Translation help. Env. And mystery...

[Jwrussell]

Looking for some help. I was able to manage the Kanteisho paper by looking at examples. Kind of lost with the envelope though. Also, when putting the paper back I found a mystery sheet of copies paper. Curious as to what this is. Just something stuck in by accident?

[Jwrussell]

Here’s the mystery paper. There is a partial Oshigata on the back that is of a different blade. 

[SteveM]

Hello Jason,

The envelopes are standard NBTHK envelopes. The writing on the envelope just states that the envelope contains a "Tokubetsu Hozon" certificate, and they give the address of the NBTHK on the reverse side. In pencil it notes Esshū Mitsuyuki. (Its common for dealers and collectors to write the smith's name on the outside of the envelope).

 

The paper inside is the explanatory notes for a Mitsuyuki tantō that received a Jūyō classification in Shōwa 54 (1979). It notes that Mitsuyuki blades with inscriptions on them are rare, and that this particular tantō (the one submitted in 1979) was an important reference work since it was signed and had a date inscribed on it. The date on the tantō was Kakei-era (the exact year is illegible). However, the Kakei era was only three years long, from 1387-1389, so that tantō was very likely either 1388 or 1389. My guess is that the smith is so obscure, the person included a copy of this entry from the 1979 Jūyō classification as a reference. 

 

Note that Esshū is the proper way to translate what Aoi calls "Etsushu". Aoi Art knows a lot about swords, but their translations are often very bad. 

[Jwrussell]

Thank you, Steve! Amazing and quick help. Very much appreciated!!!