Cheap Tokubetsu Hozon Papered Blade On Aoiart

[cisco-san]

Hello,

 

I know that we should not buy papers...    but a TH blade for less than 4,4K USD is quite cheap.

http://www.sword-auction.jp/en/content/as17136%E5%88%80%EF%BC%9A%E7%84%A1%E9%8A%98%E4%B8%8B%E5%8E%9F-katana-mumei-shimohara

 

 

[mywei]

Looks like Hozon. Mumei Shinto Shitahara blade,I think priced accordingly

[cisco-san]

Looks like Hozon. Mumei Shinto Shitahara blade,I think priced accordingly

Yes, description is a little bit confusing, but paper looks like TH?! But maybe I am wrong

[mywei]

No it's Hozon 保存刀剣

There's no 特別　on the paper

[cisco-san]

No it's Hozon 保存刀剣

There's no 特別　on the paper

Many thanks for clarification!

[Ray Singer]

I meant to write to Tsuruta-san regarding this error last night. You need to carefully scrutinize these listings because errors like this seem to often slip through, like the Hokke wakizashi that was similarly misdescribed as having Tokubetsu Hozon recently. This particular sword, being a mumei shinto blade only attributed to a school, does not meet the requirements for Tokubetsu Hozon.

 

Best regards,

Ray

[Stephen]

they also miss labled the second wakisashi down

which set a beloved members heart a thumping!  until he clicked and read the blade

https://www.aoijapan.com/japaneseswords/wakizashi

 

  Oite Toyama Mitsuru Teinai Shigetsugu......NOT!!

[SwordGuyJoe]

I'm still shaken up by the whole experience.

[Curran]

I can see how it could be confused for a Shigetsugu or a Shigemasa.

[only joking a little]

[Jean]

That's a good laugh Curran sorry Joe

[SwordGuyJoe]

Lol. Well, i think I'll get over it in time. Does the blade immediately remind me of Shigetsugu? No, but the time between reading and clicking was nano-seconds. Oh well, all good things come to those who wait I suppose.

[Hoshi]

Those AOIjapan typos really garner a lot of attention! The clerks there really struggle keeping up with the volume. 

 

I don't really get why collectors are using heuristics such as "cheap for paper category of tier X". Is it resell value? It's compounded by the fact that websites selling to foreign markets generally do arbitrage with blades that won't sell well on the Japanese market. I mean, if you're in Japan dealing with a wholesaler, it makes sense, as prices are notably lower than when dealing with boutique stores and this is reflected in the impression of a bargain (e.g. if you get in the good graces of Hataya...) - but in this context its just asking for trouble.  From the nuggets of wisdom I've been collecting on this forum, the foremost appraisal of value for a mumei blade is the attribution to the smith, papers are secondary. 

 

I tend to look for the opposite pattern - good looking blades that seem undervalued - and then again my judgement is in its infancy, hence I'd rather defer to more experienced collectors. 

[Ray Singer]

The Unju did not receive any bids at auction.

http://www.sword-auction.jp/en/content/as17246-刀：無銘-雲重第62回重要刀剣-katanamumei-unjunbthk-62th-tokubetsu-juyo-paper

 

But sold shortly afterwards.

https://www.aoijapan.com/katanamumei-unju