Utamaro: L’Almanach des Maisons Vertes

As I’m in Lille, I took the opportunity to pick up a copy of Utamaro: L’Almanach des Maisons Vertes, published this year by Éditions Philippe Picquer. Within the silk-covered slipcase with traditional Japanese fastenings, which is decorated with figures taken from the album it contains, there are two hardback concertina-bound books containing reproductions of both volumes of the famous Annals of the Green Houses (Seirô ehon nenjû gyôji), from the Jacques Doucet collection - including the text, the publisher’s advertisement, and the covers - and a paperback book which gives translations of the text and descriptions of the contents of the plates. Even if you don’t read French, it’s worth getting this boxed set just to have the two beautifully bound volumes of plates which, like the slipcase, are covered in decorated silk.

I also picked up a copy of Hokusai: Les Cent Vues du Mont Fuji (The Hundred Views of Mount Fuji), which was published by Éditions Hazan this year. Along with a paperback booklet, which describes each of the plates from this famous work, are the three volumes which make up Hokusai’s album of one hundred views, each stitch-bound in the traditional Japanese manner and contained within its own protective hardback cover. The three volumes and introductory booklet are contained within a protective black case which is secured when closed with red ribbon ties. This is another set which is worth buying for the beautifully produced volumes of illustrations regardless of whether or not you speak French.