Katsushika Hokusai

KATSUSHIKA HOKUSAI (Edo, now Tokyo, 1760–1849) & TACHIBANA KONRON (c. 1761).
“Hokuetsu Kidan (Extraordinary Tales from the Northern Province of Echigo),” 1812.
Set of four volumes. Incomplete (4/6).
Bears the mark of the censor of the time.
Measurements: 22 x 16 x 1 cm (x4).
Published in 1812, *Hokuetsu Kidan* (Extraordinary Tales of Hokuetsu) is one of the most unique works dedicated to the Echigo region (present-day Niigata Prefecture) and a piece of particular interest within the illustrated literature of the Edo period. This set of four volumes is part of an original six-volume edition; this fact, combined with the presence of illustrations by Katsushika Hokusai, makes the work a particularly attractive item for collectors of old Japanese books.
The work was written by Tachibana Konron, a scholar from Echigo Province, and brings together a mix of extraordinary tales, descriptions of landscapes, natural phenomena, local customs, and supernatural narratives. Closely related to the Japanese miscellaneous essay genre (zuihitsu), the publication offers a fascinating glimpse into the culture and popular imagination of the region during the Edo period, blending observation, oral tradition, and fantastical elements.
The main artistic appeal of *Hokuetsu Kidan* lies in its illustrations, created largely by Katsushika Hokusai, who by that time was already recognized as one of the great masters of ukiyo-e. His images stand out for their extraordinary imagination, compositional precision, and narrative power, foreshadowing the visual language that would later reach its peak in works such as *The Great Wave off Kanagawa* (ca. 1830–1832). As such, this publication constitutes an early and exceptional testament to the Japanese master’s artistic evolution.
Along with Suzuki Bokushi’s *Hokuetsu Seppu* (*Chronicles of the Snows of Hokuetsu*), published in 1837, this work is considered one of the two major historical and cultural references dedicated to Echigo. While the former offers a more documentary-style view of life in snowy regions, *Hokuetsu Kidan* stands out for its fantastical and literary character, having been a highly prized read during the Edo period.
The presence of the censor’s stamp from that era also lends it significant historical value, as it situates the publication within the Japanese publishing system of the Edo period. Although incomplete—consisting of four of the original six volumes—this collection remains of extraordinary interest due to its rarity, its literary significance, and, especially, the involvement of Hokusai, one of the most essential figures in the history of art.