BAIREI HYAKUCHO GAFU: together with BAIREI HYAKUCHO GAFU & ZOKU HEN: BAIREI'S AL

[Tokyo 1881-84, Okura]. Stitched stiff wrs., 6 vols., very good, double folded leaves, woodblock printed on handmade paper, about 200 color woodblock illustrations, blue Chitsu case 1st. series, balance no case, complete, 16.5 x 25 cm. . *** **** *** . . THE COMPLETE 6 VOL. SET, COLOR WOODBLOCK PRINTED . . . PROFUSE ILLUSTRATIONS OF BIRDS ON FLOWERS . . . EXECUTED IN SUBTLE COLORS BY KONO BAIREI . . * This superb set shows birds in flight, their movements and at rest. Barrei drew the birds & flowers in natural settings with the birds among flowering trees, fruit trees, in their natural habitat. . A fascinating resource for avifauna in the late 19th century Japan. Each illustration also contains the proper names in Japanese for easy identification and name. . An exceptional and nicely color-illustrated early and comprehensive work covering 100 birds in all. . *** THE COMPLETE SET OF 6 VOLUMES ISSUED IN 2 SERIES OF 3 VOLS.: . This title was issued as a 6 volume set when complete in two series of 3 volumes each. . First Series is composed of volumes 1-3, published in 1881. . The supplemental [Zoku Hen] series volumes 1-3, published in 1884. . The set of 6 are uniformly bound in the same white, blind-stamped stiff wrappers, stitched spine and identical size, with red title page & red title slip, pagination varies. . The set is illustrated in five subtle colors: grey, Sumi [black], white and ochre. A good number of the illustrations are double-page, each has the artist's red-cinnabar Hanko [seal/chop] stamp.. . *** THE CONTENTS: Each composition was executed with the utmost care and skill using birds, flowers, branches, trees, rocks and water as a background. Drawing the birds and flowers in a natural setting, gives the work a 'naturalistic' effect, Bairei's great contributions to his genre of the period. Bairei favored his display in a natural setting, expressing his inate appreciation birds & flowers as a high form of praise for natural beauty. . *** CONDITION: Each volume is bound in the original publisher's decorated stiff wrappers. The covers are by and large clean unless otherwise stated. The contents of each has a very strong impression and excellent registry. Above average examples. . *** Color scans are posted to our website. . *** REFERENCES: . Edward F. Strange: JAPANESE ILLUSTRATION: A History of the Arts of Wood-Cutting and Colour Printing in Japan. He stated about this title: "...these designs are perhaps the best illustrations of bird life ever cut on wood. Each is printed from six or seven [wood] blocks ..." pp.104-105. * C.H. Mitchell: THE ILLUSTRATED BOOKS OF THE NANGA, MARUYAMA, SHIJO AND OTHER RELATED SCHOOLS OF JAPAN: A Bibliography, p.216. Here Mitchell gives us an exact collation and reading of the seals, dates and proofed names et al. * H. Bartlett & H. Shohara: JAPANESE BOTANY DURING THE PERIOD OF WOOD-BLOCK PRINTING p.529, exhibit 95, figure 87, which shows Heron and Sacred Lotus. * BROWN, Louise N.: BLOCK PRINTING AND BOOK ILLUSTRATION IN JAPAN, p.199. * British Museum 1904, 16115.b.3, 2 vols. * Happer [I], 686 Ref. * Laurence Roberts: DICTIONARY OF JAPANESE ARTISTS, on p.8 he cites: "Kono Bairei [1844-95], was a Japanese-style painter who lived in Kyoto. He was the first pupil of the Maruyama painter, Nakajima Raisho, later to become a Shijo artist under Shiokawa Bunrin and later a follower of the Nanga school. His style is full of strong brush strokes, much traditional Japanese charm and sensitivity. He was especially adept at drawing and illustrating birds and flowers in the 'Kacho' [bird & flower] style..." . * .