How does Famous Views of the Sixty-odd Provinces elucidate its History?
Hiroshige started the series in the seventh month of Kaei 6 (Sept 1853) and completed it in the third month of Ansei 3 (May 1856).
The first 42 prints were completed and published in 1853. Thereafter, Hiroshige slowed down the pace of publishing: Buzen Province, listed as the 61st print, was issued in 1854; another seventeen were published in the 9th month of 1855; and the final nine prints in the third to fifth months of 1856.
A contents page was also published in 1856 after the final prints; The ordering of the prints on the contents page differs slightly from the actual print publication ordering. The new ordering on the contents page grouped the prints according to the 8 travel routes in Old Japan.
Hiroshige based many of his designs on old Japanese guidebooks called meishō zue. In particular, at least 26 of the designs are believed to have been based on drawings from the 8 volume series of guidebooks called Sansui Kikan (Exceptional Mountain and Water Landscapes) written and illustrated by Fuchigami Kyokkō (淵上旭江) (1753–1816) published by Yanagihara Kihei from 1800–1802. As well as several from drawings in the early volumes of the Hokusai Manga (北斎漫画, "Hokusai's Sketches") series.A deluxe edition featuring bokashi—additional overprinting to enrich the design—was produced as an initial run to publicize the series. Subsequent print runs tended to limit or eliminate the overprinting which was relatively costly to produce.
Kaei Ansei Hiroshige Hokusai Manga meishō zue Sansui Kikan bokashi