Hanabusaya Heikichi

First edition, rare, which can be translated under the title Hokusai's Sketches, volume 1. 15 volumes were indeed published covering Hokusai's work. The first was published in 1814 and the last posthumously in 1878. The final volume is considered apocryphal by some art historians. The volume contains approximately 30 subjects, most on double pages in black, grey and flesh tones. The preface to this first volume was written by Hanshi Sanjin, who presents the master's visit to Nagoya. It is essential to add that one cannot determine whether this is the first printing or a later printing, because on this subject, there was no difference for the Japanese, and the publisher reprinted volumes as needed, the notion of first printing not being relevant with regard to Japanese books. We know however that the publisher made a second printing of this book between 1828 and 1878. Later printings do not have the same publisher's name and often possess a date, which is not the case with earlier printings. Later printings do not have the same publisher's name and often possess a date, which is not the case with earlier printings.
Accordion volume, bound by stitching. Turquoise cover with title label and red writing on white ground. One stitch detached, without consequence for solidity. Small wormhole damage to lower margin of the first 3 leaves. Fine copy, very fresh, quite rare in this condition.
The Hokusai manga treat varied subjects, scenes from daily life, but also battle scenes, also scenes from typically Japanese legends, animals and flowers. It is generally considered that, after a period of intense production, Hokusai very carefully selected his sketches, and even redrew a certain number of them, arranging them in the order we know today. However, Michener maintains that the layout of the different sketches on a given plate was actually decided by the engravers and publishers, and not by Hokusai himself. We should recall that the technique of Japanese printmaking is very close to the original drawing, since the ink drawing was applied to a piece of wood that the engraver hollowed out, precisely following the lines of the drawing, itself destroyed by this operation.
Volume devoted to figures and animals.