Woodblock Printed Book of Fish by Hiroshige
[Japan] Wonderful example of Hiroshige's mastery. This orihon (folding book) contains 12 lovely, woodblock printed illustrations of fish and one lobster. Titled, 'Sakana no ega hon' ['Illustrated Book of Fish'] in Japanese on cover. The illustrations in order are: lobster and shrimp, mullet, abalone and needlefish, sea bream, scorpionfish and isaki (in the perch family), horse mackerel and freshwater prawns, flying fish and ishimochi (also related to the perch family), sea bass and golden-eyed sea bream, flathead, striped sea bream and rock trout, sweet sea bream and dark-banded rockfish, gurnards and flatfish. We can find no reference to a book with this particular title so this appears to be a collection of prints from Hiroshige's Sakana Zukushi that have been professionally mounted and turned into a folding book.
No publisher. No place. No date (c1890).
25.5 x 18.9cm.
In good condition. Some wear to covers and chipping to title slip. Faint pink scribble inside front and rear covers on blank boards. A few pages starting to separate at folding edge but book is firm. b37011799
