Re: Hokusai manga -- Where do you find the complete Volumes

Comments:
: Hi again, : In Tokyo, you can try Sanseido books. Last I looked about 2 weeks ago, they had 7 complete volumes available, at prices between $175 and $300, depending on condition. Other galleries that have them are Hara Shobo and Oya Shobo. I have sometimes seen them at Yamada Shoten, Akane-Do, and others in the Kanda Jimbocho area at prices between $150 and $500. I don't have addresses/phone #'s on hand, but many of these stores have web pages. Hara and Sanseido definitely speak English if that's a concern. : You'll certainly pay more for these in the U.S. but you can try Boston Books or Zita Books. Both have web pages. Volumes sometimes appear at eBay and other auctions too. They're cheaper, but riskier. Make sure you get a complete description from the seller. : Happy hunting! The full volumes are definitely worth it! : Dan : : : Dan, : : Can you give me an idea of where one can find these volumes. : : I was in Japan in '96 and couldn't find them. : : Perhaps, I didn't know where to look. Are they : : available in the U.S. : : heklein@bellatlantic.net : : : : : It's highly possible that your fresh copies come from Meiji Period printings. These were done with recarved blocks, and appear extremely fresh. There was a complete set of the Manga issued in 1875, and yet another one in late Meiji. : : : Part of the problem with breaking up books is that the dating clues in the back and preface are lost--as well as the covers, title pages, advertising notes, proper margins and sequence of the prints. I'm a firm believer in buying Manga complete and whole, and not supporting the division of these books. For $200-300, you can still easily find complete Edo Period copies of the Manga in Japan. I recently bought a copy of Volume 2 missing the last 2 pages for $25! It's simply absurd to pay more money per image while supporting the needless destruction of these books. : : : : : : : I recently acquired several dozen manga. Their : : : : condition is superb. In other words, too good to : : : : be true, much crisper lines and more vibrant color : : : : than, say, those that Gary is offering at this : : : : website. I have compared one that I got from : : : : this auction with the same print recently acquired. : : : : The two are virtually identical, 99.8%. There are : : : : a couple of tiny lines that differ. This leads me : : : : to conclude that the better condition prints are : : : : from recut blocks. : : : : I do know that the manga were very popular and : : : : reprinted in many editions. Does anyone know if : : : : there were editions produced from wholly recut : : : : blocks? And when? : : : : My recently acquired ones look like they're just : : : : off the press, in that good a condition, but they : : : : definitely are woodblock prints on the right kind : : : : of paper. : : : : Any information would be appreciated.