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BUNCHO, Ippitsusai (fl. c. 1755 - 90)		from: Ehon butai ogi - ('A Picture-Book of Stage Fans')
		Sealed:                         Buncho Publisher:                   Kariganeya Ihei Published:                   Meiwa 7 (1770) Size:                             hanshibon (25 x 16 cms / 9 7/8" x 6 1/4") Condition: Fine impression and color, very good condition, with exceptionally well preserved colors for such an early ukiyo-e. ref. no.: #621991-1 Price:  € 650.00

This print is from one of the two "finest of all colour-printed picture books" (J. Hillier, op.cit.), the early masterpiece in Japanese book illustration, Ehon butai ogi (3 vols.), depicting 121 portraits of actors from the kabuki stage in a fan-shaped cartouches, a collaboration between Buncho and Katsukawa SHUNSHO, published in 1770. This depictions illustrates the actor MATSUMOTO KOSHIRO V ( ? - 1838). The extremely rare, complete three-volume book almost never shows up for sale. A facsimile edition of 1917 is offered on the Facsimile edions page of our 'Illustrated Books' section Reference: Jack Hillier, "The Art of the Japanese Book", London, 1987; vol. I, pp. 330-335.

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