Koji Kinutani - Works – Special Limited Edition H.C. - 1994

Special Limited Edition H.C. – Kodansha, 1994

Remarkably rare luxury art book edition from the internationally renowned Japanese painter Koji Kinutani (絹谷幸二, 1943–2025), published by Kodansha, Tokyo, in 1994.

This concerns the Special Limited Edition [特装限定版], of which, according to the colophon, only 150 copies were produced. This particular copy is designated as H.C. (Hors Commerce).

On the Japanese colophon it states:

「限定150部の内　HC番」

Free translation:
“From the limited edition of 150 copies – H.C. copy.”

H.C. copies were not intended for the regular book trade and were usually reserved for the artist, publisher, or relationships. It is precisely this H.C. designation that makes this copy particularly interesting for collectors.

An exceptionally expensive edition

The colophon lists:
- Artist: Koji Kinutani (絹谷幸二)
- Title: Koji Kinutani Works / 絹谷幸二作品集
- Publisher: Kodansha, Tokyo
- Publication date: July 1, 1994
- Edition: Special Limited Edition [特装限定版]
- Limited edition: 150 copies
- This copy: H.C. / Hors Commerce
- Original price: ¥450,000 (¥436,893 excluding tax)
- Printed in Japan

The original sale price of no less than ¥450,000 underlines that this was produced from the outset as a very high-end luxury edition and must be clearly distinguished from regular Kinutani publications.

The impressive large-format book is bound in red textile/cloth, with Kinutani’s name and his characteristic signature prominently in gold on the cover. The inner pages contain high-quality reproductions of his paintings, portraits, and monumental compositions up to that point.

Koji Kinutani in Amsterdam – 1994/1995

A notable part of the provenance and historical context is Kinutani’s documented presence at Galerie Vromans in Amsterdam in the same year that this luxury edition appeared.

Original documentation held at the RKD – Netherlands Institute for Art History mentions Koji Kinutani together with the Japanese paper artist Kyoko Ibe at Galerie Vromans in the Atrium Building at Strawinskylaan 3101 1077 ZX in Amsterdam.

The original invitation announces the opening on 20 December 1994 at 17:00 and an exhibition period from 20 December 1994 to 18 February 1995. Of particular interest for this book is that the original invitation explicitly states:

“beautiful catalogs are available for both artists.”

This Dutch documentation provides an interesting historical context for the presence and dissemination of Kinutani publications around his Amsterdam presentation period.

There is explicitly no claim that this specific H.C. copy was sold, exhibited, or offered at Galerie Vromans. The documentation is shown to support provenance, research context, and Kinutani’s demonstrable relationship with the Netherlands and Galerie Vromans in this period.

About Koji Kinutani

Koji Kinutani is among the leading Japanese figurative artists of his generation. He studied at Tokyo University of the Arts and subsequently immersed himself in traditional fresco painting in Venice. The Italian influence remained recognizable throughout his career in his powerful use of color and monumental visual language.

Throughout his career Kinutani received important Japanese honors, including the Yasui Prize, Mainichi Art Award, and Japan Art Academy Prize. He was named a Person of Cultural Merit and later received the prestigious Order of Culture. Internationally his work gained recognition, among other things, through his contribution to the official art posters for the Nagano Winter Olympics in 1998.

Condition

The book itself is in outstanding condition. The pages, color reproductions, and the interior are very well preserved.

Externally there are light signs of use age appropriate for a 1994 edition. The cover has a tiny sliding/abrasion notch. This is limited in size and does not detract from the overall presentation of the book.

See the extensive photographs for an accurate impression of the condition. The photographs form part of the lot description.

Certificate and documentation

The accompanying certificate is included with the book, as shown in the photos.

Additionally, the kavel shows photos of historical documentation and the Galerie Vromans brochure/invitation that were consulted during the RKD – Netherlands Institute for Art History research.

Important: the original RKD documentation and the Galerie Vromans brochure/invitation pictured are not included with the lot. These images are shown solely as historical reference and to support provenance and research context.

Rarity

Research on this particular Special Limited Edition has so far yielded little comparable material. Inquiries with parties in Japan have provided only very limited additional information about the original distribution of this luxury edition.

A representative of his museum in Tokyo and a representative of his son have described the edition in correspondence as exceptionally rare. The exact intended purpose and distribution of the H.C. copies within the limited edition remain a subject of study.

That very combination makes this a particularly notable collectible:
Koji Kinutani – Kodansha – 1994 – Special Limited Edition – only 150 copies – H.C. – original price ¥450,000 – documented Amsterdam context from 1994.

An exceptional edition at the crossroads of Japanese modern art, artist books, luxury bibliographies, and Dutch gallery history.