Japanese Shunga Woodblock Print Book

Plum blossoms on a paper cover, and a secret inside.

This shunga woodblock print book was made in Japan in the 19th century, in ink on paper. Shunga are Edo-period erotic prints, commonly bound as illustrated books and enjoyed privately. The cover shown is a pale handmade paper printed with blue plum blossoms and thin branches, with a tall red-orange title label bearing calligraphy and a volume mark. The binding is stitched along the spine. It is an adult subject.

About nine by six inches. The cover tells you very little.