23 full-page woodcuts. 50 pages. 8vo in orihon format (252 x 103 mm.), orig. blue semi-stiff wrappers (rather rubbed), orig. block-printed title-label on upper cover. From the colophon at end (in trans.): “Ise Province,” mid-Edo or later.

A finely illustrated edition of this popular scripture, synthesizing Confucian ideals with Buddhist teachings. “An indigenous Buddhist scripture, composed in the seventh century that extols the virtues of filial piety. There are several different recensions of this sutra, including one discovered in the caves of Dunhuang…[It] continues to be one of the most popular scriptures in East Asian Buddhism and is frequently cited in the Buddhist literature... More

Pictorial postcard. Düsseldorf: Galerie Schmela, 2005.

Scarce Sigmar Polke exhibition postcard, unmailed. In fine condition. More

Large-format postcard, unmailed. Bonn: Galerie Klein, 1993.

Exhibition postcard for Polke’s 1993 show at Galerie Klein. Fine. More

Pictorial postcard, mailed. Bonn: Galerie Klein, 1977.

Scarce Sigmar Polke exhibition postcard. This copy was mailed to “Herr u. Frau Hahn” (possibly collector and conservator Wolfgang Hahn (1924-1987)). Polke’s “[Photographer’s Window, Afghanistan]” (1975) is reproduced on the recto.

Near fine; two holes punched out. More

Black & white illus. throughout. 18, order form, [1] p. 4to, illustrated wrappers, staple-bound. Rosendale, NY: Women's Studio Workshop, 1994.

Uncommon publisher’s catalogue of artist's books by women. Offers the work of Ann Kresge, Susan King, Ann George, Margarita Becerra Cano, Angela Lorenz, Rebecca Lown, Sandra Rowe, Rochelle Rubinstein, Tatana Kellner, Zarina, MJ Connors, Cheri Gaulke, Karen L. Spears, Lisa Bowden, Lisa Cooper, Judy Anderson, Mei-ling Horn, Nancy Chalker-Tennant, Sue Bucholz, Lynne Avadenka, Valerie Maynard, Clarissa Sligh, Linda Montano, Jody Williams, Pati Scobey, Judith Blumberg, Lois Morrison, Carol June Barton, Janis Krasnow, Ann Kalmbach, Susan Baker, Kate van Houten, Ellen Wallenstein, Anita Wetzel, Beverly... More

Pictorial postcard, mailed. Düsseldorf: Konrad Fischer Galerie, [1970].

Scarce postcard invitation from Konrad Fischer Galerie, this was Merz’s first show with the gallery. Near fine, mailed to the artist Gerhard von Graevenitz (1934-83).

Ausstellungen bei Konrad Fischer: Düsseldorf Oktober 1967-Oktober 1992 (1993) 31 (p. 43 & pictured). More

Pictorial postcard, mailed. Düsseldorf: Konrad Fischer Galerie, [1968].

Very scarce and early postcard invitation from the Konrad Fischer Galerie. This was the artist’s second exhibition in Europe and first with Fischer’s gallery. Ryman’s first European show, with Galerie Heiner Friedrich (19 November-December 10), began two days before the present one. The Fischer exhibition presented the artist’s Classico series (nos. 1-6). The illustration shows a detail of J. Green (1968).

Fine, mailed to the artist Gerhard von Graevenitz (1934-83). More

Numerous woodcuts in the text. 50; 102; 94 folding leaves. Six parts in three vols. Large 8vo, orig. wrappers (wrappers frayed), orig. block-printed labels on upper covers (the remains of the label for the first vol. detached & laid-in), new stitching. [China]: Preface dated 1805.

First edition of this handsomely and cleverly illustrated book; it is most uncommon. Zhang (1761-1802), calligrapher, poet, and scholar, “was well known for his calligraphy, especially in the chuan or archaic style. As a classicist, his contribution lay chiefly in the study of the Classic of Changes and the Decorum Ritual (I-li) [which] exhibits minutely by means of diagrams the... More

21 full-page woodcuts. 30; 29; 26; 23; 31 folding leaves. Five vols. 8vo, orig. wrappers (wrappers rather rubbed & frayed), new stitching. Kyoto: Izutsuya Shobei; Edo: Nishimura Uhei, 1697.

First edition of this collection of haikai written by several members of the circle surrounding Matsuo Basho (1644-94), Japan’s best-loved author. The poems were gathered by Taihakudo Torin (d. 1719), a friend and disciple of Basho (there is speculation that Torin was Basho’s nephew or younger brother). In 1696, to prepare for the third anniversary of Basho’s death, Torin retraced Basho’s famous 1689 journey through the main island of Japan, which resulted in Basho’s best-known work, Oku no Hosomichi... More

24 columns per sheet, 6 columns per page, 17 characters per column (text block height: 220 mm.), printed on 23 joined sheets (290 mm. high, sheet lengths averaging 390-395 mm., total printed length 9100 mm.). 91 pages. Tall narrow 8vo (290 x 100 mm.), later brown semi-stiff wrappers. [Kan’eiji Temple in Edo: 1637-48].

A rare example of a privately printed movable wooden type sutra, printed on thick paper at the Kan’eiji Temple in Edo in the years 1637-48. This volume is part of the Tenkai or Japanese Canon, which is also known as the Kan’eiji or Toeizan edition. “Some temples also engaged in publishing during the Tokugawa period, including... More

37 fine woodcuts (some are single-page, others double-page, & one is a text illus.), of which most are black & white, but 11 are printed in complex color & eight are delicately highlighted with gray tints. 33; 33; 32; 34; 35; 35 folding leaves. Six vols. 8vo, orig. decorated wrappers (wrappers slightly soiled), orig. block-printed title labels on upper covers, new stitching. Wakayama [& for Vols. IV-VI: Wakayama, Kyoto, Edo, & Osaka]: Ohiya Ihei et al., [Vols. I-III], Prefaces dated 1833 & 1850.

First edition, and a complete set in six volumes, of this beautifully illustrated natural history work; the first three volumes were published by the famous bookselling and publishing firm of Obiya Ihei, in... More

57; 50 folding leaves. Four parts in two vols. Large 8vo, orig. wrappers (rubbed), new stitching. Indong: Preface dated 1910.

First edition and very rare; WorldCat lists only the copy at Harvard. Chang (courtesy name Chae-gyon), was a scholar of the late Choson period and the “period of the opening of the ports” (i.e., after 1876).

This posthumously published book is a collection of Chang’s writings in the areas of Neo-Confucian philosophy and morality; letters to friends and other scholars; love poems; and essays on political matters. Issued for the Chang clan, it was edited and published by Chang’s son Tu-hun Chang. The... More