"男色文献書志"

Iwata, Junichi [edited by].

Tōkyō: Koten Bunko, Shōwa 31 [1956]. First edition.

A detailed bibliography of references to nanshoku themes in Japanese literature by artist and researcher Iwata Junichi (1900-1945), published posthumously through the efforts of author and critic Edogawa Ranpo (1894-1965). This first edition lists a total of 1,093 ...

松竹映画シナリオ 惜春鳥

Kinoshita, Keisuke [screenplay and direction by].

Tōkyō: Eiga Taimususha, Shōwa 34 [1959]. First edition. 

A highly illustrated booklet on Kinoshita Keisuke’s film Sekishunchō, or Farewell to Spring. The film, released in 1959, is frequently referred to as the first LGBTQI+ themed film produced in Japan due to the close emo ...

"蔦模様血染御主印"

[Kawatake, Shinshichi III (original play by)].

Shintomi-machi, [Tōkyō]: Shintomiza, Taishō 3 [1914].

A shibai banzuke playbill for a performance of the nanshokuthemed kabuki play Tsutamoyō Chizome no Goshuin at the Shintomi-za theatre, Tōkyō, at 3 p.m. on October 8, 1914. Four vignettes of scenes in the performance are featured on the p ...

"細川家大火忠死誉"

Kōchōrō, Kunisada [Utagawa, Kunisada III (illustrated by)]; Kawatake, Shinshichi III [original play by].

Nihonbashi, [Tōkyō] : Fukuda Kumajirō, Meiji 22 [1889].

A triptych by Utagawa Kunisada III (1848–1920) depicting the most famous scene from the kabuki play Tsutamoyō Chizome no Goshuin (蔦模様血染御書, “The Ivy-Patterned Blo ...

"弁天小僧かぞへうた"

[Kimata, Asakichi? (text by); Kawatake, Mokuami (original play written by)].

Okazaki, [Aichi]: Kimata Asakichi, Meiji 29 [1896].

A collection of twenty kazoeuta (counting songs or poems), each with three lines, based on the tale of the young thief Benten Kozō Kikunosuke from the kabuki play Aotozōshi Hana no Nishikie ("The Glorious Pictur ...

"油町製本菜種黄表紙"

Ryūtei, Senka [Tanehiko II] [text by]; Utagawa, Sadahide [illustrated by].

[Tōkyō]: Tsuruya Kiemon, Tenpō 5 [1834].

A gōkan about which no research in Japanese or English has been located, but which may revolve around bookbinding or publishing. The publisher, Tsuruya Kiemon, was based in Tōriaburachō, the well-known "book street" me ...

[Koshōtei, Sanjin (edited by).

Kyōto: Maria Gabō, ca. early Shōwa period (1920-30s)].

Four colour woodblock-printed reproductions of book-envelopes and wrappers of kusazōshi books, affixed at the edges to make one large leaf. The illustrations are probably from Sōshi Monyōshū (草紙文様集), a collection published in the early Shōwa period by Maria Gabō.

& ...

[Kuniteru II (illustrated by).

Tōkyō: Monbushō Seihonjo, Meiji 6 (1873)].

An illustrated explanation of screws, featuring an image of a Western book press. One diptych from a series of prints published by the bookbinding division of the Ministry of Education in the 1870s.

Diptych, complete. Foxing, repairs to some wormholes, centre fold, a ...

Bertrand [illustrated by].

[Spain: publisher unidentified, ca. 1876].

A Western take on the Tōriaburachō branch of famed publisher Tsuruya Kiemon's bookstore, based on an illustration of the same store from the multivolume Edo Meisho Zue (ca. 1834).

One loose leaf, possibly removed from a book by a previous owner. Light discolouration to ...

Uemura, Rokurō (compiled by).

Japan, ca. 1950s.

A scrapbook of tipped-in photographs and fabric samples compiled by Uemura Rokurō, a renowned researcher of dyeing and weaving. The scrapbook includes pictures of Dr. Hans Drissler (who founded the Japan Paper Import Company in 1924), Bernard Leach (together with the famous potter Shōji Hamada), and members of the Wa ...

[Japan, ca. late Edo to early Meiji period (1850-1870s)].

Semon ("back crests"), also known as semamori ("back-protectors" or "back amulets"), were designs sewn into children's kimono to prevent evil spirits from attacking them from behind or to prevent the soul from leaving the body. These two books feature a total of 76 designs hand-sewn through the paper with threa ...

Ōsaka: [Yamakichi?], ca. early Meiji period (1870-90s)].

A set of three paper templates for cutting materials to make tabi socks or jika-tabi (shoe-like tabi), woodblock-printed with instructions. The templates have been sewn together and may have been sold as a set in this format.

Three templates, sewn together, with an accompanying hand-inscribed ...

[Japan: publisher and creator unidentified, ca. early to mid Meiji period (1870-90s)].

A collection of fabric representations (oshi-e (押絵)) of characters from ukiyo-e. The title slips and lines of characters' clothes appear to have been cut out from woodblock-prints and laid onto various pasted-down fabrics to bring the characters to life. Some sections of the figur ...

Seisei [Kawanabe], Kyōsai [signed by].

[Japan, ca. mid Meiji period (1870-80s)?]. Manuscript.

A delicately hand-painted illustration attributed to Kyōsai. The scene, possibly alluding to setsubun, is comical, with one figure seemingly mistaking an oni mask resting on the bottom of a sleeping man for a real face. A very finely executed fan-painting in Kyōsai's ...

"暁斎楽畫"

Kawanabe, Dōiku [Kyōsai] [illustrated by].

Tōkyō : Takeda Den'emon, Meiji 14 [1881].

A delicately woodblock-printed album of 34 double-page illustrations of plants, flowers, and animals by Kyōsai. The theme of the set is uncommon for Kyōsai, who is more widely known for his satirical illustrations. Each volume includes seventeen double-pag ...

"鏡山舊錦画"

[Yō, Yōtai (original text by)].

[Ōsaka: Ono'oka Jinzaburō, ca. 1900-20s?].

In The Women's Chushingura, a play first performed in 1782, the heroine Ohatsu, the loyal maidservant of the middle-rank lady-inwaiting Onoe, takes revenge on Iwafuji, the senior lady-in-waiting, for causing the suicide of Onoe. Rebecca Corbett notes that the pl ...

"西南戦争始終"

Shōzaburō, Maeda [edited by]; Utagawa, Yoshikage [illustrated by].

Ōsaka: Maeda Kihē, Meiji 10 [1877].

A complete set of ten illustrated books on the Satsuma Rebellion (also known as the Seinan War), a battle between samurai and the new imperial government which took place from January to September, 1877, culminating in the elimination of th ...

"山水略画式"

[Kuwagata], Keisai [Kitao, Masayoshi; Keisai, Masayoshi] [illustrated by].

Naniwa, [Ōsaka]: Fukusada Tōhē, Bunka 10 [1813].

A Fukusada edition of Keisai's "guide to drawing landscapes simply". Keisai Masayoshi (1764-1824), who also worked under the names of Kitao Masayoshi and Kuwagata Keisai, provides a range of half-, single-, and double- ...

"しん板はんじ絵 旧の月日"

[Japan: publisher unidentified, Meiji 22 (1889)?].

Egoyomi ("picture-calendars") were originally produced in the Edo period for people who could not read. Typically, months in the calendars were indicated by numbers on dice, and the Zodiac animals were used to indicate the first days of the months. Months with 31 days are listed underneath a ...

"新形友禅模様"

[Illustrator unidentified].

[Tōkyō]: Shiseidō, [ca. 1900-1920s].

A chiyogami paper illustrated with a design for yūzen dyeing of waves, flowers, and shallow sake cups marked with the character 壽 ("lucky"), woodblock-printed with a metallic pigment.

One leaf, complete. Browned, light creases, a few bumps to extremities ...

Okada Domain, [Okayama]: Shichiya Kojimaya, Kyōho 17 [1732].

Four woodblock-printed hansatsu, feudal scrip used in the place of legal tender. These ginsatsu ("silver notes") each represent one monme (3.75g) of silver, and were issued in Kyōho 17 (1732).

Four leaves, printed on both sides. Wear, light soiling, creases. Each leaf measures 19.7 × ...

[Japan: publishers unidentified, ca. Edo period (19th century)].

A collection of twenty woodblockprinted mamori, woodblock-printed paper amulets usually sold at temples and shrines. Most of the amulets record what the buyer will be protected from, and several are enclosed in woodblockprinted 'envelopes'.

Twenty paper amulets. Creases, mark ...

"うそくらべ見立評判記"

[Creator unidentified].

[Japan: publisher unidentified, ca. late Edo period (mid-19th century)].

A mitate hyōbanki or banzuke of oft-used lies. The 'winners' of the ranking are "the young person who says they hate women" and "the old person who says they want to die quickly" - these people are presumably accused of telling the mo ...

"山でない山 川でない川 見立すもふ"

Nanritei [created by].

[Japan: publisher unidentified, ca. late Edo period (mid-19th century)].

A ranking of words and names (often those of brands) ending with yama ("mountain") that are not themselves the names of mountains, and the same for rivers (kawa). Nanritei (1782-1860) was a yomihon and gesaku author who lived durin ...

"大しんぱん 大笑歌仙合 やさことば"

[Creator unidentified].

Gion, [Kyōto]: Yamasa, [ca. Edo period (early 19th century)].

A woodblock-printed collection of risqué poems, mostly about courtesans, published in the entertainment district of Kyōto in the early 19th century. The publisher, Yamasa, also produced kappazuri prints designed by Urakusai Nagahide in ...

"滑稽 笑袋"

Murata, Tamesaburō [text by].

Tōkyō: Hakkōdō, Meiji 27 [1894].

A woodblock-printed collection of amusing mistakes and misheard words. The compilation, publication of which was certified by the Home Ministry, is almost entirely in katakana.

One leaf, complete. Creases, light foxing, marks, small hole and sticker removal. 24 ...

Ōsaka: Kōtō Saburō, Hisayama Yūkichi, Meiji 33 [1900].

Two woodblock-printed calendars for 1901, published in 1900 by two Osaka printers as advertisements for a rice store and a tuna store.

Two leaves. Chips to extremities, creases, and occasional small marks. 53 x 37.9 cm (left) and 53.5 x 35.4 cm (right).

Berlin: Julius Rosenthal Filiale, 1892.

A crêped poster for a series of events, including an operetta, ballet, and music, at the Unter den Linden theatre, with decorative margins woodblockprinted in Japan and text printed with movable type in Berlin. The events were directed by Alois and Rudolf Ronacher, and featured "The World in Illustrations and Dance", with ima ...

Paris: P. Gayda, 1903.

A souvenir for a fête celebrating Franco-Italian relations, on crêped paper and with decorative margins woodblock-printed in Japan. The margins - four humorous "comic strips" read right to left and top to bottom - feature what appear to be sisters having their ponytails tied together by a child, a man falling for a child's prank and ...

Lyon: G. Véronnet, [ca. 1880s].

An advertisement for a theatrical event in Lyon featuring the Mysterious Men, Miss Nelly, Sir Robertson, and Doctor Méphisto, on flat (non-crêped) paper with decorative margins printed in Japan. The illustration features a woman and a child looking up at two cranes while an elderly man ties his shoelaces, missing the sig ...

Luchon: Sarthe, [ca. 1909].

An advertisement for the Japanese, Chinese, and Vietnamese wares of antiquities dealer M. Armand Loge, who is known to have published a catalogue of East Asian art objects including carved woods, bronzes, weapons, ivories, netzuke, lacquers, and inrō from the Collection Rabeuf in 1909. The name Tagawa-ya in the bottom left of the print is proba ...

"親爺教育: ジグスとマギー, 第一輯"

McManus, George [created by].

Tōkyō : Asahi Shinbunsha, [Taishō 13 (1924)].

The first Japanese language collection of Bringing Up Father cartoons by American illustrator George McManus. Another collection (believed to be the last collection published in Japanese) was produced the following year. The book includes a pream ...

Kyōto: Miyabi-kai, [ca. 1920-30s].

An early Shōwa period invitation to an exhibition of fabrics with new dyeing and weaving designs held by the Miyabi-kai. Information about the location and time of the event appears in the illustration of the gramophone and its base when the lower moving section of the card is revolved.

One card, complete. Light di ...

"趣味のコクテール"

Momose, Susumu [text by].

Tōkyō : Kinseidō , Shōwa 8 [1927]. First edition.

One of the earliest Japanese cocktail books, containing information on the history of cocktails, notes on mixing liquors, illustrations of implements used in bartending, and, of course, many cocktail recipes.

Original boards, minor wear t ...

"コクテール（混合酒調合法）"

Akiyama, Tokuzō [compiled by].

Tōkyō: Akiyama Ryōri Kenkyūjo, Shōwa 4 [1929]. Fourth edition.

The first cocktail book published in Japan, with several original recipes inspired by Japanese themes. The novel and Japanese TV drama "The Emperor's Cook" was based on the life of the author, Akiyama Tokuzō (1888-1974), who worked u ...

[Japan]: Asahi Caramel, [ca. early Shōwa period (1930-50s)].

A set of four posters advertising Asahi Caramels.

Four leaves. Creases, light wear, small marks. Lacking string attachments. Each leaf measures approx. 39 x 13 cm.

"健胃強神　古加葡萄酒"

Yokohama: Meiji-ya, Meiji 27 [1894].

Tonic Coca Wine was a popular drink in Europe in the late 19th century, and, as can be seen from the images of medals in the illustration above, won numerous awards at expositions. The concoction is advertised here as a French-made must-have for the healthconscious buyer: a "strengthener of the entire syst ...

[Japan: maker unidentified, ca. mid-Meiji period (1880-1900)].

A paper envelope used as packaging for "Best Sugar", a product from an unknown manufacturer. The illustration has been woodblock-printed and the Japanese characters lithographically-printed. The use of Roman characters was considered a popular and stylish addition to advertisements in the Meiji period.

[Japan]: H. Ahrens & Co., [ca. 1870-1910].

A piece of packaging for 'Turkey red' (a colour used to dye cotton fabrics) with a lithographic label tipped-in. H. Ahrens & Co. was a German trading company based in Tōkyō with branches in Yokohama and Kōbe. John Orr Ewing & Co. was the name of a prominent Turkey red firm in Scotland.

O ...

"武村式安全搾乳・哺乳兼用器"

Ōsaka: Takemura Shōkai, [ca. late Meiji period (1890-1910s?)].

An advertisement for breast-pumps made by Ōsaka-based company Takemura Shōkai, featuring a photograph of a woman using the device.

One card, photograph tipped-in. Mild foxing, corners lightly bumped, small tear to photo. 19.5 x 13.3 cm.

Tōkyō: Mizuno Shōten, [ca. Taishō to early Shōwa period (1910-30s)?].

An advertisement for "Pyramid Best" cameras.

One leaf. Creases, paper lightly browned. 19.2 x 14.4 cm.

[Japan]: Shimomura, [ca. late Meiji to Taishō period (1900-20s)?].

An unusual image possibly featuring the son of the photographer.

One card, photograph tipped-in. Scrapes, light foxing, a few marks. 24.2 x 18.3 cm.

"日英博覧會見物 世界一周双六"

Nakamura, Fusetsu [created by]; Maeda, Mokuhō [calligraphy by].

Tōkyō: Asahi Shinbun, Meiji 43 [1911].

A new year's supplement produced by the Asahi Shinbun newspaper to commemmorate the 1910 JapanBritish Exhibition. Locations including Rome, Paris, Niagara Falls, the Statue of Liberty, and the United States Capitol are pictu ...

[Japan, Shōwa 12 (1936)?]. Manuscript.

A letter in morse code to a Mr. Shimizu Ichirō of Mie Prefecture. The content is unknown, but the sender seems to have been a field army soldier fighting in the Second SinoJapanese War.

Two manuscript leaves with original opened envelope, lightly stained. 22.7 x 17.3 cm.

"欧州正気論"

Church, R.W. [original text by]; Miyagawa, Tsuneteru, Doi, Michiyo [translated by].

[Japan]: Beikoku Seikyō Shorui Gaisha, Meiji 18 [1885].

A Japanese translation of a text, possibly by Richard William Church, on the history of Christianity in Greece, Italy, and Germany. Miyagawa Tsuneteru (1857-1936), one of the translators, was a Christian m ...

[Japan, ca. Meiji period (1870-90s)]. Manuscript.

A manuscript on the Tokugawa shogunate's civil government system, previously owned by or prepared for the diplomat and eventual British Consul-General John Carey Hall (1844-1921). Hall, who was born in Northern Ireland, came to Japan in 1867 and worked in several different roles, including as an interpreter, Acting-Con ...

"テニソン作 イン・メモリアム梗概"

Kuranaga, Takashi.

Tōkyō: Nihon Kirisutokyō Kōbun Kyōkai, Taishō 7 [1918]. First edition.

An analysis and partial translation by the pastor Kuranaga Takashi (1867- 1949) of one of Tennyson’s most highly acclaimed poems. Sections titled “The Poet’s Era”, “The Poet's Agony”, “The Pu ...

"和洋奇人傳 初編"

Jōno, Takashige [text by], Ochiai [Utagawa], Yoshiiku [illustrations by].

Tōkyō : Sanshobō , Meiji 5 [1872].

An international take on the kijinden ("eccentric figures" or "extraordinary figures") genre, featuring portraits and brief biographies of a total of 37 Japanese and Western figures, including Alexis de Tocqueville, John Britto ...

"海外人物輯"

Nagata, Nankei [text by]; Ikkōsai [Utagawa, Yoshimori] [illustrations by].

[Japan: publisher unidentified, preface dated Kaei 7 (1854)].

An album of people and traditional clothing from 42 countries around the world, with brief descriptions of the customs and geography of each country. The set was published as a revised edition of Nishikawa Jo ...

"亞墨利加洲内華盛頓府之景銅 板之寫生"

Issen [Utagawa], Yoshikazu [illustrated by].

[Tōkyō]: Maruya Jinpachi, [ca. Bunkyū Gannen (1861)].

A decidedly European depiction of Washington, purportedly based on an (asyet unidentified) copperplate engraving. A scarce aizuri-e of a foreign scene by Utagawa Yoshikazu (active ca. 1850–70), a pupil of Kuniyoshi (1 ...