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I have a couple of questions about two horse prints by Urushibara Mokuchu that I just purchased; two of them perhaps not so unusual, while the third is a little strange.

Both of these prints are pencil signed at the bottom, and my first question is whether this is his signature or not. Doing a ukiyo-e search enabled me to find copies of these prints, but didn't tell me if this was indeed his signature.

The other question, perhaps a strange one, is whether anyone can tell me what's written on the back? The paper backing was removed by a previous owner, leaving a fragile paper backing beneath it, and on both prints, the paper is covered in Japanese script. It might be nothing beyond the artist's instruction to himself, and it might also be impossible to read, as the fact that it's bleeding through the paper makes everything backwards, but I'm posting some photos in the hope that one of the learned members might be able to translate enough to give me an idea. My thanks in advance for any and all help.

I try to give an answer to the latter part of your question,i.e. what is written on the other
side of the piece of paper.

I did the reading with help of a pocket mirror.
The writting quite cursive and on some parts
I could not figure out from te mirror.
From left top.(Topmost part is missing)
xxx庄長　　折　　　　ｘｘｘShonaga ori(Upmake))
xxx安太郎　折　　　　xxxx Yasutaro * *
xxx六ⅹ　　　　　　　　xx Roku.. Roku or six
玉子　上　　Tamako Ue Dot on top
𠮷成　訂ｘｘｘ　　　Yoshi nari,　will be
Yoshi amend xxx
xxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx
折りまげ　orimage Bend
xx 奥山太郎　　　折　　　　Okuyama Taro Upmake
xxxxxxxx太ｘｘ xxxxTaxx
From right top,
ｘｘ庄長　　　　　折　　　Shonaga Upmake
玉一〇八　　　　 Dot 108
And so on....
Seemingly the pice of memo paper contained instructions for a type setter for compile a
name register.Later reused as backing paper.
As of the signature, in my opinion could be
the signature of the artist in latinic letters. The time when it was made the Japanese adopted
Western customs,
(I am not an expert on Ukiyoe prints, so I might be wrong)
With regards,

Thank you for your efforts. It was most kind of you.

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