Gallery 9: Woodblock Printed Postcards

Japanese postcards were extensively produced by the woodblock printing technique after Japanese regulations allowed for images on postcards in 1900. This continued despite the popularity of photo postcards and images printed using other available techniques. Many artists celebrated for their work in larger formats also produced images for postcards, which represented a financial opportunity, a chance for greater recognition, and/or followed the tradition of sending out postcards to friends during the New Year. Postcards were also published depicting reproductions of miniaturized Ukiyo-e images. Although the latter are not of great interest for this collection, a few designs have been obtained to demonstrate the exceptional technical skills used for what is typically an ephemeral paper product.

Additional woodblock printed postcards can be viewed in these galleries

9A Designs by Tokuriki Tomikichiro

9B Designs by Ito Nisaburo

9C Puppet Theater Prints by Saito Seijiro

9D Postcards from a Sosaku Hanga Club’s New Year Postcard Exchange

9G Designs by  Hasegawa Sadanobu

9H Designs by Kawanishi Hide

Additional woodblock printed postcards can be found with other prints in galleries specific to these artists:

Takahashi Shotei Gallery 3A

Asano Takeji Gallery 3C

Kawase Hasui Gallery 3E

Sin Gallery 3L

Azechi Umataro Gallery 4B

The three postcard prints above are signed “Hiroshige”, an obvious misattribution to the earlier Ukiyo-e artist. The right hand image is pirated from Inoue Yasuji’s True Pictures of Famous Places in Tokyo. The composition of that image is also very similar to the middle third of a vertical design by Kobayashi Kiyochika. Since the tree cards came together it is assumed that the other images are likely taken from Yasuji works. Postcards are 13.9 x 8.8 cm. Backs are those used from 1918-1933.

The envelope and three postcards below are from the series Pearl Divers in Ise-Shima National Park by Kadowaki Shunichi (1913-2006) which was published in the 1970-1980s

The postcards in this section are from the set Customs of Akita, Winter Print Collection. No. 1 by Katsuhira Tokushi (1904-1971). This set was sold both with postcard backs as well as separate prints the latter which can be seen in the Gallery devoted to the artist. Two duplicate postcard prints are also viewable just above. All postcards have 1933-1945 backs with the exception of Fumidawara which, curiosly, appears to have a 1918-1933 back. This may have resulted from a previous collector pulling this image from a previously printed set in order to construct a complete set.

The postcards in this section are from the set Customs of Akita, Winter Print Collection. No. 2 by Katsuhira Tokushi (1904-1971). This set was sold both with postcard backs as well as separate prints, the latter which can be seen in the Gallery devoted to the artist. All postcards have 1918-1933 backs.

These postcards are from the set Akita's Famous Tanabata Festival, Kanto Lantern Festival by  Katsuhira Tokushi (1904-1971). This set was sold both with postcard backs as well as separate prints. All postcards have 1918-1933 backs. Translations should be considered tentative as they were derived using translator programs that have questionable reliability.

The envelope and five postcards in this section are also by Katsuhira Tokushi (1904-1977). The depict scenery around Lake Towada. The postcard backs date the publication of the set to between 1918 and 1933.

The following postcards have yet to be identified. Some have artist seals whereas others lack any identifying information. It is likely that many of the artists that contributed to woodblock postcards may never be identified. If you have any information that could assist in identifying the artists and/or publishers please contact us.

The woodblock printed postcards in this section were published in celebration of the enthronement of Emperor Hirohito in 1928. The artists have yet to be identified except for Yuki Somei (1875-1957) who created a print that seems to have been printed in larger numbers considering the frequency in which one still encounters it.

These postcards all share a back from the publisher Kobayashi Bunshichi. The collection’s Yoshida Hiroshi postcard (above) also has this back.

An unusual postcard by an unidentified artist featuring a Japanese woodblock print pasted onto a postcard back. Published in 1901 by Niagara Envelope Co., (Buffalo NY, USA).

A perwar set of souvenir woodblock printed postcards by un unidentified artist. Published by Gahosha, Hongo, Tokyo.