B804.  Japanese Swords and Sword Fittings from the Collection of Dr. Walter A. Compton (Part I)  Christie’s Auction, 1992.  Softbound with a dust jacket, 8 1/4 x 11 3/4″, about 440 pages.  Dr. Compton had the best collection of Nihonto in private hands outside of Japan; the sale of the collection in 3 auctions in 1992 was an important event for collectors around the world.  The 1st sale, the one this book belongs to, was by far the major auction.  399 lots of swords, fittings, koshirae, armor, and matchlocks: all fine and some exceptional.  Records for prices realized for both blades and fittings were broken during this sale.

Because the book was too big for the binding chosen, many copies of the 1st Compton auction have broken spines and loose pages. This copy is still intact and will stay that way if you are careful with it (don’t open it flat on a table top). None of the pages are loose or missing but there is a spot where the binding folds open. Normally I ask $125 for this book; this copy can be had for less. 4 pounds, 13 ounces. $90.