Toys from the portfolio Hanga kanshōkai sakuhin-shū, Volume 1, 1980 (orig. 1959-1960) 

by Hatsuyama Shigeru

About This Print

A magazine and book illustrator and print maker, the artist Hatsuyama Shigeru's pallet often goes to the soft blues and pinks. His work as a children's illustrator adds a note of fantasy to many of his prints. This print, featuring what appear to be children's dolls, appeared in volume 1 of the 2-volume set of small prints titled Hanga Kanshōkai Sakuhin-shū. 

Hanga Kanshōkai Sakuhin-shū 

(Collection of Works by the Woodblock Print Appreciation Society)

From what I can deduce from available information, this two volume portfolio consisting of twenty-four small format prints by fifteen artists was published by the Yokohama publisher Chikuhōdō [竹芳洞 or 竹芳堂], under the name Hanga kanshōkai (Woodblock Print Appreciation Society), in 1959 or 1960 and re-issued at least once in 1980 in an edition of 200.*  The two-volume portfolio was originally issued in a limited edition of 700 copies for volume 1 and 500 copies for volume 2.  Each print was tipped-in to a mat measuring 14 1/2 x 11 1/8 in. (36.8 x 28.3 cm).  The prints along with a table of contents were placed in a brown paper envelope, as shown below. It appears that some of the prints in the two portfolios were re-issues of earlier designs.

Note that prints from the portfolios are still sold individually by Chikuhōdō on their website http://chikuhoudou.com/showa_ca2.html [accessed 3-19-24].

* the portfolios shown or referenced on line are variously dated 1958 by Saru Gallery, c. 1960 by Scholten Japanese Art, 昭和50年頃（c. 1975) by Yamada-Shoten and  昭和55 (1980) by the Japanese Association of Antique Book Dealers Natsume Books and the Aomori Museum. 

Print Details