While most Shimbi Shoin art reproduction plates are found bound into books, or extracted from books, the company did market color woodcut reproduction plates individually. The basic plate is thick high quality card stock. The plate size is 12 3/4 x 19 in - 32.5 x 48 cm. The art reproduction color woodblock prints on paper are tipped to the plate. They cover from 50% to 80% of the plate.

The Shimbi Shoin periodically published catalogues (Old Masters of the Far East Wood-cut Reproductions) listing the individual plates available. Plates are assigned a general alpha descriptive series letter. I have traced the "A" through "F" series to the sales catalogue as early as 1911 and then forward through a catalogue dated 1937. Here are the basic series designations used by the Shimbi Shoin.

A. Buddhistic and Human Figures
B. Flowers and Birds
C. Landscapes
D. Genre Pictures
E. Chinese Pictures
F. Reproductions of Old Prints

The individual prints are assigned an alpha and numeric stock number. Those stock numbers appear to have remained constant over the years.

The twenty two plates on this web page are this type of material. They are from the Shimbi Shoin "A" ("Buddhistic and Human Figures") series and "D" ("Genre") series. Here is the general listing of the series of prints marketed by the Shimbi Shoin in the published catalogues:

The company also marketed folding cases to house the plates.

These plates are found with a number of varieties of printing or labels on the reverse. Here are the types of text/markings I have seen on the back: "Reproduced by the Shimbi Shoin, LTD, Tokyo" "Printed by the Shimbi Shoin, Tokyo Name of artist and period Print number (in text or written in pencil

There are twenty four plates housed in a wooden case in this unit. The plates in this unit are:

1. A22 Chinese Beauty, Genki (1750-1797)
2. B12 Cherry Tree on the Beach, Hoitsu (1761-1828)
3. B24 Maple Under the Moon, Hoitsu (1761-1828) - second paste on lable "By Hotsu Sakai (1761-1821)"
4. B28 Cock and Hen Under Plum Blossoms (no lettering),
5. B44 Morning Glories and Sparrows, Rosetsu (1755-1799)
6. B50 Peacock, Tessan (1775-1841)
7. B62 Lotus and Herons, Chikuto (1776-1853)
8. B64 Autumnal Foliage and Doves, Yamamoto Baiitsu (1790-1857) Benjin School (handwritten number)
9. B98 Sparrows Among Bamboos, Rosetsu (1755-1799)
10. C1 Landscape, Sesshu (1420-1506)
11. C11 Landscape, Motonobu (1476-1559)
12. C16 Toyemmei (Chinese Tao - Yuan-Ming) Returning Home], Buncho (1776-1843)
13. C30 Landscape, Sesshu (1420-1506)
14. D8 Ladies Playing Cards, Masanobu (1690-1768) dup
15. D40 Beauty Standing, Choshun Miyagawa (1682-1752), Ukiyoye School
16. E3 Landscape, Go Doshi (Wu Tao-tzu), Tang
17. E9 Lotus Flower and Herons, Jo Ki (Hsu Hsi) Sung
18. E10 Lotus Flower and Birds, Jo Ki (Hsu Hsi) Sung
19. E11 Pink Tree Lotus, Ri Teki (Li Ti), Sung
20. E12 Pink Tree Lotus, Ri Teki (Li Ti), Sung
21. E20 Hahacho on Pine-Tree, Mokkei (Mu-chi), Sung
22. E51 Solitary Bower Among Mountain and Stream, Yo Bunso (Yang Wen T'sung) (number not on plate)
23. -- Man with Torch (Dup)
24. -- Mountain and Bridge

The Shimbi Shoin plates often have the stock number (Alpha Numeric - ie. A1 - D165) printed on the back. Most of these plates have a stock number and the artist and time period. Almost all have "Reproduced (or Printed) by the Shimbi Shoin, Ltd, Tokyo." Examples of the printing on the back are here. The titles above each image below are derived from sales catalogues that The Shimbi Shoin published over the years. In the period from 1915-1924 these plates were sold for 3 yen to 5 yen each based upon published catalogue prices.

The Case. The plates are housed in a cloth covered folding case. Inside the case there is a wooden frame that surrounds and protects the plates. There is an insert that fits on top of the plates inside the case. The case is secured with clasps.

Condition. The following comments are offered regarding condition.

• Plates. The tipped to plate color woodblock prints are clean and free of marking, toning, staining or foxing. The actual plates are clean but some show overall toning/aging. However, the paper is supple and not brittle or damaged. While none of the plates have damage to the actual tipped on print, several have faults in the margins. If there is a margin fault, it is noted below each plate shown below.

• Wrap-Around Type Case with Wooden Tray. The case is in poor condition. While the two clasp ties are present, the cords holding them to the case are missing. There are numerous rubbed and torn areas, particularly along the edges. The lacquer wooden plate tray that the case folds around has been repaired.

The Plates

[Captions at the top of each plate below are verbatim quotes from the plate or from Shimbi Shoin Catalogues.
Notations below each plate provide information on condition.

The alternating light and dark bands seen on the images below are caused by
the scanner and they are not actually on the plates.


A22  Chinese Beauty, Genki (1750-1797)




B12  Cherry Tree on the Beach, Hoitsu (1761-1828)




B24  Maple Under the Moon, Hoitsu (1761-1828) - 
second paste on label "By Hotsu Sakai (1761-1821)"




B28  Cock and Hen Under Plum Blossoms (no lettering)




B44  Morning Glories and Sparrows, Rosetsu (1755-1799)
 


 
B50  Peacock, Tessan (1775-1841)




B62  Lotus and Herons, Chikuto (1776-1853)




B64  Autumual Foliage and Doves, 
Yamamoto Baiitsu (1790-1857) 
Benjin School (handwritten number)




B98  Sparrows Among Bamboos, Rosetsu (1755-1799)




C1   Landscape, Sesshu (1420-1506)




C11  Landscape, Motonobu (1476-1559)




C16  Toyemmei (Chinese Tao - Yuan-Ming) 
Returning Home, Buncho (1776-1843)




C30  Landscape, Sesshu (1420-1506)




D8   Ladies Playing Cards, Masanobu (1690-1768) *




D40  Beauty Standing, Choshun Miyagawa 
(1682-1752), Ukiyoye School




E3   Landscape, Go Doshi (Wu Tao-tzu), Tang




E9   Lotus Flower and Herons, Jo Ki (Hsu Hsi) Sung




E10  Lotus Flower and Birds, Jo Ki (Hsu Hsi) Sung




E11  Pink Tree Lotus, Ri Teki (Li Ti), Sung




E12  Pink Tree Lotus, Ri Teki (Li Ti), Sung




E20  Hahacho on Pine-Tree, Mokkei (Mu-chi), Sung




E51  Solitary Bower Among Mountain and Stream, 
Yo Bunso (Yang Wen T'sung) (number not on plate)




[Man with Torch  - not found in catalogue listings]*




[Mountain and Bridge - not found in catalogue listings]




* Duplicate of plate in 22 plate unit.



Wrap Around Case - Cloth Covered with Tipped on Print
Lacquer Wooden Plate Tray Inside
(15 1/2 x 21 1/4 x 2 in - 39 x 54 x 5 cm)

The lacquer plate tray has been repaired.
The cords holding the two ties are missing.