18. [EHON] Tanigami Kônan, artist. Seiyô SÔKA ZUFU. Kyoto: Unsôdô, Taishô 6 [1917]. 5 volumes. Orihon folding albums, each 27.8 x 18.8 cm, in green boards with printed paper title labels. There are two "Spring" volumes, bound separately. Two "Summer" volumes, "Fall" & "Winter" are bound together with a cover uniform with the other four and an appropriate publisher's title slip. They are in the worn publisher's chitsu clasped case with a printed title label.Each volume numbers its color woodblock prints up to 25. Each volume has a table of contents listing 25 prints [in English, kana and kanji, where appropriate]. Thus, a complete set consists of 125 (each image size 22.4 x 33.1cm) double page prints.
There is no mention of this book in any of the standard Western references (a fact which illustrates again the need for an Unsôdô bibliography!). These "Seiyo," i.e. "Western" flowers are depicted in a realistic fashion and printed in lovely rich colors with a great deal of skill. Unlike some other botanicals, no bald descriptive text intrudes upon the print itself. The captions are banished to the margin. The impressions in this set are very good and the colors lovely. Overall the condition is very good. Extraordinary set.