Category: Books

Kokusai Tosogu Kai

Full set: 1500 Euro

Single book: 100 Euro

The Art of the Japanese Sword – The craft of swordmaking and its appreciation – by Leon and Hiroko Kapp / Yoshindo Yoshihara

256 pages, hardcover, mint condition like new

Price: 60 Euro

Tosogu- by Hirata Michiko / Sannenzaka Museum

Published by Hirata Michiko in 2001, this book features high quality Tosogu from the museum in high quality color photographs. All descriptions are in Japanese, lucky titles are in English.

~80 pages, hardcover, very good condition

Price: 45 Euro

Tsuba – Beauty of Design and Craftsmenship by Hayashi Eiroku

Published in 2012, this book shows on 150 pages in crisp black and white pictures the beauty of tsuba. All descriptions in Japanese.

150 pages, softcover, mint condition like new

Price: 45 Euro

100 Masterpieces from the Collection of Dr. Walter A. Compton by Christies

Released in 1992 when the famous collection of Walter A. Compton was auctioned off by Christies. The 100 Masterworks are described in English and shown in high-quality color images for Tosogu and black and white images for Blades.

321 pages, hardcover, clothbound, dustcover, slipcase, good condition

Price: 100 Euro

The Hartman Collection of Japanese Matalwork by Christies

This book is the catalog for the Tosogu “Hartman Collection” auction that took place in 1976. All 676 lots are described in English and Japanese. Most soft metal items have a color photo, iron tsuba are shown in black and white. What makes this catalog so interesting is a booklet with price estimates. Many great works of art have also emerged from this collection.

163 pages, hardcover, clothbound, good condition for a 46 year old book

Price: 250 Euro

Lethal Elegance – The Art of Japanese Sword Fittings by Joe Earle

This English language book was published in 2004 by Joe Earle (Boston Museum of Fine Arts). It shows 150 high-quality sword fittings with a focus on their style and techniques. Visual effects of different alloys as well as evolution and symbolism are also discussed and explained.

This book is the hardcover version!

256 pages, hardcover (!!), very good condition

Price: 70 Euro

Nihon no Bi – The Japanese Sword by Gakken

A modern book that gives a very good introduction to “The Japanese Sword” with full size fold out photos of blades, tosogu, tsuba and more.

Just read the review by Markus Sesko! 

252 pages, softcover, slipcase, very good condition

Price: 120 Euro

Tosogu no Kansho I

The first book was published by Shoyukai in 1982 and contains nearly 180 important Tosogu items from the Muromachi to Meiji periods in good color pictures. All descriptions are in Japanese and English.

Vol.1 ~80 pages, clothbound, good condition, cover has discoloration due to sunlight

Price: 110 Euro

Iron Tsuba – The Works of the Exhibition “Kurogane no Hana”

This book, published by NBTHK in 2014, was created for the “Kurogane no Hana” exhibition held at NBTHK’s museum. All descriptions are in Japanese and English. This exhibition featured very important iron tsuba.

~150 pages, very good condition

Price: 120 Euro

Japanische Schwertzierraten – Sammlung G. Oeder

This book is a copy of the book on the famous Oeder collection. The condition is good.

If you manage to find the original book through the Oeder Collection, you will find it very expensive because it is very rare. But that is not necessary as this book provides equally good information about one of the famous Tosogu collections.

~220 pages, clothbound

Price: 200 Euro

Studiensammlung japanischer Schwertzierrate by Robert E. Haynes

Book in good condition, all pages are fine, some slight discoloration due to age on the cover

Language: German

Published in 2010 by Robert E. Haynes, this book contains photos and descriptions of around 180 tsuba, representing the pinnacle of Robert Haynes’ collection. All photos are in color and in original size. A section with signatures completes this book.

~335 pages

Price: 150 Euro

Selected fine Japanese Swords from European NBTHK Collections

Published in 2002 by the NBTHK European Branch, this books shows and describes in detail 45 swords, 6 koshirae as well as tosogu. It features an article about Yagyu tsuba as well.

Descriptions are in German and English.

The book is in used condition, all pages are fine, some discoloration due to age

~330 pages

Price: 160 Euro