Early next month, Pierre Bergé & Associés is holding a Prints and Gallery Collections sale with a Japanese theme.

One of the key lots is a collection of classic Manga from the early 19^th century, created by Katsushika Hokusai. This is a complete series of 15 volumes in two boxes.

The Green Box contains Volumes I (blue), II (yellow), III (brown), IV (white), V (black), VI (green) and VII (Beige) whilst the Beige Box contains Volumes VIII (orange), IX (brown ), X (yellow), XI (orange), XII (black), XIII (beige), XIV (light gray) and XV (black).

Manga manuscript (Click to enlarge)

 The book Volume I is dated 1814. In possession of their original covers, these are very fine copies. There is low wear on the covers and lower margins. Mostly, they have good to fair impressions.

Katsushika Hokusai was a Japanese artist, whose most famous print is the The Great Wave off Kanagawa - part of his Thirty-six views of Mount Fiji series and instantly recognisable all round the world.

Pierre Berge & Associés' auction takes place in Paris on March 2. Collectors interested in Far Eastern drawings in general may wish to take a look at something a little different: some original martial arts drawings by Bruce Lee.