Kyoka sansuishu [Collection of Crazy/Witty Poetry on Landscapes].
Four double-page color woodcut illus. 12 leaves. 8vo, orig. decorated wrappers, stitched as issued. [Japan: 1830-53].
First edition, and very rare, with no copy in WorldCat, of this ephemeral and beautifully illustrated example of kyoka poetry by Hiroshige. He was frequently engaged to illustrate kyoka collections and, as a poet of considerable talent, often made contributions to the text. The two selectors of the poems printed here are Shiseido Taijin and Daihoshiko Taijin.
The decorated wrappers incorporate plum flower motifs with the character of water in the center of each. The numerous poems are all concerned with mountain or water landscapes... More