Comment - Ex Libris (Zōsho-hyō, 蔵書票) are book plates pasted onto the front or the inner cover of books to indicate ownership (ex libris, Latin for "from the library of"). Zōsho-hyō (Ex Libris) became known in Japan by the Prague-born painter Emil Orrick in 1900 (Meiji 33) in the literary magazine "Myōjō" (Morning Star, 明星) . Painters and printmakers have begun to handle print-style ex libris stamps. Among the famous artists, Yumeji Takehisa , Shiko Munakata , Takeo Takei, etc. are working on Ex Libris. The "Japan Book Plate Association" (Nihon-sho-hyō kyōkai, 日本書票協会) was established in 1922 and is still the center of research and collection.

Zōsho-hyō (Ex Libris) have also been made by a variety of famous sosaku hanga artists, including Azechi Umetaro, Hiratsuka Unichi, and Kawakami Sumio, many of them organized in the  the "Nippon Exlibris Association" (Nihon-sho-hyō kyōkai, 日本書票協会), founded in 1943.  the "Nippon Exlibris Association" actively promotes this genre of miniature woodblock prints, publishing newsletters and an annual calendar featuring works by its members. A fun and unusual collectible, rarely seen outside Japan.

This Zōsho-hyō (Ex Libris, book plate) shows a typical "Kanji kite" ("ji tako", "字凧" with a Japanese flag design showing the kanji character "Gaku" (學), meaning 'scholarship', 'learning' or 'knowledge'. If it's a name, depending on the 'reading', it may be pronounced 'Satoru', 'Manobu' or 'Makoto', maybe the name of the book owner. The kite is an Edo Kaku (江戸角), the small brother of an Edo Kite. The arrangement with a typical kadomatsu decoration and the spinning top on the lower left, hints at New Years festivities.

Series - none


Artist -  unknown shin hanga artist (not read)


Signature - pencil signature (not read)


Publisher - unknown


Image Size - 6.1 X 6.1 cm (2 3/8" x 2 3/8") + margins as shown


Condition - single sheet; nishiki-e (cloured woodblock);