, gold elements of design): PIERRE ARETIN | LA PUTAIN | ERRANTE | DIALOGUE DE | MADELINE ET JULIE | {woodcut vignette} | PARIS — MCMXXX || Pagination: Red and gilt faux-marbled slipcase (19.5 x 15.5 cm), similar folder (18.7 x 15.1 cm), cream wove paper wrapper (18.5 x 14.7 cm) with gilt lettering “LA PUTAIN | ERRANTE”, with loosely inserted leaves printed on Japanese "mother-of-pearl" paper (japon nacré): [4] – blanks, [2] – h.t. / blank, [2] – t.p. / blank, 1-62, [2] – colophon / blank [4 blanks], gilt woodcut to p. 1; 76 pages total, plus 12 hand-coloured etchings (17.2 x 14.7 cm) by André Collot, extraneous to collation. Collation: 4to; π4, 1-84 χ2, 38 leaves total. Edition: 1st edition, limited to 150 copies, this is copy № 000009 (stamped in black ink). Catalogue raisonné: Dutel (1920-1970): № 2275, p. 333; Honesterotica. Contributors: Pietro Aretino (Italian, 1492 – 1556) – author (attributed). André Collot (French, 1897 – 1976) – artist.
  • Description: Softcover 25 x 17 cm in the publisher’s French flapped wrappers lettered to front in black and green « Pierre Louys | MANUEL | DE | CIVILITÉ | POUR LES PETITES FILLES | à l'usage | des | maisons d'éducation » in a frame; unbound, 14 loose bifold wove paper (BFK Rives) sheets collated 4to, in glassine dust jacket, in slipcase; pp.: [1-10] 11-104 [8], total 56 leaves plus 12 laid-in plates after an anonymous artist’s watercolours and drawings reproduced by photogravure and stencil-coloured (au pochoir). Title-page: MANUEL | DE | CIVILITÉ | POUR LES PETITES FILLES | à l'usage | des | maisons d'éducation | ~ | LONDERS | MCMXLVIII || Limitation: 299 copies of which 1 copy (№ UN) on Vieux Japon enriched with the original watercolours and drawings and a b/w suite; 6 copies on Auvergne, each with one original watercolour and a b/w suite (№ I-VI); 6 copies on Auvergne each with one original drawing and a b/w suite (№ VII-XII); 15 copies on Auvergne enriched with a b/w suite (№ XVIII-XXVIII); 271 copies on Vélin de Rives (№ 1-271). This is copy № 91. Publisher, printer, artists – anonymous and unknown. Clandestine edition, marked "London", i.e. Nice, France. Catalogue raisonné: Dutel (1920-1970) № 1920, p. 251. For the original edition, see: LIB-3116.2022.
  • Title: L'ART | D'AIMER, | ET | POÉSIES DIVERSES | DE M. BERNARD. Pagination: [2] – t.p. / stanza by Voltaire; engraved t. p., frontispiece, [1] 2-170; pp. 1-61 – L'art d'aimer; pp. 62-111 – Phrosine et Mélidore; pp. 112-170 – Poésies diverses; illustrations. Collation: 8vo; π1 (letterpress t.p.), A-K8 L5; + 8 plates: (1)* engraved title page facing the stanza by Ch. Baquoy; (2) plate as a frontispiece by Ponce after Ch. Eisen, inscribed Chant I above the image, dated 1772, facing p. [1], chant 1er of l’art; (3)* Ch. Baquoy after P. Martini, inscribed Chant II below the image, facing p. 22, chant 2nd of l’art; (4) Ch. Baquoy after Eisen, inscribed Chant III above the image, facing p. 44, chant 3rd of l’art; (5)* Patas after P. Martini, inscribed Chant Ier below the image, dated 1775, facing p. 62, chant 1er of Phrosine; (6) Ch. Baquoy after Eisen, inscribed Chant II above the image, facing p. 74, chant 2nd of Phrosine; (7)* C. Gaucher after P. Martini, facing p. 84, chant 3rd of Phrosine; (8) Ch. Baquoy after Eisen, inscribed Chant IV above the image, facing p. 97, chant 4th of Phrosine; * – images additional to 1772 edition by Le Jay [LIB-2706.2021] (i.e. plates 1, 3, 5, and 7 are new). A counterfeit edition by an anonymous publisher. Binding: brown pebbled morocco, triple fillet gilt-ruled boards, raised bands, gilt in compartments, gilt label lettering to spine, marbled endpapers, AMG; printed on laid paper, with tall 's'. Catalogue raisonné: Cohen, De Richi (1912): p. 132: describes a counterfeit edition with 170 pages and 3 additional plates plus an engraved title. This seems to be a combination of Lejan [sic] Paris 1775 edition, which normally has 134 pages, 8vo, title engraved by Baquoy and three plates after Martini by Patas, Baquoy and Gaucher. Contributors: Nicolas Ponce (French, 1746 – 1831) – engraver. Jean Charles Baquoy (French, 1721 – 1777) – engraver. Jean-Baptiste Patas (French, 1748 – 1817) – engraver. Charles-Étienne Gaucher (French, 1740 – 1804) – engraver. Charles-Dominique-Joseph Eisen (French, 1720 – 1778) – artist. Pietro Antonio Martini (Italian, 1738 – 1797) – artist. Pierre-Joseph Bernard [Gentil-Bernard] (French, 1708 – 1775) – author of the text.
  • Softcover volume, 25.9 x 16.7 cm, in French flapped wrappers lettered "PIETRO ARETINO | SONNETS | LUXURIEUX | {garland}" unbound, 6 gatherings in 4to (24 leaves, incl. those in wrappers), a few sheets of guard tissue laid in, unpaginated, lower margin untrimmed; in a burgundy double slipcase 26.3 x 17.3 cm. Illustrated with title-page vignette, red initials and tailpieces and 16 half-page engravings by Jean Baptiste Tavy Notton. Text in Italian and French. Title-page (red and black): SONNETS | LUXURIEUX | de | PIETRO ARETINO | dit L'ARÉTIN | avec accompagnement | de gravures au burin | d'après la description des gravures | de GIULIO PIPPI DE GIANNUZZI dit JULES ROMAIN | {vignette} | AUX DÉPENS | DE QUELQUES AMATEURS | 1948 || Clandestine limited edition, print run of 250 copies, of which this is copy № 20, printed on thick wove paper without watermarks. Catalogue raisonné: Dutel III № 2421. Original edition: Sonetti lussuriosi by Pietro Aretino, illustrated by Giulio Romano and engraved by Marcantonio Raimondi, published clandestinely in Venice in c.1527. Contributors: Pietro Aretino (Italian, 1492 – 1556) – author. Jean Baptiste Tavy Notton (French, 1914 – 1971) – artist. Antoine-Isidore Liseux (French, 1835 – 1894) – translator/comments. Giulio Romano [Giulio Pippi, Giulio Giannuzzi] (Italian, c.1499 – 1546) – artist. Marcantonio Raimondi (Italian c. 1470/82 – c. 1534) – engraver.  
  • Unbound, unpaginated album (28.4 x 19.5 cm) with 24 leaves (12 folded sheets 28 x 38 cm each), printed on thick wove paper, watermarked Vidalon, with text and 31 vignettes, some pages foxed. Publisher’s original flapped cream wrappers, lettering to front: Raymond Radiguet | Vers Libres | {vignette} || Half-title:Vers Libres” on a ribbon covering a stick, garland, and flute. Title: Raymond Radiguet | Vers Libres | {vignette} | NOGENT | AU PANIER FLEURI || Illustrations: Cover vignette, frontispiece, tail- and a headpiece for introduction, and vignettes (total 31 illustrations) undoubtedly attributed Rojan (Feodor Rojankovsky). Poems: Chat perché; Champigny, Les fiancés de treize ans, Saison, Le petit journal, Ébauches, Usée, Jeux innocents, Bains publics, L’autre bouche, Cinématographe. In 1937, the «Jeux innocents» piece was added to the 1935 edition, together with 4 illustrations on top of 27 vignettes in 1935, making it 31. Edition: 1st thus; however, the 1935 edition may be considered the 'real' 1st. Limitation on the last page: the total print run on 250 copies by subscription only, this copy is № 181 from 243 on Vélin de Vidalon (as per Dutel). Illustrations printed in black and stencil-coloured (au pochoir). Catalogue raisonné: Dutel 2593; Nordmann (2): 451. Contributors: Raymond Radiguet (French, 1903 –  1923) – author. Feodor Rojankovsky [Rojan; Рожанковский, Фёдор Степанович] (Russian-American, 1891 – 1970) – artist.
  • Portfolio 265 x 225 mm, black half-buckram over diapered cardboard with flaps, black with gilt lettering in frame to front “R. KELLER | MÄRCHEN”, t.p. printed on wave paper, the folder and engravings printed on laid paper, 10 loose plates, 240 x 210 mm sheet, 135 x 110-115 mm plate; re-issue of ten plates of the first edition of 16 plates published in Austria in c. 1910s. Title-page: EROTISCHE | MÄRCHEN | 10 RADIERUNGEN | VON | RUDOLF KELLER | PRIVATDRUCK 1919 || Die Mappe enthält folgende originalradierungen: 1. Aschenbrödel; 2. Dornröschen; 3. Zwerg Nase; 4. Froschkönig; 5. Der gestiefelte Kater; 6. Hänsel und Gretel; 7. Der fliegende Koffer; 8. Schneewittchen mit den 7 Zwergen; 9. Die kleine Seejungfer; 10. Der kleine Daumling Dieses Werk wurde in einer einmaligen Auflage von 250 numerierten Exemplaren hergestellt und darf nur an Gelehrte und Sammler abgegeben werden. Die Platten wurden vernichtet. Nr. 1—50 sind vom Künstler signierte Vorzugsdrucke. Dieses Exemplar erhielt Nr. 0153. Translation: The folder contains the following original etchings: 1. Cinderella; 2. Sleeping Beauty; 3. Dwarf nose; 4. The Frog Prince; 5. Puss in Boots; 6. Hansel and Gretel; 7. The Flying Trunk; 8. Snow White with the Seven Dwarfs; 9. The Little Mermaid; 10. Little Thumbling. This work was produced in a one-time edition of 250 numbered copies and may only be sold to scholars and collectors. The copperplates were destroyed. Nos. 1-50 are special prints signed by the artist. This copy was given number 0153. Seller's description: Erotische Märchen. S.l., Privatdruck, 1919. In-8, en feuilles, sous chemise demi-chagrin vert recouverte de papier japonais. Recueil de 10 eaux-fortes originales de Rudolf Keller. Ces eaux-fortes érotiques dans les teintes brunes s'inspirent des contes de fées traditionnels comme Cendrillon, La Belle au bois dormant, Hansel et Gretel, Blanche-Neige, Le Petit Poucet etc. Tirage à 250 exemplaires. Chemise défraîchie. Jacob Grimm (German; 1785 – 1863) Wilhelm Grimm (German, 1786 – 1859) Charles Perrault (French, 1628 – 1703) Hans Christian Andersen (Danish, 1805 – 1875)
  • Bandō Mitsugorō III as Daihanji Kiyozumi and Arashi Koroku IV as Koganosuke in kabuki play Imoseyama, an example of womanly virtue (Imoseyama onna teikin). 大判事清澄 坂東三津五郎」(三代)・「久我之助 嵐小六」(四代) Artist: Shunkōsai Hokushū [春好斎北洲] (Japanese, fl. 1802 – 1832) Year: 1821 (3rd month). MFA description: “The Kabuki play Mount Imo and Mount Se: An Exemplary Tale of Womanly Virtue (Imoseyama onna teikin), originally based on a puppet play, is set in ancient Japan when the Soga clan served as regents to the emperor. Two children, Hinadori and Koganosuke, of rival court families, are held hostage under orders from the tyrant Soga no Iruka to ensure their families do not revolt. The children fall in love, but rather than create conflicts for their families they each vow to die by suicide. When the parents learn of their plans, they resolve to cooperate to overthrow Iruka. Here Koganosuke and his father Kiyozumi are shown; a companion sheet on the left would have shown Hinadori and her mother Sadaka.” The play Imoseyama, an example of womanly virtue (Imoseyama onna teikin), was staged at Osaka's Kado Shibai (Kadoza, Kado Gekijô, Kado no Shibai) from 3/1821. According to Herwig, it is the right sheet of a diptych (see below). MFA Accession number: 2011.128 Kabuki actors: Bandō Mitsugorō III [三代目 坂東 三津五郎] (Japanese, 1775 – 1831); other names: Bandō Minosuke I, Morita Kanjirô II, Bandō Mitahachi I, Bandō Minosuke I, Bandō Mitahachi I. Arashi Koroku IV [四代目嵐小六] (Japanese, 1783 – 1826)
    Ref.: [LIB-1197.2016] Arendie and Henk Herwig. Heroes of the kabuki stage: an introduction to kabuki with retellings of famous plays, illustrated by woodblock prints. — Amsterdam: Hotei Publishing, 2004; p. 72:
    Ref: [LIB-2973.2022] Ukiyo-e: A journey through the Floating World / Exhibition catalogue (Japan, Jan-Jul 2014). — The Yomiuri Shimbun, 2014; № 358, p. 226. "Bandō Mitsugorō III as Grand arbiter Kiyosumi and Arashi Koroku IV as Koganosuke":
  • Artist (attributed, no signature): Suzuki Harunobu [鈴木 春信] (Japanese, c. 1725 – 1770). The title is taken from [LIB-1478.2013] Gian Carlo Calza, Stefania Piotti. Poem of the pillow and other stories. — Phaidon Press, 2010; pp. 148-9. Alternative title: Man sucking woman's breast and a cat sitting under a bonsai tree. The open book beside the couple reads 子春 (Koharu). Woodblock print from the series Mirror Picture of Japan (Wakoku kagami);  Size: Horizontal chuban; 21 x 26 cm.  
  • A shunga (erotic) print by Suzuki Harunobu  [鈴木 春信] (Japanese, c. 1725 – 1770) depicting a woman making love with a man in the palanquin (のりもの/乗り物) while the other woman "ties a sash about her hips below her obi."  The sheet is not signed; however, it is attributed to Harunobu. A reference image can be found in the Metropolitan Museum (NY) collection, Accession Number JP1635:

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

    According to the MET "the palanquin ... has carried these courtesans to the shore for a spring outing". Some time ago, a similar print was sold by Richard Kruml (description: A chuban shunga print showing the occupant of a kago in flagrante with one of the porters, having seized the opportunity of a stop on the journey. Published late 1760s. Rare). Another copy was sold at Sotheby's in Paris for €3,360 on November 27, 2002 (Lot 24), with a reproduction of the print's detail and description on p. 39: Suzuki Harunobu (1725 – 1770) | Shunga: couple dans un palanquin, vers 1768-1770, non-signe, cachet non identifé, cachets Charles Mitchell, Huguette Berès, Format chuban, 20.1 x 28.6 cm | 3000 – 4000 € | Il s’agit probablement de trois voyageurs, l’un d’entre eux debout près du palanquin faisant mine d’ignorer la scène. Bibliographie: Delay p. 87. Reference: [LIB-3121.2022] Sotheby's: Collection Huguette Berès – Estampes, dessins et livres illustrés japonais / 2 volumes; vol. 1. — Paris: Sotheby's, 2002.