PUBLISHER:

Tsujioka-ya Bunsuke

CENSOR'S SEAL:

Hama

SIGNATURE:

Ichieisai Yoshitsuya ga

TARO YOSHIKADO

Above is the text for those of you who can read it. I can't.

Above is a detail from the text where the print was restored in two places. I have outlined the repaired wormhole damage. Compare this image to the one above it and you will see the areas clearly without the aid of the yellow lines. Scratches, dirt, fading, trimming, wear and tear and wormholes are the kinds of things you should look for when considering a purchase anywhere, from anyone. Sometimes the restorations are so good they are almost impossible to find by the untrained eye.

If you are physically able to handle a prospective addition to your collection check first to see if the print is backed. Turn it over. Hold it to the light and look at it from the backside. Even if it is backed you may still be able to see old repairs depending on the thickness of the paper used in this process. If you find one or more of these restorations turn it back over and look at the corresponding areas on the front of the print carefully to train yourself.

Remember that there are a number of reasons for backing a print. Sometimes it helps to give it strength and body so it will last longer. Sometimes it means that it was preserved in an album and hence the colors may be closer to the time that the print was 'hot of the presses', so to speak. Of course, that depends on how soon after it was sold the first time it was mounted in an album and how long it has been since it was removed.

Restorations alone should not be a deterrent from making a purchase. Consider - 1)Do I want this print? 2)Is the price reasonable? 3)Will I ever get another chance to find a copy of this image in better shape and still at a fair price? How rare is this print? 4)Are the restorations tooooooo extreme to make this print a worthy choice? 5)Will I have buyer's remorse? Many people do. Don't join that group. They are a long suffering crowd. Be sure before you leap. You should be happy with your final decision.

PRINCESS TAKIYASHA

滝夜叉姬

WITH A YOUNG ATTENDANT