Maekawa Bunrei 前川文嶺

Bunrei Gafu 文嶺画譜 [Bunrei Kachō Gafu 文嶺花鳥画譜] Vol 2 (of 2)

Item #91061

Bunrei Gafu 文嶺画譜 [Bunrei Kachō Gafu 文嶺花鳥画譜] Vol 2 (of 2)
Maekawa Bunrei 前川文嶺
Yokohama: Hobu Shokai 法武商会
Meiji 18 明治十八年 [1885]

[Birds and Flowers] Large volume 35.7 x 24.5cm string-bound Japanese style, fukuro-toji with printed title slip and decorated wrappers. Volume 2 of 2 volumes. [33] cho of original color woodblock prints of birds and flowers done in peach and brown tones. In addition, there is a preface and title page, and a colophon on the inside rear wrapper. All in Japanese text. Title in seal script on inside front wrapper. Two green laid-in index cards 7.5 x 12.5cm list the 45 illustrations with birds identified in handwritten text, some with the names of the birds in English.

This “Album of Drawings of Flowers and Birds” 文嶺花鳥画譜 features striking, full page and double page woodcuts of birds, many on flowering branches by artist Maekawa Bunrei 前川文嶺 (1837-1917). Many of the designs are reminiscent of the series done by Bairei in his “100 Birds,” but are transformed in this larger format. Published by Hoku Shokai 法武商会 with an introduction by the eminent painter Kikuchi Yōsai 菊池 容斎 (1788-1878). Mitchell refers to the Ryerson copy for his reference, citing the title as Bunrei Kachō Gafu. See Mitchell p. 230. Agrees with online Pulverer collection copy accessed 1.24.23 https://pulverer.si.edu/node/825/title/2/36.

Toning to and dust soiling of wrappers. Penciled writing at top of book slip. Purple string is broken at one horizontal point and a middle section of front wrapper is peeled off. Interior pages have slight toning as expected, otherwise artwork is in good condition. Very good impressions.

Price: $1,400.00