Five Classic Tosogu Books

[kazarena]

Hi,

 

This time, I'm offering several classic books on tosogu. If you buy 2 books, I offer 10% discount. If you buy 3 books or more – 15% discount, all five books - 20% off.

 

All the books were purchased from NMB members several years ago.

 

1. Tsuba shūsei (1963), by Nakamura, $450

 

522 pages, 37 cm by 26.5 cm, hardcover. One of the big classic tsuba books. An enormous amount of tsuba are illustrated. Pretty much the whole book is just plates of tsuba in 1:1 scale. If you haven't seen this book in person, the size is huge! Limited edition (1000 copies).

 

See the video review here: http://www.katchu-no-bi.com/2015/08/30/book-review-tsuba-shusei-by-tessei-nakamura/

 

Condition: very good, small spots and staining on some pages, age-appropriate wear, binding intact.

 

   

 

2. Shumi no tsuba : 500 shi (1965), by Nakamura, $90

 

(I’m copying the description from http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/27428-shumi-no-tsuba-and-lundgren-collection-catalogue-for-sale/ to consolidate the listing. See the photos there.)

 

166 pages. As mentioned on Grey Doffin’s site, this book has very little text (in Japanese) and it is almost entirely pages of photos in black & white of fine tsuba.

 

See the video review here: http://www.katchu-no-bi.com/2016/05/07/book-review-shumi-no-tsuba-500-shi-by-tessei-nakamura/

 

Nakamura explains in his foreword that he wanted to write this book as a follow up to his magistral “Tsuba shūsei” (the book above), for people to make it easy to see many similar pieces close together, in an easier to read book.

 

The plastic jacket is intact and the book itself is in good condition. The top part of the slipcase is partially missing.

 

3. Tsuba Kanshoki (1965), by Kazutaro Torigoye, $250

 

362 pages. 21.4cm x 31cm. Hardcover. Japanese language.

 

This is the original edition of Dr. Torigoye's 1975 publication of the same title (shown below). This book covers all schools and periods with excellent examples, some which are not included in the 1975 edition. It is the authors intent to demonstrate the "intrinsic value(s) of (the) Japanese sword guard". First proposing the fundamental importance of the iron plate, this text focuses on the masterworks of tsubako while a limited number of kinko examples are included. Limited edition (500 copies).

 

Condition: fair. Binding is loose for some blocks of pages, but still intact. Some peeling of black paint on the back cover.

 

  

 

All three Torigoye books:

 

 

4. Tsuba Kanshoki (1975), by Kazutaro Torigoye, $300

 

398 pages 8 1/2" x 12" Hardcover with slipcase. Japanese and English language.

 

This is the revised, expanded edition of Dr. Torigoye's 1965 publication of the same title (see above). With its forward and captions in both Japanese and English, it is the authors intent to demonstrate the "intrinsic value(s) of (the) Japanese sword guard". First proposing the fundamental importance of the iron plate, this text focuses on the masterworks of tsubako while a limited number of kinko examples are included. Tsuba are arranged by school and shown using detailed photography and printed on gloss-stock for optimal results. Limited edition of 1000 copies.

 

See the video review here: http://www.katchu-no-bi.com/2015/08/30/book-review-tsuba-kanshoki-by-kazutaro-torigoe/

 

Condition: very good.

 

 

 

5. Toso Soran (1978), by Kazutaro Torigoye, $100

 

308 pages, hardcover with slipcase, 8 1/4" X 12" inches. Text in both English and Japanese.  

 

Contains over 280 pages of photographed examples including: tsuba, kozuka, kogai, fuchi/kashira, menuki, and umabari. Notes regarding the artists and their relationships to the main teachers of each school are included as are many brief explanations of legends and the historical episodes depicted in the example pieces. A life's work and the final volume by noted tosogu scholar Dr. Torigoye. Numbered limited edition.

 

See the video review here: http://www.katchu-no-bi.com/2015/09/04/book-review-toso-soran-by-kazutaro-torigoe/

 

Condition: very good.

 

 

 

 

Payment: wire transfer or PayPal (the buyer pays the fees), shipping extra

 

 

Regards,

Stan

[Ken-Hawaii]

Wow, Stan! That's one heck of a tosogu library!

[kazarena]

Thanks, Ken! These are great books for both research and occasional browsing on long winter nights (is there such thing in Hawaii?  )

[kazarena]

Books 1, 4 and 5 are ON HOLD.

[kazarena]

Books 1, 4 and 5 are SOLD.

 

Shumi no tsuba and Tsuba Kanshoki (1965) are still available.