While most Shimbi Shoin art reproduction plates are found bound into books, or extracted from books, the company did market color woodcut reproduction plates individually. The basic plate is thick high quality card stock. The plate size is 12 3/4 x 19 in - 32.5 x 48 cm. The art reproduction color woodcblock prints are tipped to the plate. They cover from 50% to 80% of the plate.

The Shimbi Shoin periodically published catalogues (Old Masters of the Far East Wood-cut Reproductions) listing the individual plates available. Plates are assinged a general alpha descriptive series letter. I have traced the "A" through "F" series to the sales catalogue as early as 1911 and then forward through a catalogue dated 1937. Here are the basic series designations used by the Shimbi Shoin.

A. Buddhistic and Human Figures
B. Flowers and Birds
C. Landscapes
D. Genre Pictures
E. Chinese Pictures
F. Reproductions of Old Prints

The individual prints are assigned an alpha and numeric stock number. Those stock numbers appear to have remained constant over the years.

The twenty two plates on this webpage are this type of material. They are from the Shimbi Shoin "A" ("Buddhistic and Human Figures") series and "D" ("Genre") series. Here is the general listing of the series of prints marketed by the Shimbi Shoin in the published catalogues:

The company also marketed folding cases to house the plates.

These plates are found with a number of varieties of printing or labels on the reverse. Here are the types of text/markings I have seen on the back: "Reproduced by the Shimbi Shoin, LTD, Tokyo" "Printed by the Shimbi Shoin, Tokyo Name of artist and period Print number (in text or written in pencil

There are twenty two plates housed in a wrap around-case in this unit. The plates in this unit are:

1. A34 Nakihira Going to Azuma, Korin (1658-1716)
2. A43 Leading a Monkey, Okyo (1733-1795)
3. D1 Looking at Maple-Leaves, Sueyori (17th Century)
4. D2 Scenes in a Green Room, Morobobue (1618-1694)
5. D5 Seven Beauties in a Bamboo Groove, Soken (1779-1818)
6. D6 Two Beauties Reading a Book, Shunsho (1726-1792)
7. D8 Ladies Playing Cards, Masanobu (1690-1768)
8. D12 Sukeroku and Agemaki, Kyoden (19th Century)
9. D18 Beauty Admiring Her Face in a Mirror, Hokusai
10. D19 Beauty and Girl with Cat, Masanobou (1690-1768)
11. D20 Beauty in Autumn, Shinsai (19th Century)
12. D22 Men and Women Amusing Themselves, Soukenobu (1671-1751)
13. D23 Beauties Looking at Cherry Blossoms, Soukenobu (1671-1751)
14. D29 Man and Woman in the Snow, Koryusai (18th Century)
15. D31 Beauty Dressing in Summer, Utamaro (1753-1805)
16. D38 Beauty and Girl by the Screen, Eishi
17. D53 Beauty and Reeds, Sukenobu
18. D57 Beauties Playing Cards, Isshu (19th Century)
19. D65 Young Man and Girl, Kwaigetsuda (18th Century)

Plates not found in published Shimbi Shoin lists.

20. [Lady by Screen]
21. [Man with Tourch]
22. [Men and Women]

While the Shimbi Shoin plates often have the stock number (Alpha Numeric - ie. A1 - D165) printed on the back, none of these plates have the stock number. A few have a hand written number. Some have the artist and time period printed on the back and almost all have "Reproduced (or Printed) by the Shimbi Shoin, Ltd, Tokyo." Examples of the printing on the back are here.

The Case. The plates are housed in a cloth covered folding case. Inside the case there is a wooden frame that surrounds and protects the plates. There is an insert that fits on top of the plates inside the case. The case is secured with clasps.

Condition. The following comments are offered regarding condition.

• Plates. The tipped to plate color woodblock prints are clean and free of marking, toning, staining or foxing. The actual plates are clean but some show overall toning/aging. However, the paper is supple and not brittle or damaged. Plate D53 appears to have been mounted and displayed in light. The plate shows moderated toning except along the edges where the mount would have covered it. This condition is not seen in any of the other plates.

• Case. The case is in poor condition. The clasp ties are missing. There are numerous rubbed and torn areas, particularily along the edges. The edges/seams have been crudely repaired with transparent tape.

The Plates

[Captions at the top of each plate below are verbatim quotes from Shimbi Shoin Catalogues.
Notations below each plate below describe text found on the back of the plate.]

A34  Nakihira Going to Azuma, Korin (1658-1716)

Back: "Korin (1658-1716)" - "Printed by The Shimbi Shoin Ltd., Tokyo"
"Fujiwara Narhira (lived 9th century), looking at Mount Fuji,
By Ogata Korin (1658-1716), Founder of the Korin School"



A43  Leading a Monkey, Okyo (1733-1795)

Back: By Okyo (1733-1795)" - "Printed by The Shimbi Shoin Ltd., Tokyo"
"The Shimbi Shoin (Publishers of Art Work), 13 Shisakananacho
Kyobashi-Ku, Tokyo, Japan"



D1   Looking at Maple-Leaves, Sueyori (17th Century)

Back: "By Sueyori (17th Century)" - Printed by The Shimbi Shoin Ltd., Tokyo"



D2   Scenes in a Green Room, Morobobue (1618-1694) 

Back: "Moronobu (1618-1694)" - "Printed by The Shimbi Shoin, Tokyo"



D5   Seven Beauties in a Bamboo Groove, Soken (1779-1818)

Back: "D No 5" in pencil (no other markings)



D6   Two Beauties Reading a Book, Shunsho (1726-1792)

Back: "By Shunsho (1726-92)" - "Reproduced by The Shimbi Shoin, Ltd. Tokyo



D8   Ladies Playing Cards, Masanobu (1690-1768)

Back: "D No 8" in pencil - no other markings



D12  Sukeroku and Agemaki, Kyoden (19th Century)

Back: "By Kyoden (19th Century)" - Printed by The Shimbi Shoin, Ltd., Tokyo"



D14 Beauty and Girl with Cat, Masanobou (1690-1768)

Back: "By Masanobu (1690-1768)" "Printed by The Shimbi Shoin Ltd., Tokyo"



D18  Beauty Admiring Her Face in a Mirror, Hokusai

Back: By Hokusai (1760-1840)" - "Printed by The Shimbi Shoin Ltd., Tokyo"
"Katsushiko Hokusai (1760-1849), Founder of the Katsushiki 
Subdivision of the Ukiyoye School"



D20  Beauty in Autumn, Shinsai (19th Century)

Back: "Ryuryukyo Shinsai, Pupil by Katsushika Hokusai, Early 19th Century"



D22  Men and Women Amusing Themselves, Soukenobu (1671-1751)

Back: "Sukenobu (1671-1751)" - "Printed by The Shimbi Shoin, Tokyo"



D23  Beauties Looking at Cherry Blossoms, Soukenobu (1671-1751)

Back: "By Sukenobu (1671-1751)" - 
"Printed by The Shimbi Shoin Ltd., Tokyo"



D29  Man and Woman in the Snow, Koryusai (18th Century)

Back:"Koryisu (18 Century)" - 
"Reproduced by The Shimbi Shoin, LTD. Tokyo"



D31  Beauty Dressing in Summer, Utamaro (1753-1805)

Back: "Reproduced by The Shimbi Shoin, Ltd., Tokyo"



D38  Beauty and Girl by the Screen, Eishi

Back: "Hosoda (1829) Founder of the 
Hosoda Subdivision of the Ukiyoyo School"



D53  Beauty and Reeds, Sukenobu

Back: "Sukenobu (1671-1751)" - 
"Printed by The Shimbi Shoin, Tokyo"



D57  Beauties Playing Cards, Isshu (19th Century)

Back: "By Miyagawa Issho (beginning of the 19th Century)"
"Reproduced by The Shimbi Shoin, Ltd., Tokyo"



D65  Young Man and Girl, Kwaigetsuda (18th Century)

Back: "By Kaigetssudo  Ukiyoye School" (paste on label)
"The Shimbi Shoin (Publishers of Art Works)
13 Shinsakanacho, Kyobashi-Ku, Tokyo, Japan"



[Lady by Screen - not found in catalogue listings]

Back: "Tsuneyuki (19th Century) Ukiyoye School" - 
"Reproduced by The Shimbi Shoin, Tokyo"



[Man with Torch - not found in catalogue listings]

Back: "By Horyu (19th Century)" -
"Reproduced by The Shimbi Shoin Ltd, Tokyo"



[Men and Women - not found in catalogue listings]

Back: "58f" in pencil - no other markings



Folding Case - Cloth Covered
(13 3/4 x 19 1/2 in - 35 x 50 cm)