A rarely encountered limited edition Japanese woodblock print over gold leaf depicting a solitary blue, white, and gold tree set against a barren foreground titled simply "Tree" by Joichi Hoshi (1913-1979) dated 1974. Pencil-signed "J. Hoshi" and dated '74 at the lower right, with the artist's square red seal above. Pencil-titled in kanji at the lower left and marked with the edition number 6/95. Paper size: 10"V x 13"H (image: 7 1/4" x 10 1/2"). Very good overall condition...

Toshi Yoshida (1911~1995)
Depicting: Snow scene
A woodblock print tipped at the top to a Japanese Christmas card from the early 1950s. Please photo of the inside of the card.
Signed "T. Yoshida"
Condition: Excellent.

Oversized Japanese limited edition sosaku hanga woodblock print by Tadashi Nakayama (b. 1927) titled “Butterflies and Trumpet” featuring Nakayama’s daughter’s face in profile beside a trumpet with butterflies in flight around her. This image is pencil-signed “T. Nakayama,” numbered 45/95, and dated 1985 in the bottom margin. The bottom margin edge also contains the title and original purchase price of 270,000 yen. The red Nakayama seal is verso...

Rare Japanese Meiji period woodblock print triptych of the Tokyo-Ueno/Yamashita Train and Ueno Station from the series “Famous Places in Tokyo” by Utagawa Kunitoshi (flourished 1847-1899) dated 1st month of Meiji 22 (1889). The triptych is bound in the original folder and has not been exposed to sunlight. "Enlightenment" prints of the 1880's - 1890's promoted modernization and illustrated the westernization of Japan. The Japanese built their first railroad in 1872...

19th century Japanese Yokohama woodblock print depicting the famous Italian painter and printmaker Titian showing a bust portrait to a patron. This image is from a series of anonymous educational prints published in the early Meiji period that related to important Westerners. The print is unsigned and undated. 13 1/2"V x 9 7/8"H. Very good overall condition with margins evident. The print is not backed and has been stored away from sunlight...

Japanese Meiji period Yokohama woodblock print depicting Okiyo, the daughter of a gardener in Mukojima, meeting with a foreigner who desired her to be his concubine. This print is illustration no. 661 from the newspaper series “Yubin Hochi Shimbun” (Postal News) by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1839-1892) published by Kinshôdô (Kumagai) the 4th month of 1875. 14 1/2"V x 9 3/4"H. Excellent color and very good overall condition with margins evident...

Historically important Japanese woodblock print triptych depicting the landing of foreigners of the “Five Treaty Nations” in Yokohama by Utagawa Yoshikazu (flourished 1850-1870). The print features soldiers and civilians from America, England, France, Russia, and The Netherlands grouped together with their respective flag and label. Two Chinese compradores, who facilitated trade, are in the foreground and western ships line the harbor in the background...

Japanese limited edition sosaku hanga woodblock print by Tadashi Nakayama (b. 1927) titled “Rainbow Butterflies” featuring Nakayama’s daughter’s face in profile with butterflies in flight around her. This image is pencil-signed “T. Nakayama,” numbered 34/95, and dated 1983 in the bottom margin. The bottom margin edge also contains the. The red Nakayama seal is verso. A color illustration of this image can be found on plate 205 of “T. Nakayama” published in 1989...

Russo-Japanese War triptych illustrating the surprise attack on Russia’s Far Eastern Fleet at Port Arthur that initiated the war. A large torpedo-boat is at the center. Two Russian ships at the upper left have been hit and are sinking...

Sino-Japanese War triptych of a naval battle scene at Wei-hai-wei featuring an embattled Chinese ship at the center surrounded by the Japanese fleet. Several final blasts sink the ship and send the Chinese soldiers into the ocean. The black ink signature of the artist is barely visible at the lower right and is possibly Kobayashi Ikuhide (active 1885-1898). The specific date is not filled in on the cartouche, but is 1894-1895. The assembled size is about 27 7/8"H x 14 1/4"V. Each panel meas...

Rare Japanese woodblock print kakemono (vertical diptych) by Toyohara Kunichika (1835-1900) depicting Onoe Kikugoro V as Nikki Danjo, the archvillain of kabuki roles, transforming himself magically into a rat. The kabuki play “Meibuku Sendai Hagi” (“The Disputed Succession”), deals with an assassination attempt on Tsuruchiyo, a child who had inherited the position as head of a Semdai clan. A stolen scroll containing a list of assassination conspirators is in Nikki Danjo’s mouth. Pub...

Rare Edo period Japanese namazu-e (earthquake fish picture) woodblock print featuring a giant human-like catfish playing a samisen beside an oni (demon) who is seated casually reading a book. In Japanese mythology, it was believed that giant catfish living underground caused earthquakes with their thrashing movements. A series of namazu-e were published anonymously in Japan shortly after the Ansei earthquake hit Edo (now Tokyo) in 1855. The prints were believed to offer protection against fut...

Oversized, humorous Japanese limited edition woodblock print by Clifton Karhu (1927-2007) depicting the smiling, cross-eyed artist standing under a torn umbrella in the rain holding a broken shoe. This print illustrates the Zen saying “Hibi kore kojitsu” (Every day is a good day). The print is pencil-signed, titled “Every Day,” dated ’88, and numbered 57/100 in the lower margin. Paper size: 25 1/8”V x 9 1/8”H (image about 23 1/2” x 7 7/8”). Excellent color and very good ov...

Rare Edo period Japanese namazu-e (earthquake fish picture) woodblock print featuring a giant human-like catfish receiving punishment after being found guilty by a judge for causing the Ansei earthquake of 1855. A group of human-like catfish watch as the punishment is being meted out. In Japanese mythology, it was believed that giant catfish living underground caused earthquakes with their thrashing movements. A series of namazu-e were published anonymously in Japan shortly after the Ansei ea...

Japanese Meiji period woodblock print depicting William Howard Taft viewing a sumo match during his 1905 diplomatic mission to Japan. With Taft weighing in at over 300 lbs., this print is likely offering a subtle comparison between Taft and the wrestler. This print is unsigned and undated. 14 3/4"V x 10 3/8"H. Very good color and impression quality. Good overall condition with pigment transference at the upper left corner, some minor soiling, and a few small holes and thinned areas. The pr...

Japanese woodblock print triptych of swimming turtles and fish with actor mons and human faces by Yoshu Chikanobu (1838-1912) dated 5th month of Meiji 19 (1886). The convention of disguising portraits of actors arose in the Edo period when bust portraits of actors were banned, through the Tempo Reforms of 1841-1843, for being conspicuous and a detriment to public morality. Each panel measures about 14"V x 9 1/8"H. The print is in good overall condition with fading evident. The panels are sep...

Toshi Yoshida (1911~1995)
Depicting: Snowy street
Print size: 5.5 x 3.75 inches.
A woodblock print tipped at the top to a Japanese Christmas card from 1953.
Bears the Yoshida seal.
Condition: Excellent.

Japanese Edo period woodblock print by Toyokuni III (also known as Kunisada), depicting a heavily tattoed actor Ichikawa Danjuro VIII in the role of Omatsuri Sashichi in a scene from kabuki theater. The cartouche at the upper right holds the series and image title "Mitate Tsuki Zukushi: Musashi no Tsuki" (Collection of the Full Moon Parodied: The Moon over Musashi). The lower left corner of the image holds the seal of the publisher Heirindo, the censor/date seals for 1856, and the signature "Toy...