Best Tsuba Mei Reference Book?

[Vermithrax16]

As I get more and more interested in tsuba, I find myself lacking in reference material, most especially for mei comparisons. Can someone recommend a few avenues that would help me out in this regard? Thanks for any help!

 

[Pete Klein]

The text set used by all the shinsa teams is the 'Toso Kodogu Meiji Taikei' by Wakayama.  I also recommend the 'Haynes Index' to use with it as it gives a lot of information about the makers and also gives you the reference book page in the Wakayama three book set.  Second best is 'Shinsen Kinko Meikan'..  These are the only books to go to as they have been vetted and used for decades by the shinsa teams.

[Vermithrax16]

Thanks Pete!

 

I think Grey Doffin has these available. Will look into it.

[Curran]

As Pete said, "Wakayama and Haynes Index".

[Guido]

Don't forget Markus Sesko's "Signatures of Japanese Sword Fittings Artists": http://www.lulu.com/shop/markus-sesko/e-signatures-of-Japanese-sword-fittings-artists/ebook/product-21586815.html, and for further info and research his "Genealogies of Japanese Tsuba and Toso Kinko Artists" http://www.lulu.com/shop/markus-sesko/genealogies-of-Japanese-tsuba-and-toso-kinko-artists/ebook/product-21954709.html, and "The Japanese Toso Kinko Schools" http://www.lulu.com/shop/markus-sesko/the-Japanese-toso-kinko-schools/ebook/product-21951159.html.

[seattle1]

Hello:

 If mei are important then Kinko Meikan by Masumoto Senichiro and Kokubo Kenichi is a must. It was published in 1974, with possible later editions. It is my understanding that the photographs, exclusively of mei, were done by the authors with pieces in hand, and if so that is a big plus. In 1982 John Yumoto provided a 197 page  translation of that edition which is extremely useful for the non-Japanese reader. Needless to say the Fukushi Shigeo, Tosogu Classroom, as translated and compiled by Markus Sesko is more than highly rcommended as its entire mult-volume set comes forth.

 Arnold F.

[Pete Klein]

Clarification - In my post above I mentioned the 'Shinsen' Kinko Meikan which is the edited version of the 1974 book revised because errors were found in the older publication.  The later edition is often used in conjunction with the Wakayama texts at shinsa because there are a few mei included which were not a part of the much larger and more comprehensive Wakayama texts.  When making decisions on the validity of mei for purchase it can be in one's best interest to utilize the texts used at shinsa as they will give you the best chance at validation.  One error in purchase can easily cost the equivalent of the total cost of all these texts so it can be well worth the investment.  having said all of this, one still needs to learn how to discern the subtle variations in reading mei which is a study unto itself.  I have found it to be quite fulfilling in itself and actually can be a lot of fun.

[Vermithrax16]

Thanks for the suggestions and to Grey Doffin for the great shipping job. Arrived and very pleased with the reference material:

[Curran]

J,

 

In the long run, you will find these books more useful than you can yet imagine.

[Vermithrax16]

Already VERY enlightening..... thanks sir, agree.