Honchô kendo ryaku den, 本朝剣道略傳

This was a series published by Kadzusa-ya Iwazô circa 1845-46. It features dramatic scenes of swordsman in various postures. It includes a solid red or occasionally dual colour title cartouche in the upper right hand corner, with the main character’s name in a blue cartouche alongside. There is text that wraps above and occasionally around the main character. Somewhere on the print will be Kuniyoshi’s signature and Kiri seal, plus the publishers seal.

The prints can be found with and without a solid yellow background and consists of 21 individual prints.

These are single un-numbered oban prints, however the following are often placed together to form diptychs (using Robinson reference: (S37.5 and S37.6), (S37.7 and S37.9), (S37.10 and S37.8)

During the period 1842-46 censors (Nanushi) seals were only marked singly; thus on these prints we find only one censor seal (various – Mera, Hama, Watari, Kinugasa).

The bushidoboutique collection of Honchô kendo ryaku den prints