Tōkyō, Suharaya Sasuke, Kinkadō, [early-Meiji period, ca. 1863-1868]. Two parts in five. "8vo"-size (22.9 x 15.8 cm). Printed on double leaves, fukurotoji-style. 52 [10; 10; 12; 10; 10] leaves. Original limp boards, covered with yellow, flower-patterned paper, with original daisen title slips, mounted. In slipcase with two hand-coloured pictorial titles mounted (and the same, in plain state on blue paper, tipped in on two front board versos).

The premier Japanese work on falconry, with the exceedingly rare colour illustrations by the acclaimed artist and son of a samurai, Kyōsai (or "Gyōsai") Kawanabe (1831-1889), also known as Dōiku, or Tōiku [in Cat. BM(NH) listed as Dōhō]. A complete set of five books. The volumes include information about the care of hawks, their physical features and behaviour, tools used in falconry, and the breeding of these birds. The volumes were probably issued in envelopes illustrated with the colour woodblocks on the wrappers, in almost all cases discarded. Sets with the two elaborately colour woodblock-printed illustrations, here tipped-in to the slipcase, are extremely elusive. The works of Kyōsai ... were recently featured at a major exhibition at the Royal Academy in 2022. 'Known for his independent spirit, Kawanabe Kyōsai is among Japan’s most important master painters. Witty, energetic and imaginative, his art continues to influence numerous artistic styles today, from manga to tattoo art. Overlooked for decades, particularly compared to his earlier counterparts, Hokusai and Hiroshige, Kyōsai is now celebrated for his ability to bridge popular culture and traditional art. Having initially studied under ukiyo-e artist Kuniyoshi, he combined his subsequent academic training to create his own revolutionary style, creating images from the terrifying and awe-inspiring, to the sweet and endearing.' (Gabrielle Jungels-Winkler on UK royal academy website). The yellow boards partly, irregularly paled; the books otherwise fine. Slipcase extremities worn, with a few, small wormholes and galleries; one clasp missing, the other detached; otherwise, an excellent, clean, fresh, and unmarked copy; the colour woodblock-printed illustrations with bright colouring. A much better copy than the one digitalized by the Museum of Fine Arts, in Boston, Massachusetts. Cat. BM(NH), p. 963 (incomplete copy). Neither in Nissen, nor in Schwerdt.