Title: Gojusan Tsugi Meisho Zue (Pictures of Famous Places of the Fifty-Three Stations), Circa 1855. A Rare, Complete Album of the Vertical Tokaido, with all Fifty-Five Beautiful Woodblock Ukiyo-E Prints
Author: Utagawa Hiroshige
Publisher: Tsutaya Kichizo (Koeido)
Condition: Good
A Late Edo Period, mid 19th century first edition of Hiroshige’s Gojusan Tsugi Meisho Zue, also known as the Pictures of Famous Places of the Fifty-Three Stations.
Following his success with the publication of the Fifty-Three Stations of the Tokaido in 1833, Hiroshige embarked on the creation of nearly twenty additional series depicting the Tokaido Stations. One such series is known as this one, also known as the Vertical Tokaido, distinguished by its utilization of the vertical portrait format. Among Hiroshige's various Tokaido series, the Upright or Vertical Tokaido stands out as one of his more notable works.
The Ukiyo-e woodblocks are beautifully depicted in full color and detail, and this is the complete work with all 55 prints.
Beginning with Nishonbashi Bridge in Edo as starting point and Kyoto Bridge as the final destination, the list of stations and locations are as followed:
Nihonbashi Bridge, Shinagawa, Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Hodogaya, Totsuka, Fujisawa, Hiratsuka, Oiso, Odawara, Hakone, Mishima, Numazu, Hara, Yoshiwara, Kanbara, Yui, Okitsu, Ejiri, Fuchu, Mariko, Okabe, Fujieda, Shimada, Kanaya, Nissaka, Kakegawa, Fukuroi, Mitsuke, Hamamatsu, Maisaka, Arai, Shirasuka, Futakawa, Yoshida, Goyu, Akasaka, Fujikawa, Okazaki, Chiryu, Narumi, Miya, Kuwana, Yokkaichi, Ishiyakushi, Shono, Kameyama, Seki, Sakanoshita, Tsuchiyama, Minakuchi, Ishibe, Kusatsu, Otsu, Kyoto Bridge
All the prints have been laid down and bound into a large album, with brocade decorated covers.
Rather interestingly, an early owner has added notes and inscriptions to each and every print. adding a rather interesting, but crowding commentary.
Complete albums are rather rare on the market, and rather desirable, with the last sold example being at the November 5th, 2024 Art of Japan sale at Sotheby’s, being lot 65, hammered for 38,550.24 USD.
One brocade decorated album in orihon format (35.8 x 24.4 cm), 55 woodblock color prints
This album is in good shape, with some rubbing and wear to the covers. There is some scattered wear affecting some of the prints, heaviest to the first and last examples. All of the prints have vertical fold marks, with a few having developed tiny tears at the ends of the marks. There is soiling and browning heavier to the inner and outer margins of some of the prints.