Sword - Japan

PRODUCT TITLE
Koto Meizukushi Taizen – Complete 9 Volumes in 3 Books – Japanese Swordsmith Reference – Tomita Kikyū – 1944

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
This is a complete three-book set of “Koto Meizukushi Taizen” (古刀銘盡大全), containing all nine volumes of this important Japanese reference work on antique swords and swordsmith signatures.
Published in 1944 by Ritsumeikan Publishing Department, this edition reproduces an earlier sword study originally published in Kansei 4 (1792).
Its contents cover swordsmith genealogies, smiths from eastern and western Japan, sword signatures, tang inscriptions, blade characteristics, famous swords, signature examples, and other information traditionally used in the study and appraisal of Japanese swords.
Numerous handwritten-style diagrams, oshigata-style signature reproductions, charts, and annotations appear throughout the books, making the set visually fascinating as well as historically valuable.
All nine original volumes are consolidated into three Japanese-bound books, making this a particularly useful reference set for collectors of Nihonto, sword fittings, samurai culture, and historical Japanese arms.
Published during the final years of the Second World War, the 1944 edition itself has now become a collectible historical publication.
Age-related discoloration, stains, wear, and other signs of use are present.
Please carefully examine the photographs for the exact condition of this set.

AUTHOR / EDITOR BACKGROUND
The original “Koto Meizukushi Taizen” was compiled by Sugawara Hirokuni and first published in 1792 during the Kansei period of the Edo era.
This 1944 edition was edited and reproduced by Tomita Seiji, associated with the name Tomita Kikyū, and was published by Ritsumeikan Publishing Department in Kyoto.
Tomita was involved in the preservation and publication of historical Japanese sword literature, including other works concerning old swordsmith signatures.
According to contemporary explanatory material, this edition was produced from a rare nine-volume copy containing additional annotations associated with Hon’ami Kisaburō, providing valuable material for sword appraisal and the comparison of smith signatures.
For collectors and researchers, such books represent an important connection to the traditional Japanese scholarship of sword identification and connoisseurship.

PUBLISHER BACKGROUND
Ritsumeikan Publishing Department was connected with Ritsumeikan in Kyoto and published this edition in 1944.
The National Diet Library records the work as a three-book publication measuring approximately 25 cm in height.
Its publication preserved a late-Edo-period sword reference work at a time when many historical documents were difficult to access, giving this edition considerable documentary value today.

PRODUCT SIZE
Complete set: 3 books / 9 volumes.
Each book: approximately 25 cm × 18 cm.
Published: 1944, Showa 19.
Publisher: Ritsumeikan Publishing Department, Kyoto.
Language: Japanese.
Traditional Japanese-style binding.
Please allow for slight differences in measurement.

CONDITION
Used antique books from 1944.
There is age-related toning, staining, rubbing, wear, and some deterioration to the covers and pages.
The complete nine-volume contents are present in three books.
Please refer to all photographs for details of the condition.

**PLEASE NOTE**
Shipping & Customs Information:
Country of Origin: Items are shipped from Japan.
Important Notice for EU Buyers: Due to recent EU customs policy changes, items to EU destinations will primarily be shipped via express courier (DHL/FedEx). As a result, shipping costs are higher than standard postal services to ensure safe, smooth, and traceable delivery. Please check the shipping fees carefully before bidding.
Shipping Carriers: Depending on the destination and situation, items will be shipped via DHL or FedEx.
Packaging & Fees: Items are packed very carefully to prevent damage in transit. Shipping costs are calculated based on the item weight, packing materials, and shipping box size.
Delivery Time: Usually takes 1–2 weeks.
Customs, Duties, and Taxes:
Import duties, taxes, and fees are NOT included in the item price or shipping charges. These charges are the sole responsibility of the buyer.
You may be contacted by phone or email by your country's customs office or shipping carrier regarding customs clearance.
Please ensure you are reachable. If the package is returned to us due to an inability to contact you or unpaid customs fees, you will be charged for the return shipping and reshipment costs.
We appreciate your understanding and cooperation.