Some Really Great Sword Books Up For Auction

[Jussi Ekholm]

I was browsing some European sword sellers aside from my regular Japanese site check. Egbert Mezingas site https://www.japanswordart.com/ had a link to upcoming auction of Japanese items. Yes there are some swords & accessories but they didn't really interest me but there was a great collection of books up for sale.

 

For a moment I thought about trying to bid on lots but as I already have most of the interesting books in there and I've spent more than I should afford on books lately I should pass on this one as if won I'd end up just having multiple copies of very expensive books. But as I know many of these items well I thought I could give tips to members on these books.

 

https://zeeuwsveilinghuis.cloudcatalogus.nl/Home/Cataloghere is the link to the auction and swords start on page 5, item number 301. The book lots are on page 6, 341,342,343, unfortunately some translations for Japanese source books are in different lots than the original books and some sets are mixed. If someone would be able to land all of the lots that would make a great library.

 

Lot 341 -

Zusetsu Nihonto Yogo Jiten by Kotoken Kajihara (the english partial translation is in lot 343)

Meihin Katanaezu Shusei by Tanobe Michihiro (the huge book at the bottom limited edition of 600, amazing resource)

Nihonto Zuikan Koto volume (Shinto is in 343)

Yumei Koto Taikan by Iimura

Shinto Taikan by Iimura (2 volumes)

Shinshinto Taikan by Iimura

 

Lot 342 -

Afu Translated volumes of Nihonto Koza, 5 sword volumes

 

Lot 343 -

Kanzan Token Koza, 5 volumes set (missing the 6th one)

Showa Daimeito Zufu, (just got this recently and one of the absolute best books to have partial English translation is in the lot too)

Nihon Toko Jiten by Fujishiro (AFU translations are in lot 342)

Nihonto Zuikan Shinto volume (Koto is in 341)

Selected Fine Japanese Swords NBTHK Europe

Osafune Choshi Token Hen (This book of Osafune Smiths would be only one I would be after)

 

Of course there are also lots of books from Markus Sesko and few editions of Hawleys in the lots.

 

The price estimates on the books are funny, I think the auction staff didn't even bother to check out the actual value of these books. I think here is a good chance to get your hands on amazing reference material that usually takes years to collect. And of course if fellow NMB member wins the last lot, I might be tempeted to buy that Osafune book.

[christianmalterre]

Ups!

 

some really bargains here.....( not only the books )

 

i do not know this auction house at all.....but! let´s browse....and maybe see....

 

Thank you Jussi!

[Wim V]

Very nice collection indeed.  Thanks for pointing out Jussi.  Only a shame they don't seem to be in best condition (lots of the spines are quite faded), otherwise I would be really tempted.

[BIG]

Here are the Lots..

 

https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/search-results?searchterm=Japanese+sword#lot-aeb14087-423c-42e9-b8bf-aa0301491513

 

Best

[kissakai]

Has anyone registered for this auction?

I have registered and it is live on the internet

I would have expected to have given more details or a bidders number but nothing

I didn't want to login, watch the auction then find out I am unable to bid

Auction fees are 28% + 35 euro minimum shipping fees

[kissakai]

I wlll hopefully be biding on some of the group tsuba

Are there any tsuba in the groups that a NMB would like to share other than the first one group?

In the other groups there are possibly only one or two tsuba that slightly interest me

I can't see me bidding on the single tsuba lots

Anyone bidding on swords?

[kissakai]

Did anyone bid at this auction?

If you watched it what did you think about the prices?

I overbid on an netsuki but it was nice

Tragic as I was only to bid on one group of tsuba

I though I'd won it as it went to next lot but strangely it went back to lot I was bidding on and when trying to bid my curser changed to a cross and was unable to bid

I'd lost it by one bid

Other than that I thought it was fine

One netsuke from Maria Callas did not sell but to be fair it wasn't that good and I suppose it was price higher because of the previous owner

 

[TheGermanBastard]

Yes I did

 

Prices were overall very low. I was to mean on the books. They went overall very cheap. However I have allready had quite a few of them and was not to eager having to resell those. Still those books went very cheap. I underbid. I don't recall if they sold to the floor or an online bidder? Does anybody remember?

 

Grev what Tsuba lot did you miss?

[kissakai]

It was Lot 327

I wondered about the sword prices

[TheGermanBastard]

Some of the swords were overpiced pieces that had not sold in a previous auction where prices had been even higher. So they cut prices but still too high on most parts. One blade had nice Soten mounts and sold. The Tadahiro was nice but not cheap considering ist condition and lacking Kanteisho not to forget the premium that applies. So overpriced.

 

Some swords were decent and offered at fair prices but no steals / above average quality.

 

Infact some of the swords had quite some Kizu uppon requesting more detailed images. I do not understand why the auction houses will sometimes only provide ONE (!) image of a sword from whch nothing can be seen and judged.

 

The books however were a real steal in the end and would make for an excellent library. Just coonsidering how much the individual postage for those books is, a lot of money oculd have been saved by a European buyer.

 

Some of the Tsuba lots had pretty decent Tsuba. Lot 332 was also very nice, with two Kanteishos and accordingly fetched the most money. I had liked Lot 327, 331 and 332 best.

 

Grev may I ask for your oppinion on these Tsuba in Lot 327? I don't know where to put them ... what Tsubas had been of interest to you in this Lot and which one in teh other lots if I may ask?

 

Regards

[kissakai]

Thanks for the insight but I'm just off to bed so I'll get back to you in the morning

[Gakusee]

Where are the realises prices? I am having major problems with that website on my Apple devices. Thanks

[kissakai]

No idea of prices but when I tried to view the auction with Microsoft Edge it wouldn't work so I changed to Chrome and all OK

Auction continues today at 10:30 starting with Chinese ceramics

[BIG]

Here are the results..

 

https://www.zeeuwsveilinghuis.eu/images/upload/files/Auction%20results%20March%202019%20-%20Asian%20Art.pdf

 

Best

[TheGermanBastard]

Does anybody have any thoughts on these two Tsuba?

[Brian]

Lol. Saw this on Facebook.

Shipping from Netherlands to France. Ouch. I’m guessing this is the same auction.

“.....I bougth something at an auction in netherlands (books about Japanese swords). They ask me for delivery 386€ (i think around 30kg books) with DHL express. Do you know if i can find something cheaper (DHL standard delivery ?), even if its longer.....”

 

He should just drive and go fetch them. ????

[TheGermanBastard]

this uaction hous eis nuts on shipping. A 5 kg DHL parcel from Germany to the Netherlands is less than 20 Euros. They asked for 120 in shipping. Make for 100 Euros in packing ...

[Gakusee]

Ha, makes me glad I lowballed my bid as with the shipping costs it would have worked about market price

[TheGermanBastard]

Ha, makes me glad I lowballed my bid as with the shipping costs it would have worked about market price

 

The books are still a steal and went way below market prices. Even at 400 Euros shipping you would pay way more in shipping when buying them individually from Japan or the USA.

[kissakai]

I think you have to know what the charges may be and as my 1st on-line auction it was the shipping that was unknown

I think they just have a specialist who ships all the sold items and they pass on the charge to the buyer

 

Auction charge = 28$

 

This was the shipping details received today

Hereby I send you the shipping quotes as requested:
DHL Express incl. insurance via DHL: € 150
PostNL incl. insurance via PostNL (up to max. € 5500,00): € 75

 

Because shipping by PostNL has proven to be less safe than shipping by DHL Express.

We will ask you to sign a statement that you dismiss Zeeuws Veilinghuis of any liability in case you request shipping by PostNL.

In case of any problems, Zeeuws Veilinghuis can give you the track & trace code but will not take care of the further contact with PostNL. 

 

I will possibly bid in their next auction but I can create a spreadsheet to add in the extras and that way I will know the final cost

Shipping will be an estimate in the calculations. The items I won will not weigh much

[kissakai]

I've just had my final bill

I've just added up all the charges (commision, shipping and my UK bank charges)

I works out at adding another 54%

So with the next auction I can quickly calculate the approximate final prices

Mine where all small and light objects so shipping is going to make a big difference to the final price

For those with successful bids did your final price work out around 54%?