Identification for a friend

[Jean]

He has bought a batch of Japanese books of which one drew my attention as quite old.

 

It is a book of koto oshigata swords, but the paper is really old. Can someone identify it?

[Surfson]

Looks like Koto Jo saku meikan?  

[John A Stuart]

Yes indeedy, Koto Josaku Meikan, 古刀上作 銘鑑  old sword book.

[Jean]

And any idea from where comes this book, is it known?

[Surfson]

Can you find any dates written in it Jean?   I will bet that Markus is familiar with it.  

[Jean]

Sorry Robert but these are the only pictures I took. Next time I see him, I’ll take other pictures

[SteveM]

There is a copy in the Japan National Library. It says the book was published in Shōwa 16 (1941)

http://dl.ndl.go.jp/info:ndljp/pid/1184148

[Jean]

Thanks Steve, I am going to communicate him the info

[Jean]

Steve, Is it possible to know how many issues were printed?

[SteveM]

No, sorry. It doesn't mention the number of issues printed.

[Jean]

Many thanks for your help my friends. I was wondering how many sword books, as this one, were issued in the first part of the 20th century. They seem to have been quite rare as it is issued from photos of old oshigata, on special paper. The paper is very thin.

 

It is typically for advanced Japanese students.