Junji Honma (2 results)

Condition: Fine. Number of pages: 266p Size: B5.

Hardcover. Condition: vg- to near fine. Reprint (Second edition). Large quarto. 56pp. [2] 317pp. [1]. House in the original tan cardboard slipcase, with black lettering on the front and the spine. Cream-colored buckram over black buckram boards, with gilt lettering on the spine. This finely produced monograph, published by Japanese Art Sword Preservation Society, honors the ancient tradition of the tsuba (Japanese sword hilt guards). The work contains 634 examples of masterfully and artfully designed tsubas, each with a short description in both Japanese and English, and an image. The designs originate from the Muromachi period (14th century) through the end of the Edo period (later 19th century). Most of the images are finely printed b/w photogravures, and a smaller number are color offset photographic reproductions. The initial 56 pages of introductory text in Japanese provide history and context, and are followed by the plate section. The work, originally published in 1952, was compiled, edited and features text written by renowned Japanese sword expert and scholar Junji Honma (1904-1991) in collaboration with his colleague Kanichi Sato (1907-1978). Includes a table of contents in Japanese, at the front. Slipcase with light age toning, staining and/or bumping to extremities. Boards lightly bumped at the tail of the spine the bottom right corner of the back cover, and at the bottom edge of the front cover. Interior clean and vibrant. Slipcase in very good-, binding in very good, interior in near fine condition overall. Alternate title: Masterpieces of Japanese Sword Guards.