Banshoku tejōchin (Hand-lanterns for all sorts of professions)

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[Banshoku tejōchin ("Hand-lanterns for all sorts of professions")]

Sankanjin, Kōrai [text by]; [Ikkōsai, Ikumaru (illustrated by)].

[Tōkyō: Yoshidaya Bunzaburō, ca. late Edo to early Meiji period (1850-70s?)].

A guidebook to a special calligraphic style which emerged in the late Edo period for use in advertisements, especially those handpainted on lanterns and woodblock-printed on hikifuda. Edo-moji developed from the Kantei-ryū ("Kantei form") and chōchin-moji ("lantern character") calligraphic styles and includes as sub-categories Kantei-ryū-moji, yose-moji, kagomoji, hige-moji, sumō-moji, chōchin-moji, and kakuji. The calligrapher Sankanjin Kōrai (Takeda Kōrai, 1819(?)-1882) produced this work under the supervision of his teacher, the calligrapher and ukiyo-e artist Miyagi (Baisotei) Gengyo (1817-1880). Gengyo and Kōrai played an instrumental role in the production of Edo-moji, developing their own style as they provided calligraphy for senshafuda, hikifuda, ebira, and other commercial genres. The characters and mon crests featured in this work are interspersed with illustrations of warriors and landscapes by Takeda (Ikkōsai) Ikumaru (active ca. 1865-1873), a pupil of Utagawa (Ochiai) Yoshiiku (1833-1904). This is one of two volumes published, but it is unclear if it is the first or the second volume. A scarce work providing rare insight into the emergence of the Edo-moji calligraphic style. 

One four-hole-bound (yotsutoji) volume only [of two], on double leaves, traditional East Asian binding style (fukurotoji). Wrappers presumed non-original, lacking mounted daisen title slip. Thumbing, light stains, occasional ink marks, and additions in colour. A few wormholes, mostly repaired with backing, fukurotoji thus unopenable. 2, [18] leaves. 17.8 x 11.8 cm.

Banshoku tejōchin (Hand-lanterns for all sorts of professions)
Price: $780.00 (USD)