B899. Shinshinto Taikan by Iimura. Volume 1

$200.00

B899.  Shinshinto Taikan, Volume 1, by Iimura Yoshifume.  1979.  Clothbound with slipcase, 8 ½ x 12”, 1761  pages in Japanese.  This listing is for one volume of a two volume book. Shinshinto Taikan is the reference for Swordsmiths of the Shinshinto period; no other book comes close.  Volume one, which is by far the larger of the 2 volumes, contains well over 1,000 nicely done oshigata of swords of the period. The missing volume two is photographs rather than oshigata. This is a very large and useful book and, while it would be nice to have both volumes, it does a fine job of standing alone.  I have a digital copy of an English index to this book.  If you buy it remind me to send you the index.

This book was in rough condition when I found it: corners of the slipcase had been chewed on (mice?), a piece of the top of the spine was missing, and the binding was coming apart. I took it to a friend who is a first class book binder; he has replaced the missing piece of the spine and rebound the book. Beautiful work. The slipcase is still chewed at 2 corners; the book is in excellent condition. I normally ask $500 for the 2 volume set in good condition. You can have this volume for a lot less. 8 pounds, 12 ounces. $200.