The sun., 1916-10-18
JAPANESE COLOR
PRINTS TO Be SOLD
Mctzcar Collection of Works
by Masters Placed on
the Market.
MANY HIROSnIGES IN IT
Assembly of the Treasures Ac-
complishcd After Years
Of Effort.

Tho American Art Association has
been authorized by the owner. Judson
n Ne,zgar Of Moline. Ill. to dis
nose Of. by unrestricted public sale. the
vel known and exceedingly choice coll
,.c.lon Of Japanese color prints by the
.re,, masters formed by Mr.. Metzgar.
= counoisScur Of wide knowledge and
discriminating judgment. The unrc-
stric,ed public sale OF this valuable coll
lection, which will aford an unusual
onnortunity to collectors and art stu
dents. will take place at the American
A.. Galleries, on the afternoons and
evenings of November 10 and ~. prior
% which the rare color prints will be on
free public view.
The catalogue, which will he Illus
trs,ed. has been carefully prepared by
Arthur Davidson Ficke. the well known
authority. and by the owner OF the col
lection. and describes In particular the
rare and choice series Of prints by the
great master Hiroshlge.
Mr. Gookin's F~oreword.
Frederick W. Gookin, the well known
s,,ert and connolsseur. has written for
,he catalogue q "foreword' which we
take great pie sure In Reproducing:
"The dispersal OF Mr.. Metzgar's coll
lection of japanese color prints affords
another rare opportunity to acquire
choice Impressions Of important works
nv some OF the great masters OF the
Cklyoe school.
.The supply OF prints that for nearly
\ ouarter Of a century came from Japan
IN a seemingly never ending stream mas
been rapidly dwind,ing for several years
mast. and now has virtually ceased to be
a factor in the market. And. although
many thousands OF prints were sent to
America and Europe while the tide was
AZ Its flood. nearly all the finer ones
have gradually found Judgment In a
connaratiyc.y few collections. The own
ers OF these collections were the first to
perce,ve that while the number or prints
in existence Is very large. OF the master
works only a few OF he most beautiful
Impressions have survived In fine cond'-
ton. These are the treasures that !ieiu
the art lover abiding JOY.
THAT all OF MIR. MetZgar's prints are
Of this class he would be the first one to
dsc!aim but In gathering them ne has
constantly kept in view the d~esirabii!ty OF
securing the best impressions he could
And. His special endeavor has been to
acquire choice prints by H!roshige. and
IN particular to perfect his set OF the So
called 'frst' Tokaido series. How din
cu,, II is TO make up such a set as the
one lltllutu VI MS shit "ii w oNNNN'
understood when IL Is learned that for
years Mr.. Metzgar has been indefatigable
in his search. not only watching care
fully the stocks OF dealers. but the sales
BY auction In Japan and Europe as wei
as in America. and frequently buying
entire sets In order TO get from each only
ono or ;wo prints on, OF the tif,y-four.
"Hundred Edo Views"
"The same method and tho same care
nave been exercised in getting together
the fine prints of the Hundred Edo
Views and other series. which he has
now decided to give other collectors tbs
opportunity to acquire. q. especial I'm
p~ortaace are several proof impressions oi
prints Of the upr gh: Tokaido and fed'
series, on surimono paper. mostly II
tones Of blue. Noteworthy also are tn
charming Kwacho Glover and bird
prints, an exceptionally fine lot, including
severa. Of very distinguished design. ant
villa, are perhaps the supreme impres
sions o. one or W. OF the TENS. Taking
them all together. rot since :ne Happe
sale has 4 finer lot OF Hirosh!ge print
been PUT up NJ auction.
Besides the H!roshiges the collection
Includes many desirable prints by othe
masters which IL would tkke too mucl
space to specify In this %foreword. A.
tent!on should, however. be directed Il
the unusual group OF pillar prints IN re
markable condition. These prints wer
generally mounted as kak, mono and SUI
fered from long exposure to light an
smoke and the ravages Of insects, S
that they are rarely found In satisfac
tory STATE. Mr.. Metzgar has been fortu
nate in getting hold Of so many cholc
np.sh