[ALBUM OF 22 ORIGINAL WATERCOLORS, ON SILK, OF BIRDS AND LEPIDOPTERA] by [Japanese Watercolors - 19th century] - 1810

[Japan, 1810. Folio (33 x 27.5 cm). Late 19th or early 20th century marbled calf, raised bands, spine gilt extra, gilt label, a.e.g., with watercolor river scenes on paper onlaid as doublures. Binding extremities rubbed, images offset a bit to interleaves, occasional patches of darkening to backgrounds of a few images, one corner of an interleaf creased and a bit torn, but otherwise very good to near fine. A lovely collection of watercolor images on silk of birds, moths and butterflies, the artist unknown, but the paintings executed with great skill. The twenty-two individual panels vary somewhat in size, but approximate 24 x 20 cm to 20 x 16cm, and each includes several specimens: in the case of the birds, 2-4, in the case of the Lepidoptera, 5-10. The individual panels are mounted to heavy stock via blue silk bordering. The birds are identified via manuscript captions next to each bird; the Lepidoptera are not captioned. A pencil note on the free endsheet in an early hand dates the paintings somewhat earlier (1700-1750 Shijo School) than do those later in its most recent provenance: tipped in unidentified mid-20th century auction description (dating the paintings to early 19th century) - private collection.