BAIREI KACHO GAFU 1883: BAIREI'S ALBUM OF FLOWER & BIRDS. [Color Woodblock Print

[Edo 1883, Okura]. Stiff embossed buff covers, 25 fine color woodblock prints, 24.x 36.5 cm., according folded album, a superb example, excellent impression & registry, flawless, very clean & solid, vol. 2 of 2 only. RARE FIRST EDITION . *** **** *** . . BAIREI KACHO GAFU: BAIREI'S BIRD & FLOWER ALBUM . . [AKA. KACHO GAFU] . . . A SPLENDID ARRAY OF COLOR BIRDS & FLOWERS . . . ENTIRELY WOODBLOCK PRINTED IN VIVID POLYCHROME COLORS . * CONFUSION ABOUT THIS TITLE: Some people are confused as this title was also issued by Bairei in an identical title, but issued 1883, which is a smaller 3 volume set of the same name. The format and art work are entirely different. . * EXCEPTIONALLY STUNNING & BEAUTIFUL COLOR WOODBLOCK PRINTS: . Its extremely decorative style is marked contrast with the same artist's earlier collection of chrysanthemum pictures, in which the tines vary only from black to gray and from deep orange to very pale orange. This earlier work had shown a reversion to the then long out-dated technique of Sumi-e and e-e of the period preceding printing in a full range of colors. It is also strikingly different from the fully colored but unadorned flower books of the same painter which are more of the nature of botanical illustration, lacking all background or other accessory embellishment. . *** THE SET OF TWO VOLUMES: The work is complete in 2 Oban size, accordion folding albums. . NOTE: We may not have the 2 volume set in stock, we therefore offer a single volume as described above. . *** Figure 88: "Passiflora coerulea, shown with a pair of the birds called Mamedori or Mamemawashi. The passion flower is Tokeiso [clock flower, "because from sunrise to sunset the flowers turn clockwise. The Mamedori lives in the woods. When brought up from a nestling it can be taught tricks." From Kono Bairei's KACHO GAFU of 1883." Please see the scans of this posted to our web site, figure 88 is our image illus07.jpg. . The last page is the Japanese colophon. . * His first KACHO [Bird & Flower Album] was the BAIREI HYAKUCHO GAFU [BAIREI'S ALBUM OF A HUNDRED BIRDS] published in 1881, which was less colorful and strictly was done in dilutions of gray, brown, and orange. The smaller example is our book # 320604. . The currently listed title is far superior in composition and the amount of natural looking various colors with a riot of bright stunning color. by and large, this is his best work on birds and flowers. . *** NOTE: Please view the photos posted to our website. . *** CONDITION OF VOLUME 2 OF 2: This is an exceptionally superb example. Bound in the original publisher's stiff paper covers, blind embossed from the verso, with title slip. Accordion folded as issued. . Each print has following bibliographic data: Title cartouche at the top of each print, artist's name & his red cinnabar Hanko [seal/stamp], flower name and caption at upper corner, woodblock carver's name, censor's seals, publisher & printer's name and address, at far lower left margin. . *** CONDITION: The covers have a bit of the usual corner and edge rubbing & dustiness. . The contents are exceptionally fresh, bright, flawless, without stain or worming. The colors are vivid, impression an early pull off the blocks, registry immaculate and perfect. The work is stunningly beautiful, in the best 'collector's' condition. . There is no fading whatsoever. There is some of the usual and typical 'oxidizing' of the iron red, lead white & gray colors which only enhances the patina deep, rich color affect. Some have the very rare and stunning crushed mica sparkle, an expensive and hard technique to cope with. . Verso hinges are in firm and solid condition, one reinforced with Washi & rice glue in the distant past. look. . A joy to view, the best copy we have had in over 50 years ! . *** REFERENCES: * Harley H. Bartlett & Hide Shohara: JAPANESE BOTANY DURING THE PERIOD OF WOOD-BLOCK PRINTING, pp. 236-236, exhibit: 95 & 96; figures: 86 & 88. . He stated: "Two additional volumes are recorded as having appeared 16 years later, in 1899, and one wonders if they may have been originally published earlier, and reprinted in 1899. They have not been seen by us. This was considered one of the most beautiful of the later fully colored Ehon." . * .