Utagawa Hiroshige II’s woodblock print, “Mount Takatsu, Iwami”, early 1850s–1862

Utagawa Hiroshige II (歌川広重) (1826–1869)

“Mount Takatsu, Iwami” (石見 高津 山) (aka “Mount Takazuno in Iwami Province”), early 1850s–1862, plate 42 from the series, “Sixty-Eight Views of the Various Provinces” (aka “Shokoku rokujū-hakkei” [諸国 六十八 景 []]) published by Tsutaya Kichizō (蔦屋吉蔵) (c1820–1869); see J. Noel Chiappa’s online catalogue raisonné of the work of Utagawa Hiroshige II: https://hiroshigeii.net/series/68Provinces.html.

Note that although Chiappa proposes the date of this print as 1862, the following description offered by Zach Auctions suggests that this print may be earlier: “The separate censor and date seals indicate it was printed in the early 1850s, as from 1853 approval seals along with date seals were used and after 1857 only a single seal, either combining the censor and date or giving the date only” (https://www.zacke.at/auction/lot/485-utagawa-hiroshige-ii-a-color-woodblock-print-of-mount-takatsu-in-iwami/?lot=3608&sd=1).

Colour woodblock print on fine washi paper with small margins around the platemark.

Size: (sheet) 23.3 x 17.1 cm; (image borderline) 22.5 x 16.6 cm.

Condition: a rare original early impression with no tears, holes, folds or significant stains but there are ink notations (verso).

I am selling this subtly coloured and very beautiful image of two plumes of smoke by Hiroshige II for a total cost of AU$336 (currently/approximately US$226.87/EUR209.22/GBP177.07 at the time of posting this listing) including Express Mail (EMS) postage and handling to anywhere in the world, but not (of course) any import duties/taxes imposed by some countries. Note that payment is in Australian dollars (AU$336) as this is my currency.

If you are interested in purchasing this original and very beautiful woodblock print by one of the most famous of the 19th century Japanese artists, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

Utagawa Hiroshige II’s colour woodblock, “Waterfall River at Ôji”, 1860

Utagawa Hiroshige II (歌川広重) (1826-1869)

“Waterfall River at Ôji” (aka “Ôji Takinogawa”), 1860, plate 14 from the series, “Forty-Eight Famous View of Edo” (aka “Yedo Meisho Shijū Hakkei”), published in Edo by Tsutakichi (aka Tsutaya Kichizo [蔦屋吉蔵]) (fl.1830–1859).

Colour woodblock print (nishiki-e) with bohashi gradations on fine fibrous washi paper and margins as published, backed with a support sheet.

Size: Chuban (sheet) 24.8 x 18.2 cm; (image borderline) 22.7 x 16.7 cm; (support sheet) 35.8 x 28.2 cm.

Seal inscriptions (in translation): (left red cartouche) “Hiroshige gwa”; (upper right in red cartouche showing the title of the series) “Famous Views of Yedo” (Yedo meisho dzuye); (upper right scroll showing the title of the print) “Waterfall River at Ôji” (Ôji Takinogawa); (upper right scroll on its rolled underside showing the number of the print) “14”. Note that this information is based on my understanding of the seals described in Edward Fairbrother Strange’s (1983) “Hiroshige’s Woodblock Prints”.

Toshidama Gallery offers the following excellent insights about the scene portrayed in this print: “[The] area around Oji (now in Tokyo) was wild and a confluence of rivers created seven natural waterfalls near the Inari Temple. This was a famous place to visit and view the natural beauty of the rivers. The area is now a busy urban scene and the original waterfalls are long goneIn this view we see the natural caves and one of the famous falls; a small bridge crosses the water in the middle distance and there are sightseers crossing the bridge and exploring the caves” (https://www.toshidama-japanese-prints.com/item_316/Hiroshige-II-48-Famous-Views-of-Edo-14--Waterfall-River-at-Oji.htm).

Condition: a well-printed impression, restored with replenished losses (visible when the sheet is held to the light) and laid upon an archival support sheet of millennium quality washi paper.

I am selling this subtly coloured woodblock print of caves and waterfalls around Tokyo that I understand no longer exist, for AU$388 (currently US$276.55/EUR245.88/GBP208.89 at the time of 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 original and very beautiful woodblock print by one of the most famous of the 19th century Japanese artists, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

Re-editioned colour woodblock print, c1950, after Hiroshige’s “Sudden Shower at Atake”, 1857

(Designed by) Utagawa Hiroshige (歌川広重) (1797–1858)

“Sudden Shower at Atake” (aka “Sudden Shower over Shin-Ohashi Bridge and Atake”; “大はしあたけの夕立”; “Ōhashi atake no yūdachi”; “No 52 Ohashi Atake no yudachi”), printed from recut blocks and published by Takamizawa with the publisher’s seal (verso), c1950, originally cut and printed in 1857, from the series, “One Hundred Famous Views of Edo” (aka “Meisho Edo Hyakkei”. This impression closely follows the colours of the BM impression (1906,1220,0.752). Not that there are significant colour variations in the original impressions; see, for example, BM inv. no. 1906,1220,0.752. Wikipedia offers an excellent description of the portrayed scene and an explanation for the variations in the impressions: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sudden_Shower_over_Shin-%C5%8Chashi_bridge_and_Atake.

Colour woodblock (with bohashi gradations) on fine fibrous washi paper with margins as published.

Size: (sheet) 38.1 x 25.6 cm; (image borderline) 33.7 x 21.7 cm.

Condition: an unfaded and well-printed strong impression from recut plates with full margins as published and (surprisingly) in pristine condition despite being in storage for more than 50 years.

I am selling this colour woodblock print using recut blocks and traditional hand-printing techniques to re-edition Hiroshige’s famous woodblock showing a sudden downpour of rain on a section of the wooden Shin-Ohashi bridge with a view to Edo in the distance, for AU$623 (currently US$442.52/EUR390.88/GBP332.98 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 finely executed recut woodblock print after Hiroshige’s original print—note the remarkably thin lines representing rain that I can scarcely believe are cut as raised relief lines in the wooden printing block! —please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

Utagawa Hiroshige’s woodblock, “Shinobazu Pond”, c1841

Utagawa Hiroshige (Ando) (1797-1858)

“Shinobazu Pond” (Shinobazu no ike)”, 1840–1842(?), from the series, “Famous Places in the Eastern Capital” (Tōto meisho) (1831–1856), published by Masugin - Masudaya Ginjirō.

Regarding this print, J Noel Chiappa advises that impressions “with the censor seal 'Hama' are known” and offers an historical context for its publication: http://mercury.lcs.mit.edu/~jnc/prints/ViewsToto.html#TM-M40I (see “Famous Places in the Eastern Capital - Mid-1840's [sic]”). From what I am able to find on the web, the upper seal on the right is that of “Hama” that Chiappa mentions (see http://www.ukiyo-e.se/archive/messages/13669.html see also an illustration of the seal http://www.ukiyo-e.se/archive/messages/13668.html).

Woodblock print (horizontal ōban) printed in colour on washi paper.

Size: (sheet) 20.5 x 35 cm.

Condition: a strong lifetime impression with replenished abrasions and early restorations. The sheet has been laid onto a support of archival (millennium quality) washi paper as it was in a delicate state.

I am selling this exceptionally beautiful and poetic original woodblock print by the famous Utagawa Hiroshige (stamped with what I understand is the rare censor seal of “Hama” along with the artist’s name) for AU$441 (currently US$325.08/EUR275.67/GBP234.31 at the time of 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 marvellous and genuine lifetime woodblock impression still glowing with rich colour by one of the most famous of the 19^th century Japanese artists, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

This print has been sold