A pictorial album with almost no information (coffee-table book), hardcover, 28 x 21 x 4.8 cm, in pictorial paper boards, lettered all over, in transparent plastic dust jacket; pp.: [1-5] 6-463 [464 colophon], total 232 leaves, illustrated in colour throughout. Title-page: Poem of the Pillow and other stories | by Utamaro, Hokusai, Kuniyoshi | and other artists of the Floating World | Gian Carlo Calza | In collaboration with Stefania Piotti | {publisher’s device “Φ” in the bottom} || Contributors: Gian Carlo Calza (Italian, b. 1940); Stefania Piotti (Italian).

"Poem of the Pillow and Other Stories examines the artistic developments of Japanese erotic art from the ukiyo-e period, dating from the mid-seventeenth century to the end of the nineteenth century. Known by the delicate euphemism of Shunga or 'spring images', these pictures were hugely popular and admired, and are today highly collectable works of art. This book illustrates major Shunga works from important ukiyo-e masters such as Utamaro, Hokusai, Harunobu, Kunisada, Kuniyoshi and many others. World-renowned scholar Gian Carlo Calza defines these fascinating erotic works in their social, historical and artistic context, providing a broad overview of a subject that is extremely nuanced and intriguing. Beautifully illustrated with over 300 images, including woodblock prints, scrolls and paintings, this book is a perfect introduction to ukiyo-e erotic art."

List of the artists: The Kanbun Master, Hishikawa Moronobu, Sugimura Jihei, Torii Kiyonobu I, Nishikawa Sukenobu, Miyagawa Chōshun, Okumura Masanobu, Tsukioka Settei, Suzuki Harunobu, Isoda Koryūsai, Katsukawa Shunshō, Katsukawa Shunchō, Kitao Masanobu, Torii Kiyonaga, Kitagawa Utamaro, Chōbunsai Eishi, Chōkyōsai Eiri, Katsushika Hokusai, Utagawa Toyokuni, Utagawa Kunisada, Kikugawa Eizan, Keisai Eisen, Utagawa Kuniyoshi.