Yoshitoshi's series New Forms of Thirty-six Ghosts was his last work, published by Sasaki Toyokichi between 1889 and 1892. The series was later re-published by Matsuki Heikichi in 1902, ten years after Yoshitoshi's death. This later edition differs considerably in places from the original by Sasaki Toyokichi in use of colour and the use of lower quality pigments. The present lot, from the original edition by Sasaki Toyokichi is a complete set, mounted as an album and presents finely-detailed printing indicative of good impressions of the state with two-colour cartouches (cartouches containing three colours are the earliest impressions).
Ghost stories have long been a rich source of subject for kabuki plays and Noh, which in turn would inspire ukiyo-e artists in their print making. Several of the subjects for the Thirty-six Ghosts were taken directly from Noh, whereas many more of prints were based on stories from kabuki plays. One of the most popular designs from the set, The Ghost of Okiku as Sarayashiki (Sarayashiki Okiku no rei) is based on a story that has two versions, one of which forms the basis of the play The Dish Mansion of Banchu (Banchu sarayashiki). Accused of stealing a precious dish, she was killed and thrown into a well by her master, returning afterwards as a ghost.