[NARA EHON] — Utsuho Monogatari

16. [NARA EHON]. UTSUHO MONOGATARI. [TALES OF THE HOLLOW TREE]. 23.1 x 17.1 cm. Green brocade covers. Hand calligraphed manuscript bound Yamato-toji style, on torinoko paper. The style of the illustrations and the calligraphy date the work to the early Tokugawa period (mid-17th Century). The unfinished manuscript of this classical tale consists of 45 leaves (each double-sided), of which 37 are calligraphed in an elegant hand, with 4 single page and 1 double page richly colored paintings in a skilled Yamato-e manner. The manuscript is underpainted with flowers and grasses in gold throughout. This copy is remarkably well preserved, with but slight wear to the cloth covers. Internally, it is bright and clean. From the collection of the photographer, Roman Vishniac. .