Gibun kihan: haikan hikkei (Examples of humorous writing: an essential manual of folk rumours)

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Gibun kihan: haikan hikkei ["Examples of humorous writing: an essential manual of folk rumours"] 

Okamoto, Takejirō [edited by]; Suita, Dōshi [inspected by]; [Tsukioka], Yoshitoshi [illustrated by].

Tōkyō: Katō Shōshichi, Meiji 16 [1883].

A collection of around eighty examples of humorous advertisements for restaurants, shops, and various products, illustrated by acclaimed artist Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1839-1892). The work seems to reproduce hikifuda advertisements originally published in the Edo period, as some of the examples are 'signed' by historical figures including Fūrai Sanjin (Hiraga Gennai, 1728-1780), Shoku Sanjin (1749-1823), Utei Enba (1743-1822), Santō Kyōden (1761-1816), Kyokutei Bakin (1767-1848), Shikitei Sanba (1776-1822), and Ryūtei Tanehiko (1783-1842). The work was compiled by Okamoto Takejirō (also known as Okamoto Katei, 1857-1919), a Tokyo-based calligrapher, and supervised (or inspected) by Suita Dōshi (one of the pseudonyms used by Takejima Shōji (1852-1909), a journalist and author of several works criticising Christianity). In the work, Okamoto shows that hikifuda have at least two purposes: to advertise and to entertain. An interesting early work on advertising that preserves ephemeral examples of copywriting and literary hackwork, featuring hikifuda by some of the most prominent and celebrated authors of the Edo period. The title may be a reference to the Chinese work Bunshō kihan. No holdings traced outside of Japan in OCLC. 

Three four-hole-bound (yotsumetoji) volumes, complete, on double leaves, traditional East Asian binding style (fukurotoji). Original wrappers, with some scrapes, a few marks, and minor stains. Original woodblock-printed mounted daisen title panels present. Binding string of first volume cut in one place, textblock firm. Small tear to title. Small wormhole to upper margin of first five leaves of first volume, first two leaves of second volume, and gutter of last eight leaves of third volume. Very minor occasional internal marks. Ex-ownership stamp to first content page of each volume. Bookseller's sticker to lower pastedown of v.1. 2, 3, 48; 51; 50, [1], 4 leaves. Each volume 18.5 x 12.1 cm. 

❧ Takagi, Gen, "Robun no hōjō (ichi)", Ōtsuma Kokubun 48 (March 2017).

Gibun kihan: haikan hikkei (Examples of humorous writing: an essential manual of folk rumours)
Price: $1,200.00 (USD)