This SUPERB long out-of-print reference work is one of the very FINEST reference books that any beginner or advanced collector can own
Written by the late B.W. Robinson, Keeper of Metalworks at the prestigious "V&A" (The Victoria & Albert Museum, London, UK)
First published back in 1961, this being the 1980 re-print (£35 British POUNDS retail in 1980 !)....this was never a cheap book but you do GET what you pay for
Most of the photography is in B&W, but there are approximately 8 superb colour plates detailing some delightful sword "furniture" that are a true delight to behold
Approx 220 pages fully HALF are detailed and educational photographic plates of Kodogu (sword furniture)
Perhaps one of it's greatest strong-points and UNIQUE to this publication is the comprehensive and "life-like" chart of ALL Japanese Kanji characters used in the inscription of sword-maker's names on the tang.
What is DIFFERENT about these listings is that the Kanji (Japanese characters) have been HAND DRAWN and are pretty-much "as-seen & found" on the Japanese sword tang inscriptions. (These characters are OFTEN as different as your own signature when hand-written Versus being TYPED) So as an aid to identification of Kanji ? in my opinion, and experience ? this book is UNSURPASSED
It covers aspects that few other books do
It has one of the BETTER classifications of Tsuba manufacture-schools published in the English language and containing representative examples of many
SHOULD you ever visit the V&A Museum ? (London) There you will instantly RECOGNISE many of their exhibits, as being from this book (A highly recommended experience)
This volume retains it's dust-jacket and is in excellent condition for a 35 year old reference book
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