The wood block measures approximately 8″x10″ and is no longer a block, but has been carved into a small serving dish. The pages have the expected creases and minor soiling, but no major issues. The cover has strong color and the book has been re-bound with string. The book can be described as “fair to good, worn condition” commensurate with its age (1860). This small illustrated book measures approximately 4 1/2″ x 7″ and is comprised of about 20 pages of text and illustrations, along with the original cover and backing. It goes without saying that this is a very unique offering we’ve been unable to find comparable woodblocks (and their printings) sold anywhere, let alone blocks done by Kuniyoshi from the 1860s.
THE TALE OF JIRAIYA THE GALLANT SERIES
This epic was adapted for the kabuki theatre in 1852, multiple movies, and a current anime series “Naruto”. The Japanese Jiraiya’s name in kanji later became 児雷也 (young thunder). When that legend was translated into the Japanese novel, elements of shape-shifting magic and ninja mysticism was added. Those characters translate to: “I was here”. He was called “Jiraiya” 自来也 (zi lai ye – mandarin pronunciation), because he’d leave those characters in graffiti at places he robbed. The inspiration for Jiraiya has its origins in old Chinese legends – the bandit, whose real name is unknown, was a heroic bandit similar to Robin Hood. Over the next 29 years (till 1868), it became a popular series of 43 illustrated novels completed by 4 different authors. Jiraiya Goketsu Monogatari (児雷也豪傑物語 “The Heroic Tales of Jiraiya” or “Tale of the Gallant Jiraiya”) was first published in 1839. Learning that Kuniyoshi died a few months after this book was published (1861, 4th month), making this one of his last works, add to its mystique. I hope that you, the reader, share in that feeling.
As a collector and dealer, being able to pull these disparate items together, from Kansas City and Tokyo respectively, and pair them is a reward unto itself.
There is a feeling bordering on magical when you acquire an original cherrywood block, still carved, used to publish a book illustrated by Utagawa Kuniyoshi that was published in 1860 (9th month)… and then track down a copy of the book published by that block.
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