(Utamaro, Kitagawa). Sanjuurokkai kyouka awase shiohi no tsuto [Gifts of the Ebb Tide: A Poetry Contest on the Thirty-six Shells] by Akera, Kankou - 1789

(Edo): Tsutaya Juzaburou, 1789. Utamaro, Kitagawa. Small quarto. (20)pp. First edition. Illustrated with eight spreads by Kitagawa Utamaro. This anthology of thirty-six short poems, presented in the style of a traditional poetry contest, was written by members of the Yaegaki Circle after Akera Kankou and several members of the Circle were inspired by shells during a walk on the beach at Shinagawa. Utamaro's opening illustration is clearly drawn from this, showing families walking along the shore and gathering shells at Shinagawa, just as the poets did. The poetry is set above exquisitely detailed renderings of the shells examined in the accompanying verse. The closing scene shows a group of women gathering to play a matching game using painted clam shells. Utamaro's skillful illustrations are highlighted with mica, blind embossing, mother-of-pearl, and gold, and printed on thick hosho paper.

Roger S. Keyes used images from Gifts of the Ebb Tide on the dust wrapper of Ehon, The Artist and the Book in Japan, his historic exhibit of Japanese illustrated books at The New York Public Library in 2006. Keyes illustrated every page of Utamaro's masterpiece in his book and began his description of it with these words: "One of the most beautiful books ever published began with a visit to the seaside."

Keyes continued in his discussion of the first edition: "The first edition of Gifts of the Ebb Tide was a triumph. No one had ever drawn shells with more authority, more sensitivity, more painstaking detail. No printers had used such a variety of textures, and none since the days of Harunobu had employed such a range of colorants or produced such an array of special effects."

The second edition is what Keyes illustrated in his text. It is a matter of taste as to which edition one prefers. The second has stronger color in the woodcuts. The first has the golden screen behind the group of women.

Bound in hand-painted indigo paper with expected wear and fading. Spine with Japanese cloth, in what appears to be an early repair.

Impressive provenance with this copy being owned by Edmond de Goncourt, renowned collector of Utamaro's work and author of a monograph on the artist. De Goncourt wrote in red at the margin of the opening endpaper: "Exemplaire de la plus grande beautre comme triage." This copy is exceptional and very rare. (Roger S. Keyes, Ehon: The Artist and the Book in Japan, pp. 112-123).