Author/compiler: Asai Ryōi 淺井了意, d. 1691. Imprint: N.p., n.d. (preface dated Kanbun 7, 1667). Date at end of preface reads: 寛文七丁未年二月吉日. No colophon, lacking maki 下. Description: 1 kan (of 2), 1 satsu. ff. [1, preface] , 1-36, 38-50. Incomplete, maki 下 missing. 17.5 x 12.5 cm. Fukurotoji. Blockprint. Printing frame 14 x 10.8 cm. Double-line borders. No fishtail design on hanshin. Hiragana-majiri text, limited to caption to each illustration + preface. 9 lines to page in preface. Original mid-blue covers, now badly rubbed. Original central title slip with printed gedai: O-hiinagata jō 御ひいなかた 上. Preface title: Shinsen o-hiinagata no jo 新撰御ひいながたの序. Hashiragaki: jō 上 + folio no. only. In a modern buff chitsu case. Edition: Apparently the only Edo-period edition. Contents: A pattern book of kimono designs, with a brief blockprinted indication of pattern and ground colour on each illustration. Only one block was used for each coloured folio, reproducing simultaneously the double border, the illustration and the caption to it. Compiler's name does not appear in this volume.
Shinsen o-hinagata 新撰御ひいながた
This material is held atBritish Library Asia, Pacific and Africa Collections
- Reference
- GB 59 Or.74.cc.8
- Dates of Creation
- 1667
- Language of Material
- Japanese
- Physical Description
- 1 volume Condition: Black smudges, stains and soiling on a few pages, otherwise good. Fol. 37 missing. Impression: Little sign of wear on blocks. Illustrations: Woodblock illustrations on recto and verso of each leaf. These constitute the chief interest and historical importance of this book, some being printed in black and white and some in single colours: grey, green, brownish-red and olive green. After Jinkōki 塵劫記 (1631, 1634, 1641) and Senmyōreki 宣明暦 (1644), this was one of the earliest Japanese books to be printed in colour. Seals of ownership: None.
Scope and Content
Access Information
Not Public Record(s)
Unrestricted
Acquisition Information
Acquired from Isseidō, 12 Dec. 1967.
Other Finding Aids
Kenneth Gardner, Descriptive Catalogue of Japanese books in the British Library printed before 1700 (London and Tenri, 1993). C. Japanese works 和書 17. Fine arts 芸術 c. Book illustration 絵本・絵入本
Bibliography
Harunobu and his age, p. 19; The history of Japanese printing and book illustration, p. 36; Kisho fukuseikai sōsho 稀書複製会叢書, series 9 (facsimile reproduction).