Summary: A Meiji-period printed provincial map of Kyoto Prefecture, dated Meiji 40 (1907), issued by Yūbunkan. Even before the map unfolds, the cover delivers the period’s confident graphic language: strong brush-style title characters, dense vertical Japanese text, and the unmistakable feel of early 20th-century printed ephemera. For European collectors, pieces like this appeal for their blend of scholarship and design—part historical document, part typographic artwork—ideal for framing, study, or a cabinet of curiosities. Kyoto’s enduring cultural gravity adds further pull, linking the object to one of Japan’s most collected regions. Maps from the Meiji era sit at a fascinating turning point. Japan was standardising administration, modernising infrastructure, and measuring the country with new precision—yet the presentation still carries the elegance of traditional typography. This Kyoto prefectural map belongs squarely to that moment: modern in purpose, classic in voice. The cover alone has real presence. The title reads as a bold calligraphic statement, set against a quiet field of aged paper tone. Around it, narrow columns of vertically-set text create a disciplined rhythm, the kind of layout that feels immediately “Japanese” and surprisingly contemporary to modern graphic eyes. Kyoto as a subject needs little introduction, and that is part of the attraction. A regional map of Kyoto Prefecture offers more than a single city: it speaks of routes, boundaries, and neighbouring regions, placing the cultural centre within a wider, lived landscape. For collectors who love travel history, urban development, or the aesthetics of cartography, it is an object that opens conversations. Framed, it makes an intelligent wall piece—quietly academic, never loud. In a study, it pairs beautifully with wood, leather, and metal; in a modern interior, it adds warmth and a sense of narrative without requiring colour. The monochrome typography and period paper tone work particularly well alongside Japanese prints, architectural photography, or minimalist ceramics. Condition is consistent with a genuine working document from the early 1900s. Age-related wear, toning, and surface marks are likely, and they read as part of the object’s authenticity rather than a defect—exactly the patina collectors expect from ephemera that has survived more than a century. Meiji-dated regional maps are increasingly difficult to find in attractive, displayable form, especially for places with international recognition. This is a grounded, historically specific piece—quietly rare in everyday life, and deeply evocative once you live with it. Shipping & Handling We ship worldwide via DHL or EMS with full insurance and tracking. Professional packing ensures safe arrival; combined shipping available for multiple wins. Local customs duties are the buyer’s responsibility. Seller Guarantee We specialise in authentic Japanese prints and guarantee this piece’s authenticity. Questions welcome – we reply within 24 hours. 1312