Designs inspired by butterfly wings, by Shimomura Gyokukō

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Kochōshiki ["Expressions of butterflies"]

Shimomura, Gyokukō [Tamahiro] [illustrated by].

Kyōto: Honda Ichijirō; Gōmei Gaisha Unsōdō, Meiji 45 [1912].

An album of designs inspired by butterfly wings, featuring two beautiful woodblock-printed illustrations and 68 monochrome collotype illustrations. The designs were created by Shimomura Gyokukō (also known as Shimomura Tamahiro (1878-1926)), a Kyoto-born artist and the founder of the Kyoto Design Association (京都図案協会). Only one physical copy traced in OCLC, at the British Library. No other copies located in major Japanese online databases. Arguably one of the scarcest Unsōdō publications, and certainly one of the scarcest works by Gyokukō.

One stab-bound (musubitoji) volume, complete, on single leaves. Original boards worn, with losses and marks, professionally restored. Stain to upper edge of lower board. Small stamp and manuscript number also to lower board. Preface lightly soiled. Browning, mild offsetting, occasional marks to leaves. One or two small tears to margins. Light continuous stain to lower opening corner of leaves. Housed in non-original custom clasped slipcase. [37 leaves]. 21.6 x 30.8 cm.

Designs inspired by butterfly wings, by Shimomura Gyokukō
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