Seals and Toshimitsu

Notes

1. The YHS nishikie series has 64 known prints. Here I have exluded YHS-0, the promotional print, and have treated the two variations of YHS-649 as a single print. Hence only 62 prints are represented in this data.

2. The data in the tables was based on Tsuchiya 1995 and Tsuchiya 2000. I have corrected the few errors and discrepancies in these sources by direct examination of copies of prints and/or scans, including the scans in Tsuchiya 2000. However, a number of seals remain to be confirmed.

3. Tsuchiya 1995 includes 614b and 832 but does not include 645, the variation of 649, or 1155. Tsuchiya 2000 (CD-ROM) includes 645, but not the variation of 649, or 832, or 1155. Tsuchiya 1995 describes 614b as "Junsa (according to Gaikotsu)" -- apparently meaning that Miyatake Gaikotsu made reference to such a print but she herself has not confirmed that one exists. However, I have been able to examine a copy of 614b in Yosha Bunko, hence my inclusion of this print and its particulars in this table and elsewhere. I have also examined (1) the variations of 649 in Yosha Bunko, (2) a scan of 832 downloaded from the internet, and (3) an color figure showing 1155 (misnumbered 1055) in van den Ing and Schaap 1992. See YHS Known Prints for more details.

4. The readings of the names of many of the writers accredited with only a few prints are very tentative.

Example of computation of average lag

A -- 1875-2 seals are found on eight Stage 1 prints.
B -- Lags for the 8 prints are 2, 5, 5, 5, 5, 1, 4, 3 months.
C -- Total lag for the group is 30 months.
D -- Average lag for the group is 30 / 8 = 3.8 months.

1. All 50 Stage 1 YHS prints have aratamein "approval" seals. 41 of the seals are readable while 9 have not been deciphered.

2. The deciphered seal dates are those given on Tsuchiya's CD-ROM (Bunsei Shoin 2000). I have inspected all the seals and confirmed most but not all. I have inspected TNS-614a, which is not included on the CD-ROM, and confirmed that it has a 1875-08 seal. The data in this table is subject to change as I attempt to confirm other seals in the future.

1. All Stage 2 YHS prints were published after aratamein "approval" seals had ceased being used, and before otodoke "reported" stamps began being used. Hence there are no estimates of lag time for these prints.

2. All Stage 2 YHS prints show addresses of the designer and the publisher, as required by revised printed matter regulations.

3. Only one Stage 2 YHS print (816) is signed only by Yoshitoshi. All other prints acknowledge the assistance of his disciple Toshimitsu -- three (596, 724, 729) as "hohitsu" (補筆), four (621, 780, 814, 832) as "monjin" (門人).

1. All Stage 3 YHS prints have otodoke "reported" date stamps, and show the addresses of the designer and the publisher, as required by revised printed matter regulations.

2. All Stage 3 YHS prints have a masthead consisting of an unfurled banner, with the issue number on the right, and the series number on the left, flaps of the banner. The borders, too, are more ornate than the borders of Stage 1 or Stage 2 prints. See YHS Three Stages for more details.

3. As I do not know yet know the precise dates of the issues, I have estimated them to be a week or so after the events they describe, except 9001, which I presume was to be issued as a memorial of the Shinpuren story told in YHS-1127.

Notes to follow.