Japanese Edo period woodblock print depicting “The lay priest Ryuen, Uramatsu Kihei Hidenao, behind a rack of kimonos” from the series “Stories of the Faithful Samurai.” The print is signed at the lower left "Ichiyusai Kuniyoshi ga" (1797-1861). The red Yoshi Kiri seal is beneath the signature. The publisher’s seal and series number is below the artist’s seal. The date seals are above the signature. The series title is at the upper right. The series, published by Ebiya Rinnosuke in 1847-1848, features each of the historical forty-seven ronin (masterless samurai) who avenged the death of their lord in 18th century Japan. Vertical oban size measuring nearly 14 1/2" x 9 7/8”. Very good overall condition. The print is very lightly backed for album mounting yet the image remains clearly visible on the reverse. No tape or tape stains on the back. There is some fading evident. This image is illustrated and described as plate 1.42 in “Kuniyoshi: The Faithful Samurai” by David R. Weinberg, Hotei Publishing, Leiden, 2000. From the collection of a former American expatriate to Guangzhou and Beijing from 1983 to 1987.