Title: Edo Kiriezu (Cut-in-Pieces Map of Edo), 1852-1864. A Near Complete Chart of Tokyo, In Thirty Hand Colored Woodblock Print Maps. The Owariya Ban Kiri-e Zu
Author: Muneyasu Kageyama; Masanori Tamatsu; and Yoshitomo Iyama
Publisher: Edo, Owariya Seishichi
Condition: Good
A Late Edo Period, mixed mid 19th century edition of Edo Kiriezu, also known as Cut-in-Pieces Map of Edo. The set appears to consist of a mix of the first and revised editions.
Following the popularity of the Kingodō Edo kirie maps produced in 1846, neighbouring print seller Owariya Seishichi beginning seller an original series of maps in 1849, displaying Edo. To stand out, Owariya used visual techniques such as colour coding areas to identify and distinguish land uses and included illustrations of famous sites such as important temples and shrines to make their maps more visually striking. Red for temples and shrines, yellow for roads and bridges, grey for townsmen’s living quarters, blue referred to sea, rivers, moats, ponds and other sources of water, and Green for embankments, horse paddocks and agricultural lands. Daimyo houses were not colored, but instead, had names and family crests of the head of the household inscribed. Boxes were for nakayashiki or second mansion belonging to daimyo and elite vassals, dots highlighted shimoyashiki or suburban residences of daimyo and other high-ranking servicemen.
The maps became highly popular, especially as gifts by warriors and samurai who were stationed in the city and about to return to their respective districts or regions. Although the Owariya maps were initially only covering 25 maps in 1854, by 1864 they had increased that number by adding four more areas to create a 32-area set of the city.
It should be noted that two of the maps are lacking.
30 maps forming Edo/Tokyo, 16.5 x 9.2 cm folded, 49 x 53.5 cm and larger unfolded
These volumes are in fair shape, with worming to the covers. There are varying levels of worm tracks throughout, less heavy to some of the volumes. One of the maps has a small tear.