Antique Edo Japanese woodblock book, illustrated, Ryukatei Tanekazu, Utagawa Kunisada, single volume

Shiranui monogatari — “Tale of Shiranui (the mysterious fire)”

Antique Japanese illustrated book produced using traditional woodblock printing.
Single volume from the series Shiranui monogatari.
Illustrated gokan-format book printed from carved wooden blocks on traditional paper.

Period: Edo period
Technique: woodblock print
Format: illustrated gokan book, single volume

Author
The series Shiranui monogatari was initiated by the writer Ryukatei Tanekazu and conceived as a long serial work, later continued by other authors in accordance with Edo-period publishing practice.

Illustrator
The series was illustrated by Utagawa Kunisada, also known as Toyokuni III, a leading artist of the Utagawa school and one of the most prominent masters of nineteenth-century Japanese book illustration.

Significance
Shiranui monogatari is regarded as one of the most extensive works of the gokan genre and represents an important source for the study of popular literary and visual culture of the Edo period. The series is known for dramatic narrative themes, including revenge, supernatural elements, and moral conflict, characteristic of popular literature of its time.

Condition
Antique condition. Natural signs of age are present, including paper toning, localized traces of moisture, damage to individual pages, and traces of insect activity, consistent with the historical use of an authentic Edo-period woodblock-printed book.

Size (approx.): 12 × 18 × 0.5 cm

Safe and tracked shipping from Latvia (Riga Gallery of Japanese Art CloudyYokomido)

For US buyers: this item enters the United States duty-free.