Katsushika Taito II’s woodblock book, “Ehon tsuzoku Sangokushi” (book 6, vol. 6), 1842

Katsushika Taito II (二代葛飾戴斗) (aka Kondo Ban'emon [近藤伴右衛門]; Ryusai; Toenro Hokusen) (fl.1810–1853)—Pupil of Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849), who granted to him the art name Taito in 1819 (biographical details for this artist provided by the British Museum)

“Ehon tsuzoku Sangokushi” (絵本通俗三国志 [Picture book popular Romance of the Three Kingdoms]), book/part 6 of volume 6 (of 75 parts bound in 15 volumes [see https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/ehon-tsuzoku-sangokushi/author/ikeda-tori/used/), 1842 (Tenpo Era [1830–1844] Edo Period), woodblock prints printed in black ink on washi paper and stab-bound (Yotsume Toji).

Note that the British Museum holds a copy of book/part 6 of volume 7 in the same series: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/A_1979-0305-0-475-1-7.

I understand that the story illustrated in this book originated as an historical account (possibly with lots of creative invention) attributed to Luo Guanzhong (1330–1400) leading to a complete Japanese translation of the narrative in around 1690. The present version of this story, which may be from the original 1842 edition (as all the illustrations are printed in black rather than with added colour of the later 1884 edition) was very popular at the time, mindful that the story was “acclaimed as one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature” (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romance_of_the_Three_Kingdoms#Translations).

Size: (page) 22 x 15.3 cm,

Condition: the covers to the book have abrasions and stains but the pages (apart from appropriate age-toning) are in a good condition with no significant stains.

I am selling this rare and complete volume of five double-page woodblock illustrations (and the many pages of woodblock printed text) for AU$453 (currently US$302.79/EUR273.96/GBP241.16 at the time of posting this listing) including postage and handling to anywhere in the world, but not (of course) any import duties/taxes imposed by some countries.

If you are interested in purchasing this important book of five double-page woodblock prints (along with the many pages of woodblock printed text)—please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

This book of woodblock prints has been sold