SHIN HANATSUMI新花摘み

1797. [EHON] Yosa BUSON 与謝蕪村, author; Matsumura GOSHUN松村呉春 [GEKKEI 月渓 ], artist.
SHIN HANATSUMI新花摘み. Published In Osaka, c. 1798. 25.7 x 18.4 cm.
One volume, complete. Here, Goshun, one of Buson's most illustrious students, has illustrated a collection
of wonderful haikai and diary notes by Buson from a humorous work he brushed in the 1780s, here
posthumously block-carved in Buson's distinctive style, with a group of literati images by Goshun which
are some of the most praised of the genre. Goshun was a master of both literati and Maruyama style,
derived from his close relationship with Okyo丸山応挙and Buson. Always in demand as a masterpiece of
the genre, very few copies ever come to market. With vintage but replaced covers, a brushed titles label, a
tiny bit of worming and very good impressions. A species of the lightly colored version quite like those at
the British Museum and UCLA. With the same two page ad laid onto the inner back cover as those copies,
so only the first ad page can be read I this one. Reference to the Union Catalogue seems to indicate that
this Kansei edition was the first to be cut and printed. Although UCLA claims this version to be a later
printing, I see no earlier version listed anywhere, though the postscript by Goshun is dated during
Temmei. The UCLA copy had passed through the hands of Sorimachi Shigeo, the greatest bookseller of
the Showa era, so perhaps he knew of an earlier printed version.... But there is no sign of it today.
Enclosed in a custom clasped chitsu case.