The Eight Lives of Buddha, a Japanese Library - Handsome illustrated book from the series "The Eight Lives of Buddha, a Japanese Library" (Shakka hasso Yamato bunko), a novel based on the life of Buddha that was released in installments. The series features full color covers and 8 black and white diptychs along with one or two single panel prints, the images surrounded by text. Both Toyokuni III and Kunisada II created designs for the series. Some covers feature deluxe printing techniques such as embossing or bokashi shading. An interesting genre of Edo era woodblock prints.

Artist - Kunisada II (1823 - 1880)

Image Size - Cover 7" x 4 5/8"; black and white diptychs 6 3/8" x 8 1/4" + margins as shown

Condition - Cover with excellent color and detail as shown. Slight soiling and creasing, fold at corner. Inside pages have soiling, creasing, and rubbing at edges. Inside front cover has loss at edge. Several pages have a stain in subject. Binding broken. Please see photos for details.