Preliminary identification
Photo reference
4 uploaded photos
Overview
This is a rare, original Japanese woodblock-printed book (ehon) from the late Edo period, specifically volume eight of the serialized novel 'Myoto Guruma'. It features dynamic, expressive black-and-white illustrations by the legendary ukiyo-e master Utagawa Kunisada, capturing dramatic scenes of samurai, supernatural encounters, and maritime battles.
Story
Published in 1859, this book was part of Edo's thriving pop-culture market, acting like a modern graphic novel. Readers rented these serialized adventure stories from traveling libraries, eagerly following the dramatic cliffhangers.
Maker / Origin
The illustrations are by Utagawa Kunisada (1786–1865), the most popular and commercially successful ukiyo-e designer of 19th-century Japan. While Western collectors historically favored Hokusai, Kunisada was the undisputed giant of his era, renowned for his theatrical Kabuki portraits and incredibly expressive book illustrations.
Condition & Value
The book shows typical signs of age, including minor finger-soiling, light fraying at the corners of the paper cover, and minor wormhole damage common to organic washi paper. However, the woodblock impressions remain remarkably sharp and clear, which preserves its artistic value.
Full Research
Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.
Build on this identification
Layer in sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance.
Comparable demand stays strongest where maker, originality, and venue confidence line up. Broader examples still trade, but the range tightens quickly when provenance, condition, or selling lane fit is missing.
Best Venue
Specialty auction or a focused dealer with buyers already in this lane.
Signed example with light edge wear and original frame.
Comparable format with stronger provenance and cleaner surface.
Smaller related piece with visible craquelure and trimmed margins.
Period match with softer condition and weaker subject matter.
Close market lane comp with similar material and presentation.