Trans. by Xuanzang 玄奘 in 650 CE. 70 pages, six columns per page, 30 columns per sheet, 17 characters per column. 14 sheets (average sheet length: 570 mm.), five pages per sheet. Accordion format (305 x 7980 mm., print surface from top border to bottom border: 245–250 mm.). Single woodcut borders at top & bottom of text. Orig. sutra binding of semi-stiff paper wrappers. Woodblocks carved by Ge Fang & Ma Qing (& others) in Sixi (present day Huzhou), printed between 1110s/40s–1276.

This fascicle, in its original sutra binding, was printed in the 12th or 13th century in northern Zhejiang... More

[Japan]: late Edo.

This powdered pesticide, “Anmin no mitori” 安眠のみとり, was manufactured by Akadaira Tōjiro 赤平藤次郎, whose eponymous company was based in the Tsugaru area of Mutsu province (today’s Aomori prefecture). In the text, the manufacturer describes its many uses, methods of preparation and application, and warnings that this was a strong medicine, to be used on humans’ scalps and skin with care.

Fine condition. Pasted on the reverse side of the woodblock is a printed copy of the carved side. More

Japan: late-Edo.

In very good condition, a woodblock produced for the printing of a book of haiku poetry. The text identifies a number of poets and where they live. The central pillar (hashira) shows that one side is the text for leaf five of the work. A useful artifact of Japanese printing techniques. Small horizontal split to the top, but firm, and a few very small wormholes. More

[Japan: late-Edo].

A fine survival, a Japanese printing woodblock from the Edo period, useful for teaching collections on the global history of the printed book. This block bears eight expertly carved images of hands in various positions, with special attention to the fingerprints. The lines are identified and written underneath each illustration. In fine condition, we were unable to find this work in WorldCat. More

[Japan: ca. 1827 or 1850].

Two fine examples of Japanese printing woodblocks, in a special pocket-size oblong format called shūchinban 袖珍版 – literally translated: “an edition to carry in a kimono sleeve.” They bear the title-page, part of the table of contents, and seven pages of text for a rare travel guide to the Tōkaidō highway between Edo and Osaka. The table of contents mentions sites in central Honshū, such as Hōraiji temple in Aichi prefecture, Ise Shrine in Mie prefecture, Mt. Yoshino, and Mt. Kōya; the Yamato meguri pilgrimage trail is also included. There are two known editions of... More

[Japan: late-Edo].

Nice example of a Japanese printing woodblock from the Edo period, useful for teaching collections on the global history of the printed book. This block bears nine finely carved images of hands in various positions, depicting the major lines used in chiromancy. The text appears to be a rare one, we find no trace of it in WorldCat. We have deduced the title from the two central hashira (pillar), which may be a shortened version of the work’s full title.

A fine survival. More

[Korea: 1919].

Woodblocks are invaluable historical artifacts in East Asian history, serving as key instruments in the preservation and dissemination of knowledge. The printing process involves brushing ink onto the carved surface, pressing a sheet of paper onto it, and rubbing it with a printing pad or brush to transfer the inked negative impression. Korea has a long and distinguished history of woodblock printing, with remarkable achievements such as the Tripitaka Koreana (13th cent.). Nevertheless, only a few original woodblocks have survived, as they were vulnerable to wear, war, and environmental decay. Extant examples, extremely rare outside of Korea, are... More