Condition. Three (nos. 1-3) of the four woodblock prints are in Fine condition with no faults. One print (no. 4) has light browning across the mount caused by contact with the presentation case. This does not appear on the actual woodblock plate. To see the extent of the staining click here. I would rate this plate (No. 4) as Very Good. No presentation folder, just the plates.

 
Tokuriki Tomikichiro
Uchida Wood Block Printing Co., Ltd:
"Four Seasons of Tokyo", Kyoto, Uchida Wood Block Printing Co., Ltd, undated but ca. 1960, folio of four woodblock prints in a presentation folder. Each woodblock print is tipped to plate and that is framed by a thin mat which is tipped at the top to the plate. The plate size is 13 3/4 x 10 in (35 x 25.5 cm). The image area of the woodblock print is 10 x 7 1/2 in (25.5 x 19 cm). Each plate is numbered from 1 to 4 on the back.

Spring.....Cherry Blossoms of Temple Asakusa    (1)
Summer.....A Rainy Scene of Niju-bashi Bridge   (2)
Fall.......The Moon Viewed at Shinobazu Pond    (3)
Winter.....A Snowy Scene of Nihon-bashi Bridge  (4)

The folio is not dated. I have seen it dated between 1930 and 1950. I believe the folio is from the late 1950s or early 1960s.

                          All Four Woodblock Plates


Spring.....Cherry Blossoms of Temple Asakusa    (1)


Summer.....A Rainy Scene of Niju-bashi Bridge   (2)


Fall.......The Moon Viewed at Shinobazu Pond    (3)


Winter.....A Snowy Scene of Nihon-bashi Bridge  (4)



Presentation Folder (not present in this unit):


Information (inside flap of folder - not present in this unit):


Inscription on all plates (under mat) at right corner:



Wood Block Prints
"Four Seasons of Tokyo"

Spring.....Cherry Blossoms of Temple Asakusa    (1)
Summer.....A Rainy Scene of Niju-bashi Bridge   (2)
Fall.......The Moon Viewed at Shinobazu Pond    (3)
Winter.....A Snowy Scene of Nihon-bashi Bridge  (4)

Originated by
Tomikichiro Tokuriki
Engraved and Printed by
Uchida Woodblock Printing Co., Ltd.
Marutamachi St, Kawaramachi-Nishi
Kyoto, Japan

 
Books/Folios With Actual Color Woodblock Prints Illustrating the Process of Color Woodblock Printing:

• 1907, Process of Wood-Cut Printing, The Shimbi Shoin, Tokyo, 127 pairs of prints.
• 1907, Process of Wood-Cut Printing Explained, The Shimbi Shoin, Tokyo
• c1916-1938, Process of Wood-Cut Printing Explained, (Two Ladies in a Boat), The Shimbi Shoin, Tokyo, more information here.
• c1920, Process of Wood-Cut Printing Explained (Lady Fishing), The Shimbi Shoin, Tokyo, more information here.
• c1940, Process of Wood-block Printing, Nishinomiya & Hasegawa, Inc, Tokyo, more information here.
• c1950, The Process of Wood-block Color Printing (Woman in Snow with Umbrella), Takamizawa Mokubansha., Tokyo, more information here.
• c1950, The Process of Wood-block Color Printing (Young Lovers Walking Together under an Umbrella), Takamizawa Mokubansha., Tokyo, more information here.
• c1950, Japanese Woodblock Prints, Uchida Wood Block Printing Co. Ltd, Kyoto, more information here.
• c1950, The Process of Color-Block Printing (Fuji and Trees), S. Watanabe, Tokyo (Ginza), more information here.
• c1950, The Process of Color-Block Printing (Fuji and Wave), S. Watanabe, Tokyo (Ginza), more information here.
• c1953, Process of Wood-block Printing (Fuji and Wave), probably Nishinomiya/Hasegawa, Tokyo, more information here.
• c1953, Process of Wood-block Printing (Winter Scene with Temple & Lantern), probably Nishinomiya/Hasegawa, Tokyo, more information here.
• c1956, Process of Printing Wood Engraving, Unso-do Co., Kyoto, Utamaro, two women cooking from "One of Twelve Sketches of Handicraft Arts for Women," more information here.
• c1956, Process of Printing Wood Engraving, Unso-do Co., Kyoto, Utamaro, "Waitress Okita from the Naniwaya Tearoom," more information here.
• c1963 The Process of Wood-block Color Printing, (Hiroshige's "Night Scene at Kambara"), H. Nakazawa, Tokyo, more information here.
• c1970, Process Book of Woodblock Printing, Uchida Uchida Art Co., Ltd., more information here.

 
Woodblock Print Books Available for Purchase (Process Books):

• 1938, Process of Wood-Cut Printing Explained, (Two Ladies in a Boat), The Shimbi Shoin, purchase here.
• 1940, Process of Wood-block Printing, Nishinomiya & Hasegawa, Inc, Tokyo (14 step process), purchase here.
• 1940, Process of Wood-block Printing, Nishinomiya & Hasegawa, Inc, Tokyo (13 step process), purchase here.
• c1950, The Process of Wood-block Color Printing (Young Lovers Walking Together under an Umbrella), Takamizawa Mokubansha., Tokyo, purchase here.
• c1970, Process Book of Woodblock Printing, Uchida Uchida Art Co., Ltd., purchase here.

 
Miscellaneous Woodblock Print Books and Folios Available for Purchase (Other than Process Books):

• 1937, One Hundred Masterpieces of Famous Ukiyoye, Takamizawa Colour Print Studio, Tokyo, purchase here.
• c1960, The Tokaido Fifty Three Stations by Hiroshige, Unso-do, Kyoto, purchase here.
• c1960, The Thirty Six Views of Mount Fuji by Hokusai, Unso-do, Kyoto, purchase here.
• c1960, Twelve Months of Kyoto, (folio of 12 woodblock prints), Uchida Wood Block Printing Co., Ltd, Kyoto, Tokuriki Tomikichiro, purchase here.
• c1960, Four Seasons of Tokyo, (folio of 4 woodblock prints with presentation folder) Uchida Wood Block Printing Co., Ltd, Kyoto, Tokuriki Tomikichiro, purchase here.
• c1960, Four Seasons of Tokyo, (folio of 4 woodblock prints without presentation folder) Uchida Wood Block Printing Co., Ltd, Kyoto, Tokuriki Tomikichiro, purchase here.