Antique Japanese illustrated woodblock book, late Edo period, Ryūsuitei Tanekiyo, Matsukawa Hanzan, vol. VI, complete set of 10 books

“Ehon Toyotomi Kunkōki” (Illustrated Chronicle of the Merits of Toyotomi) is an illustrated military chronicle of the late Edo period, devoted to the deeds of Toyotomi Hideyoshi and issued as a serialized book publication for a broad nineteenth-century readership.

About the historical figure.
Toyotomi Hideyoshi was one of the most significant political and military leaders of late sixteenth-century Japan, completing the unification of the country after the age of civil wars. Rising from a humble background to become the de facto ruler of Japan, he is remembered for major military campaigns, administrative reforms, and the establishment of a stable system of governance that shaped the subsequent development of the Japanese state.

Historical and cultural significance.
The book belongs to the corpus of popular historical chronicles of the late Edo period that shaped public perceptions of Sengoku-era heroes and their exploits. Such publications played an important role in transmitting historical memory by combining narrative text with extensive visual material, making military history accessible to a wide audience. The edition is notable for its large number of woodblock-printed illustrations; alongside monochrome prints, the set also includes color woodblock images.

This listing represents the sixth volume (VI), complete set of 10 books.
Text author: Ryūsuitei Tanekiyo.
Illustrator: Matsukawa Hanzan.
Date of publication: Ansei 4 – Bunkyū 3 (1857–1863).
Printing technique: woodblock print.
Language: Japanese.
Format: traditional Japanese stitched booklets.

The volume constitutes an independent publishing unit within the series and is complete within the sixth volume. The illustrations are conceived for sequential reading as part of the book format rather than for separate display.

Good antique condition, well-preserved for its age.
Antique books may show natural signs of age, including moderate toning of the paper, small creases, and minor edge or corner wear consistent with the historical use of an authentic Edo-period woodblock-printed book. The set is complete, with no missing parts.

Size (approx.): 15.5 × 22.5 cm (each book).

Original covers and title slips preserved.
No restoration.

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

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