I am always on the lookout for prints to add to my collection. I am particularly interested in any early-edition prints by Tsuchiya Koitsu, Torii Kotondo and Shotei (Takahashi Hiroaki). By early edition I mean prints that were printed during their lifetime (lifetime strikes).
I am also interested in prints by some of the other artists listed in my Gallery, especially Asano Takeji, Kawano Kaoru, Bakufu Ohno, Hiyoshi Mamoru, Ikeda Shuzo, Tamami Shima, Kunihiro Amano, Toru Mabuchi, Bijin triptych prints, and any of the missing prints from my Genji series collections (Kunisada I, Kunisada II, Kunichika).
If you have such prints that you are willing to sell at a reasonable price, please email me their details including thorough condition report, selling price, and LARGE clear image(s) of each print, including front and verso images.
Note: I do not purchase framed prints, or prints that have been mounted to a backing. The images you send me will need to be of the artwork alone, unframed and unmatted.
The prints or paintings would have to be unframed and in at least very good condition (no matte burn; no tears, creases, folds, stains, foxing; no margin trimming; not backed or glued down to a backing or the front matte). Some creasing and stains in the margins may be ok. When you email me, please include the following:
- Dimensions of the print/painting (size of the painted area, not including the frame, matte, or margins);
- A list of any of the above-mentioned damages that you find;
- Large images of the entire print/painting, including margins and verso (rear of the print);
- Large, close-up images of the damaged areas;
- If possible, an indication of how much you'd like to sell the print/painting for.
You would have to be prepared to ship the prints to me here in Japan for final appraisal prior to payment. If you email me photos of any damage you find on the prints before you post them, the chances of me rejecting them on appraisal will be almost zero -- to date I have never had to return a print to a seller.
For U.S.A. sellers the postage cost will be around US$13 via USPS Global Priority Mail for oban-sized prints (10 x 15 inches). Larger prints can be carefully rolled in a sturdy four-inch tube (or larger) for about the same price. See my article on safe packaging of prints here. I will make payment upon safe receipt of your prints and confirmation of their reported condition, either via
- International Postal Money Order (IPMO);
- PayPal;
- direct transfer to a bank account (for customers in Japan or Australia).
I am an eBay member (username rossfwalker) so please feel free to check my eBay feedback rating.
Once again, here's a summary of what I need when you email me:
- Print dimensions (paper or image area, with print unframed);
- List of print damages (see above list);
- LARGE scans or digital camera images of the print and damaged areas. Please make these as large as you can, and send multiple images of each print (front and verso, close-ups, etc).
- Your approximate sell price.
A Note About Valuations
Most art owners will try to value their items based on commercial gallery sale prices. Unfortunately, this method can give an overly optimistic indication of 'fair market value'. This is because most commercial galleries often sell art at several times their buy price. A much more accurate method of determining the 'fair market value' of art is by using recent auction sale prices. I buy the majority of my prints via auctions, so I will use average auction prices when making an offer for your prints.
I also have a small collection of woodblock prints for sale here.
