Featured triptych woodblock print "The Exchange" by Utagawa Yoshiiku. - original?

I found this triptych woodblock print titled "The Exchange" by Utagawa Yoshiiku inside a large oriental 3 print frame last week. When I asked a friend if it was real/original he told me I'd have to take them out of the frame to be sure, so I did.
Each piece measures approx 9 3/4" x 14 1/4
The paper is thin, flimsy and soft to the touch; if I hold my hand behind it you can see it through the paper.
Is this old paper or made to look/feel old? Could it be an original woodblock print?
Any help or thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

 

Nice find, journey.

Sounds and looks like mulberry paper, which was traditionally used for ukiyo-e prints. The fact that certain colours have faded and others not as much is a good sign re age.

 

It does look like a traditional Japanese woodblock print. It is difficult to date ukiyo-e, because they were often reprinted, sometimes by the original artist using the same blocks, sometimes the original blocks were reprinted later, and sometimes they were copied with new blocks using the same traditional techniques.

Here is another example of the triptych, held in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. You can see how much the colors have changed on your copy -

https://collections.mfa.org/objects/512615

Follow the link for more information about it. (Found using ukiyo-e.org)

 

Wow! - do you think they'd like to trade? Colors pop on their example!

 

great find mate !, what does the frame look like ?

 

Wide (space for the 3 pages side by side w/space between) with oriental accents
Ill try to take a photo tomorrow

 

Those papers are still used today for prints.

Usually to date these you have to research the stamps, some of which are censor seals and can be dated. This site explains things and has further info, as a good start.

 

Lovely piece Journey, will be great to see the frame.
Found 2 Japanese woodblocks a while ago-but no sale on 'em because they were hand-carved & pulled copies by another artist of the original pieces,BUT-were more elegant (IMHO) & more attractive than the famous artist's originals.Value of the repops was uncertain-and I'm no expert.
Masters like Hiroshige & Hokusai had lots of folks knocking them off while they were still alive, even more when RIP.

 

cool, just might give a good indication of period, and maybe quality

 

Here is the frame - no measuring tape but at least 36" across.
It has the Chinese style pieces to hang it from or theres 2 small regular catches on each side of frame to hang it.
2 things - the oriental pieces to hang it from a wall with have slotted screws - help any in aging it?
The "glass front & back is actually plexiglass- maybe original glass broke & was replaced with something more durable?
As always I appreciate all your help, you guys are ghe best!

 

Fairly new frame. Usually bamboo style frames are about 1980s but I wouldn't be surprised if this was even later imo.

 

I'm diggin what Mira's layin down-dittosville.