An Edo Period Woodblock Printed Book: date 1834

1834
7" x 4 3/4", 18 cm x 12 cm

This is a small and slender book of 11 pages richly illustrated with black-and-white woodblock prints.

The book is so slender that it feels almost like a pamphlet in the hand due to its size and its relatively light weight. Its front cover is of slightly heavier stock than the lightweight and pliable washi pages on which are imprinted the woodblock illustrations.

The book's front cover is printed in lavishly detailed colors while the back cover is of one tone. The cover depicts a high ranking courtesan of the Edo period and the illustration and text within the book no doubt detail some kind of visceral drama that plagued the life of this desirable 

The binding is still intact and is done with cotton thread.

This book is a joy to behold and is a treasure to page through: it pictures the popular tales from Japan's Edo period which are enlivened through the black-and-white illustrations and text of this small-scale but meticulously illustrated story book.

In used condition with some worm holes and a bit of loss to a few pages, this book is a delight and a treat for the eyes and imagination.