Fair condition with extensive insect damage. All pages, including the cover, have been reinforced with a hard paper backing for preservation. The damage is most noticeable on the cover page and less so on the interior pages, which remain visually strong.
This Edo-period illustrated woodblock printed book by Utagawa Sadahide, published in 1857 (Ansei 4), is titled Kōmei Kassenki: Amagasaki Gassen (高名合戦記 尼崎合戦, “Records of Famous Battles: The Battle of Amagasaki”).
The work depicts the dramatic events surrounding the conflict tied to Akechi Mitsuhide’s betrayal of Oda Nobunaga, a pivotal moment in Japanese history. The narrative is presented through large-scale ukiyo-e battle scenes paired with expressive and highly stylized calligraphy, blending historical subject matter with theatrical storytelling.
Printed using traditional woodblock techniques, the book emphasizes visual impact, with dynamic compositions that bring movement and intensity to the battlefield scenes.
Despite the visible condition issues, this remains a compelling and historically themed example of Edo-period illustrated literature, suitable for collectors of samurai history, battle prints, and ukiyo-e books.
