Miyama no shiori [Guide to the heart of the mountains].

NAKAMURA (Gyokushu).

A rare Unkindo title

First edition. 2vols. Each plate printed in colour woodblock, one fold out plate in the beginning of first volume. Measuring 250 by 180mm. Fukuro-toji binding, original mica-printed paper wrappers with title slips to upper, wear to binding and small, marginal worming not affecting plates, a very good set overall. [2], [fold-out], 24; 25-50, [advertisements], [colophon], [advertisements]pp. Kyoto, Unkindo, Meiji 34 [i.e, 1901.

£3,500

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NAKAMURA (Gyokushu).

Miyama no shiori [Guide to the heart of the mountains].

A rich collection of botanical textile motifs designed by Nakamura Gyokushu, exquisitely printed by Honda Ichijiro of Unkindo.

The first volume opens with a beautiful fold-out print of a mountainscape, and in the following pages we are taken into the heart of the mountain (the titular 'Miyama'). Each of the prints shows a different natural motif, ranging from snow-topped pine trees to spiky chestnuts and more abstracted florals. It is a fabulous array which shows off the very best of Meiji period woodblock printing, which was characteristically vibrant and highly innovative. Many of the prints shimmer with mica, which has also been used for the binding.

The story of the publishers is also worth noting. The Honda brothers were well-established art book publishers and printers in Kyoto, who entered a fierce rivalry which resulted in two different companies – Unkindo and Unsodo. They eventually merged in 1906 under the Unsodo name, and so books before this date printed by Unkindo are especially rare.

Only 2 copies in OCLC (NDL Tokyo and National Gallery of Art Library, DC)

Stock No.

261866

Miyama no shiori [Guide to the heart of the mountains].

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