Hokusai. Ehon Azuma Asobi,3vol.,c.1805

Hokusai (Katsuchika) Ehon Azuma Asobi,3 vol., 49 colour woodblock prints, most forming double-page spreads, from the Hayashi Tadamasa collection with square red seal stamp on first leaf of each volume, original sewn blue wrappers with paper label on upper covers, also additional manuscript labels, slightly rubbed and marked, stitching partly broken, small 4to, Edo, Tsutaya Jusaburo, [c.1805].

***The Play of the East was first published in 1799 with the blocks in black and white. This is the first edition of the coloured version and, apart from the landscapes of Edo (Tokyo) and environs, it includes two notably interesting scenes in volume 2. One is an early picture of Edoites goggling at Dutchmen in their quarters, the other is a rare view of the interior of the book's publisher Tsutaya Jusaburo ..