Miburi Iroha (The Iroha in gestures)

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Miburi Iroha ["The Iroha in gestures"]

Tōzaian, Nanboku [preface and text by]; Shōchōrō [Utagawa], Kunimaro, Kitao, Shigemasa [II] [illustrated by].

[Edo]: Yamaguchi, [ca. late Edo period (after 1829)].

An inventive gōkan also known under the title Miburi Iroha-gei, featuring illustrations of people twisted into the shapes of the characters of the Japanese alphabet. The text accompanying each illustration relates through direct quotations how the figures came to be in the odd positions they are depicted in. The colour woodblock-printed upper wrapper features an illustration by Utagawa Kunimaro (active ca. 1830–1870s), while the internal illustrations, which have been carefully and beautifully hand-coloured by an ex-owner, are by Kitao Shigemasa II (1793-?). This copy contains two parts bound in one volume, presumably as published. One copy at Waseda University and two at Senshu University do not include a colophon or the page depicting the character 二 ("two") which introduces the 二編 ("second part") of the book, as is the case with this copy, suggesting that only the earlier Bunka 8 (1811) and Bunsei 12 (1829) editions had the "二" page and colophon. In this copy, the hard-working ex-owner has added by hand an image of people in the shape of the character "二" to complete the volume. Only one set in OCLC, at the LOC. A scarce, humorous example of the use of moji-e ("character-pictures") in gōkan, with all Iroha characters present.

Two parts in one four-hole-bound (yotsutoji) volume, complete, on double leaves, traditional East Asian binding style (fukurotoji). Original upper wrapper, non-original lower. Ex-ownership stamp to first page of text, inscriptions to lower flyleaf and wrapper. Thumbing, occasional marks, and repairs to lower opening corners. Some oxidisation to hand-applied metallic pigment. 14, [1]-15 leaves. 17.7 x 11.8 cm. 

Miburi Iroha (The Iroha in gestures)
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