[EHON] Utagawa TOYOKUNI I

Yôbô Shashin HAIYÛ SANKAI-KYÔ

1801. Item #89578

[EHON] Utagawa TOYOKUNI I. Yôbô Shashin HAIYÛ SANKAI-KYÔ. Edo, Nishimiya Shinroku, Yorozuya Tajiemon, Kansei 13 [1801]. 21.6 x 15.2 cm., hanshibon, string-bound, fukuro-toji. With the original blind-stamped covers. The printed title labels is soiled but present on volume one and nearly gone from volume two. It has the title page mounted on the inner front cover of volume one and the colophon at the end of volume two. The text is by the famous Edo comic author and theatrical devotee, Shikitei Samba, and the prints by Toyokuni I in his prime. A collection of images of famous actors of the day on their days off, as it were. One could translate the title as something like: ACTORS WITHOUT MAKEUP. The two volumes are complete as issued. The books, especially volume two, are soiled and the colors are a bit faded throughout but the printing is good or better of this important and very unusual title. Toda/Ryerson p. 287-8. A copy was the 76th item in the Gerstle, Clark and Yano catalogue, KABUKI HEROES ON THE OSAKA STAGE, and the 57th item in Isseido's 100th anniversary catalogue, published in 2003. Very good overall. In a custom clasped chitsu case.

Price: $8,500.00