Posted by Dick Illing on October 30, 1997 at 16:02:06:
In Reply to: Question on Lot #14 posted by Ray Leak on October 29, 1997 at 19:35:44:
: I have a print that seems to be from the same series as the current Lot #14 in the auction. My print has the same large black rectangle with the same lettering in it.
: My print is by the same two brushes. Does anyone know what series this print is a part of? Or can anyone traslate the writing in the black rectangle?
: Thanks, Ray Leak
The series is Toto komei kaitei tsukushi (A set of famous restaurants in the Eastern capital [ie. Edo]), the title being the white on black cartouche in the upper right. The series was issued c. 1852-3 by the publisher Fujiokaya Keijiro. Hiroshige designed the landscape inserts (presumably of scenes adjacent to the various restaurants) and Kunisada the actor below. It was obviously quite a popular set and Suzuki [in his 'Hiroshige' 1970) mentions 49 prints. The two artists collaborated on several notable sets.
It is not known whether the restaurants contributed to the publishing costs as a form of advertising or whether they were so popular that the publisher was cashing in.