/Collection
  • Large oval form tsuba decorated with two human figures (scholar and attendant) under the pine tree admiring a view of a waterfall on the face of the plate, and with stylized dragons carved on the reverse among the symbols of thunder inlaid in gold. The plate is carved in low relief with details inlaid with gold and silver.

    Signed: Yamashiro no kuni Fushimi no ju Kaneie [Kaneie of Fushimi in Yamashiro Province] [山城國伏見住金家], with Kaō. It is a fake signature (gimei).

    Size: Height: 91.9 mm; Width: 85.6 mm; Thickness: 3.4 mm; Weight: 169 g.

    This is a late Edo period, 19th-century export work to cater to the tastes of the European tsuba collectors. It does not have anything in common with the work of great Kaneie masters.

    SOLD
  • Iron tsuba of oval form decorated with design of jakago (bamboo lattice work) in openwork (sukashi). Copper sekigane.

    Unsigned. Edo period.

    Size: 73.7 x 70.3 x 5.6 mm.

    Note regarding design: though some might think that this piece belonged to a member of the lost tribe of Israel, it did not. Jakago baskets were made of bamboo, filled with rocks and used to catch crabs (besides other uses).

    Jeanne Allen. Designer's Guide to Samurai Patterns. Chronicle Books, San Francisco, 1990; p.51, №57.

     
  • Iron tsuba of otafuku-gata form decorated on the face with death and autumn motifs: autumnal grasses and flowers in yellow brass and shakudō, skull, limb bone and sternum inlaid in shakudō. On the reverse the plate is inlaid in red copper with a chrysanthemum and maple leaves floating in stylized water streams. "Plants floating atop water form common motifs, as occurs with chrysanthemums, maple leaves, and cherry blossoms, in particular." [Merrily Baird]. Such plants may be used as a family crest (mon), or may be just a reminder of a floating nature of life.   Momoyama period, late 15th century. Dimensions: 75.3 x 69.9 x 4.3 mm.
  • Iron tsuba of oval form carved and inlaid in gold and copper with cormorant fisherman in disguise. Unsigned. Dimensions: 67.7 mm x 61.5 mm x 3.8 mm (at seppa-dai) Edo period: 18th century. "Since Nara period, Japanese fishermen in small boats have used cormorants (u) to catch river fish at night, binding the necks of the birds so that the fish are not swallowed. [...] The bird and the work it performs are symbols of selfless devotion to one's master and keen eyesight." - from Merrily Baird. Symbols of Japan. Thematic motifs in art and design. Rizzoli international publications, Inc., 2001; p. 104. See also TSU-0212 and TSU-0096  
  • [SOLD]

    Iron tsuba of slightly elongated round form carved and inlaid in gold and shibuichi with a long-armed monkey hanging from a pine tree branch reaching for the reflection of a crescent moon in the stream. A pine tree carved with details inlaid in gold on the reverse. The design seems to be inspired by Kaneie work (Compton III, p. 10, №6a; Tsuba no bi, 1947, p. 33, №56).

    Dimensions: 76.8 x 74.2 x 3.6 mm. Mid-Edo period. Unsigned.

    Compton III, p. 10, №6a

    Tsuba no bi, 1947, p. 33, №56.

       
  • Iron tsuba of round form with a Marsilea (water clover, paddy plant, denjiso) in openwork (sukashi) and a cricket carved in low relief (katakiribori) with extremities and one antenna inlaid with brass; the other antenna is carved in kebori (which antenna is inlaid and which is carved alternates on the face and on the reverse). The plate decorated with vertical file stroke ornamentation (tate-yasurime). Raised dam-shaped rim (dote-mimi). Inscription from a previous collector in red oil paint: 22-71-1. Edo period, possibly 17th century. Katchushi school.

    Size: 75.0 x 74.4 x 3.6 (center), 5.0 (rim) mm.

    The plant Marsilea (paddy plant, denjiso), common names include water clover and four-leaf clover because the long-stalked leaves have four clover-like lobes and are either held above water or submerged. In The elements of Japanese design by John W. Dower, this motif is listed under the numbers 634-35 Paddy Plant (denjiso). Obviously, as a four-leaf clover it is an auspicious symbol. The four leaves radiate out as the shape of the kanji (romaji 'ta'), which means 'rice paddy'. This symbol may be used as a family crest (mon), and this would be the most probable explanation of the sukashi on this tsuba.  
  • An iron tsuba in the shape of a bold or shaved human head in full round. Unsigned. Dimensions: 62.5 x 53.4 x 4.4 mm Iron, in the shape of a Ni O (Nio) head, in full round, the back flat chased as a pine forest. Signed : Miōchin Masatsugu in sosho. №38 in The Naunton Collection, 1912. There are a few tsuba of such design known. SOLD

    №38 Naunton Collection, 1912.

    Iron, a severed head. Signed: Takeaki of Kwaiyō. Ex Hawkshaw Collection [Plate VII]. Below written: Takurio, Suruga, 1118; Tamagawa, p. ; Tanaka, p. 168; Tanetora, 1894. №2729 in The Naunton Collection, 1912.

    №2729 Naunton Collection, 1912.

    Reference to Hawkshaw Collection [Plate VII] happened to be not exact; it is Plate VIII, №236. It is clearly not the Hawkshaw piece (different facial expression, signle hitsu-ana, no plug. Description at Hawkshaw, 1910, reads: Iron, in the shape of a man's head, severed at the neck, the forehead in three wrinkles, the mouth hard-set and drooping, the eyes open, inlaid brass with shakudo pupils. Signed: Shoami; dated second year of Shoho, first month [SV: December 1644 through February 1648].

    №236 Hawkshaw Collection, 1910.

  • Iron tsuba pierced and carved (marubori-sukashi) with the 'horse in the round' design. Possibly, Bushū-Ito school, 19th century (ca. 1800). Kogai-hitsu-ana plugged with shakudō.

    Size: 67.6 x 66.8 x 5.1 mm

    Unsigned.

    See:

      1. Robert E. Haynes. Study Collection of Japanese Sword Fittings. Nihon Art Publishers, 2010, p. 120: Iron plate carved and formed in the round as a tethered bull...Signed: Bushū jū Sadayasu saku.
      2. Robert E. Haynes. Masterpiece and highly important tsuba, etc... San Francisco, 1984 // Catalog #9.: Signed: Bushū jū Yoshifusa. Ca. 1800, H 6.7 cm, Th. 4.75 mm.
      3. The Hartman collection of Japanese metalwork. Christie's, 1976, p. 29, №59: Bushū type, 19th century. Reference to Takezawa, Nihon Toban Zuetsu №411 for a similar design signed Bushū Yoshifusa.

    Hartman collection, №59. 

    4. Japanese Sword Fittings from the R. B. Caldwell Collection. Sale LN4188 "HIGO". Sotheby's, 30th March 1994, p. 17, №24: An iron tsuba, by Heianjo Sadatsune, Edo period (18th century). In the form of a horse, standing with its head lowered and a rope halter attached to its bit and trailing beneath. Signed Heianjo Sadatsune, 7.3 cm. With NBTHK Tokubetsu kicho paper, dated Showa 49 (1974). GBP 600-700.

    The Caldwell Collection. Heianjo Sadatsune, Edo period (18th century).

     
  • Iron tsuba of round form decorated with a design of bracken scrolls and paulownia leaves and blossoms (kiri-mon) in openwork (sukashi). Details carved in kebori. Squared rim with iron bones (tekkotsu). Hitsu-ana plugged with shakudō.

    Size: 83.6 x 82.9 x 5.4 (center), 5.1 (rim) mm.

    Unsigned.

    Muromachi period, ca. 16th century.

  • Iron tsuba with design of a cricket and grass inlaid in brass (suemon-zōgan) and a bridge over a stream in openwork (sukashi) on both sides. Inlay of distant part of the cricket's antenna is missing. Heianjō School. Momoyama period. Diameter: 79.5 mm, thickness at seppa-dai: 3.3 mm NBTHK # 4002100.
  • Mokkō form iron tsuba carved in relief and inlaid with soft metals (copper, gold, silver) with the design of a cormorant fisherman on the face and a boat on the reverse. Unsigned. Dimensions: 77 mm x 69 mm x 3.0 mm (at seppa-dai) Edo period: 18th or 19th century. "Since Nara period, Japanese fishermen in small boats have used cormorants (u) to catch river fish at night, binding the necks of the birds so that the fish are not swallowed. [...] The bird and the work it performs are symbols of selfless devotion to one's master and keen eyesight." - from Merrily Baird. Symbols of Japan. Thematic motifs in art and design. Rizzoli international publications, Inc., 2001; p. 104. See also in this collection TSU-0212 and TSU-0241.  
  • Iron tsuba of elongated round form with brown (chocolate) patina. The surface is carved with file strokes (sujikai-yasurime) to imitate  heavy rain. The design of a bird drinking water from a bucket hanging on a rope  is carved in low relief (sukidashi-bori); the rope is inlaid in gold. The well structure on the reverse, carved in low relief. Nakago-ana is enlarged and plugged with copper sekigane. Unsigned.

    Edo period.

    Size: Height: 75.1 mm; Width: 68.3 mm; Thickness: 4.6 mm; Weight: 134 g.

    Unsigned.

    SOLD
  • Iron tsuba of mokko form with rough surface decorated in low relief carving (sukidashi-bori) and openwork (sukashi) with a flying bat, a crescent moon, and a cloud over the moon. Bat's eyes inlaid with gold. Crescent moon and cloud on the reverse. Copper sekigane. Kogai hitsu-ana plugged with shakudō.

    Unsigned.

    Edo period.

    Size: Height: 83.7 mm; Width: 80.3 mm; Thickness: 2.9 mm; Weight: 141 g.

  • Iron tsuba of oval form with a shakudō fukurin and rough surface decorated by low relief carving and brass inlay with a centipede emerging from under the rock on both sides.

    Edo period.

    Size: 78.9 x 73.6 x 3.8 mm

      Unsigned. However, this tsuba may be (though with reservation) attributed to Misumi Kōji school. There is some information regarding this master(s) in Tsuba. An aesthetic study by Kazutaro Torigoye and Robert E. Haynes (from the Tsuba Geijutsu-kō of Kazataro Torigoye. Edited and published by Alan L. Harvie for the Nothern California Japanese Sword Club, 1994-1997) on pages 163-4, though I was not able to locate the tsuba in the original publication. Possibly, this fragment of the book was added by Robert Haynes. Markus Sesko speculates about Misumi in his The Japanese toso-kinko Schools.// Lulu Inc., 2012 on pages 374-5: "Misumi Kōjo Tsuba. Iron plate, elliptical shape, shakudō takabori suemon, yamagane fukurin. Centipede." But of course, visual similarity does not prove anything. I was not able to find any traces of signature or a triangle on the seppa-dai.

    Misumi Kōji Tsuba on p. 163.

  • Ippitsusai Bunchō (一筆斎文調); lived 1725-1794; flourished 1755–1790. Size: Chuban; 26 x 20 cm The design presents a young woman reading a scroll while arranging her hear, and a young man with a rowing rod watching over her shoulder; the pair is standing on a giant  shrimp that ferries them over a stream. The third passenger is a literate octopus, who's is attentively exploring the text of a scroll. This allusion comes to mind promptly: “Bodhidharma crossing the Yangzi River on a  reed” (Royō Daruma). Image from Asian Art Museum in San Francisco:
    Masanobu’s mitate wittily evokes an episode known as “Bodhidharma crossing the Yangzi River on a  reed” (Royō Daruma). According to legend, the river crossing occurred en route to the Shaolin monastery, where Bodhidharma sat facing a wall for nine years without speaking. While serious interpretations abound in Chinese and Japanese paintings, popular prints of the Edo period often playfully substituted a beautiful woman for the monk. This parodic version was reportedly invented in response to a courtesan’s comment that she was more enlightened than Bodhidharma because she had spent ten years sitting, on display in a brothel.
    An interesting article about this particular design is published at UKIYO-E.ORG BLOG. Though, the design is erroneously attributed to Harunobu. We see that Bunchō was quite fascinated by the idea of crossing a water obstacle with the help of an unsuitable means of transportation:

    Female Daruma Riding a Mushroom. MFA # 21.4758.

     
  • Ippitsusai Bunchō [一筆斎文調] (Japanese, 1725 – 1794). Size: Vertical Hosoban. As the Library of Congress put it: "Print shows the actor Ichikawa Monnosuke II, full-length portrait, facing left, standing on the snow-covered veranda". Actor: Ichikawa Monnosuke II [市川門之助] (Japanese, 1743/56 – 1794); other names: Ichikawa Benzō I, Takinaka Hidematsu II, Takinaka Tsuruzō. According to Heroes of the Kabuki Stage [LIB-1197.2016] Ichikawa Monnosuke II was active from 11/1770 to 10/1794. Play: Chūshingura [忠臣蔵] (The Treasury of Loyal Retainers), played at Nakamuraza in the 4the month of Meiwa 8 (1771). The actor played in a variety of roles and performances and was the subject of multiple woodblock prints by many famous ukiyo-e artists, including Bunchō, Katukawa Shunkō, Katukawa Shunshō, Katsukawa Shun'ei, Tōshūsai Sharaku, and many others. Ref: Vever (1976), vol. 1, № 242, p. 227.  

    Katsukawa Shun'ei. The Actor Ichikawa Monnosuke II in an Aragoto Role. LACME.

     

    Actor Ichikawa Monnosuke II as Date no Yosaku Artist Tôshûsai Sharaku (Japanese, active 1794–1795), Publisher Tsutaya Jûzaburô (Kôshodô) (Japanese) 1794 (Kansei 6), 5th month. MFA.

     

    Ippitsusai Bunchô. Actor Ichikawa Monnosuke II as Tsunewakamaru. Play: Iro Moyô Aoyagi Soga Theater: Nakamura. MFA.

  • Owner’s wrappers, 28 x 21 cm, printed on laid paper, unpaginated, collated ffl, [A, B]4 C-G4, 2 ffl; total 28 leaves plus 5 engraved plates by Allegrini after Mariotti; engraved title-page (Vercruys after Soderini), head- and tailpieces (Gregori after del Moro) and initials. Owner's label to front pastedown: Marc Burdinprêtre.  Title-page (engraved, red and black): IOANNIS BAPTISTAE PASSERI | PISAUREN. NOB. EUGUBINI | DE TRIBUS VASCULIS ETRUSCIS | ENCAUSTICE PICTIS | A CLEMENTE XIIII. | P.O.M. | IN MUSEUM VATICANUM INLATIS | DISSERTATIO. | {VIGNETTE} | FLORENTIAE. MDCCLXXII. | ~ | in Typographia Moückiana. Cum adprobat. || Dedication: ANTIQVARIAE. ERVDITIONIS. PROPAGATORI EXIMIO ABSOLVTISSIMAM . HANC. DISSERTATIONEM CLARISS. PASSERII DE . IMAGINIBVS . ET . SYMBOLIS TRIVM . VASORVM . ETRVSCI . OPERIS QVAE PRINCIPIS. NOSTRI.SANCTISS. ET. SAPIENTISS. LARGITATE IN . VATICANVM . MVSEVM A. SE. CVMVLATISSIME . DITATVM INVE CTA . FVERVNT REGINALDVS.COMES.ANSIDAEVS.PATR.PERVS. M. A. CARD. PRONEPOS DEVOTVS. NOMINI . MAIESTATIQVE . EIVS DEMISSISSIME. Translation: "To the most excellent promoter of antiquities, the most accomplished: This most complete dissertation concerning the images and symbols of three Etruscan vases, which were most abundantly bestowed by our most holy and wise Prince onto the Vatican museum, was composed by the illustrious Passerius. Reginald, Count of Ansidius, true ancestral father, grandson by blood of the Cardinal, devoted most humbly and devoutly to his name and majesty." NoteP.O.M. stands for "Papa Optimo Maximo", which translates to "Father Most Excellent." For a similar vase in this collection, see VO-0098. This vase is attributed to Apulia, ca. 330 BCE. Probably, Passeri was wrong in attributing this type of vessel to Etruscan vase painting, produced from the 7th through the 4th centuries BC. Contributors: Giovanni Battista Passeri (Italian, 1694 – 1780) – author. Francesco Moücke (Italian, fl. 1729 – 1787) – publisher. Pope Clement XIV [Ganganelli, Giovanni Vincenzo Antonio] (Italian, 1705 – 1774) – dedicatee. Artists:  Mauro Soderini (Italian, 1704 – after 1751) Carlo Spiridione Mariotti (Italian, 1726 – 1790) Lorenzo del Moro (Italian, 1677 – 1735) Engravers: Theodor Vercruys [Teodoro Vercruysse] (Dutch, 1678 – 1739) Francesco Allegrini da Gubbio (Italian, 1587 – 1663) Carlo Bartolomeo Gregori (Italian, 1702 – 1759)
  • Half-titleÜBERREICHT VON | GILHOFER UND RANSCHBURG | SORTIMENT–, BÜCHER– UND KUNST– | ANTIQUARIAT | WIEN 1, BOGNERGASSE 2 || Title: Red letterpress lettering in black ornamental frame: Insel- | Almanach | auf das Jahr | 1907 || Pagination: [6] – h.t., frontis., title; [1-16] 17-150 [2], + 2 folding plates (op. p. 30 and 32), and 2 plates op. p. 50 (Franz von Bayros "Francine" for Die Bohème by Henri Murger) and 112 (colour). Binding: 17.3 x 9.9 cm;  original olive paper wrappers with gilt lettering and elements to cover, lettering to spine. Catalogue raisonné: Heinz Sarkowski (1999): № 1986, pp. 329-30, with contents. Contributors: Gilhofer und Ranschburg – antiquarian bookstore in Vienna. Schröder, Rudolf Alexander (German, 1878 – 1962) – title and cover. Wieynk, Heinrich (German, 1874 – 1931) – typeset. Kippenberg, Anton Hermann Friedrich (German, 1874 – 1950) – editor. Brandstetter, Oscar (German, 1844 – ?) – printer.
  • Circa 3300-2000 BC Dimensions: 184 x 165mm. Weight: 708grams
  • Softcover, in pictorial wrappers, 28 x 22 cm, 67 items, with colour illustrations, some folding. Catalogue of the sales exhibition on March 14-20, 2020 in NY; pagination: [1-3] 4-120 [8], ils. 6 fan prints. Contributor: Sebastian Izzard
  • Softcover, in pictorial wrappers, 28.1 x 21.7 cm, 63 entries, with colour illustrations, some folding. Catalogue of the sales exhibition on March 17-29, 2018 in NY; pagination: [1-3] 4-133 [134] [2 blank], ils.; insert: printed invitation. Contributors: Sebastian IzzardHenry Steiner (Austrian-Jewish, b. 1934) – art collector.
  • Softcover, in pictorial wrappers, 28 x 21.6 cm, 30 entries, with colour illustrations, some folding. Catalogue of the sales exhibition on November 1-5, 2019 in NY; pagination: [1-3] 4-72 [2] [2 blank], ils. Contributor: Sebastian Izzard
  • Cylindrical incense burner or brush pot decorated in underglaze blue with landscape and text.

    According to Markus Sesko: a poem by Li Bai admiring the beautiful scenery at Mt. Emei. Dimensions: Diameter: 11.5 cm; Height: 10 cm.
  • Cover with title: Im Garten der Aphrodite | 18 Bildgaben | von | Franz von Bayros | {vignette} | Privatdruck || in a frame; table of contents and limitation to verso; 18 plates with the drawings of Bayros in collotype reproduction, each mounted on cardboard and protected with the remnants of tissue guards, some lacking. Of the publisher’s folder, only the front board with an oval title label is present. Some images signed “Choisy le Conin” – von Bayros’s pseudonym. Two prints are missing: (1) Das Füßchen and (2) Die Liebesschaukel, the other 16 prints present. The vignette on the cover is a photomechanical reproduction. Edition: limited to 350 copies of which this is № 253. According to Christie’s: a collotype reprint, about twenty years after their first publication. English equivalent: The Garden of Aphrodite. Portfolio with 18 photogravures. Catalogue raisonné: The amorous drawings of the Marquis von Bayros (1968): pp. 177-1877; Bayros Zeichningen (1987): pp. 143-152.
  • One of 64 wood engravings by Robert Dill after Joseph Kuhn-Régnier (French, 1873 – 1940), stencil-coloured (au pochoir technique) by Ateliers Jacomet in Paris for the 4-volume edition of Littré’s “Œuvres complètes d'Hippocrate” by Javal & Bourdeaux in 1932-34. The edition was limited to 2,335 numbered copies, 2,000 of them on Vélin teinté du Marais paper., numbered from 336 to 2,335. Contributors: Joseph Kuhn-Régnier (French, 1873 – 1940) – artist. Robert Dill – engraver. Atelier Jacomet (Paris); Daniel Jacomet (French, 1894 – 1966) – printer. Les éditions Javal & Bourdeaux (Paris) – publisher. Émile Littré (French, 1801 – 1881) – translator/ editor. Hippocrates (Greek, c. 460 – c. 370 BC) – author.
  • Title: Illustrated Catalogues of Tokyo National Museum: Ukiyo-e Prints [東京国立博物館図版目録 | 浮世絵版画編] (Tōkyō Kokuritsu Hakubutsukan zuhan mokuroku | Ukiyoe hanga hen); Publisher: Tokyo National Museum [東京国立博物館] (Tōkyō Kokuritsu Hakubutsukan). Three volumes, 26.3 x 18.7 cm, uniformly bound in black cloth with white characters to front cover and spine. Title-page: ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUES OF | TOKYO NATIONAL MUSEUM | UKIYO-E PRINTS | <1 (2, 3) > | 東京国立博物館図版目録 | 浮世絵版画編 | < 上 (中, 下) > || Volume 1 [上]:  unpaginated 1 t.p., 2 colour plates, 1 contents, 70 (1-1354) – b/w plates, 1 + 48 paginated leaves (1-95 [96]) – text. Volume 2 [中]: unpaginated 1 t.p., 2 colour plates, 1 contents, 67 (1355-2493) – b/w plates + 33 paginated leaves (1-65 [66]) – text. Volume 3 [下]: unpaginated 1 t.p., 2 colour plates, 1 contents, 83 (2494-3926) – b/w plates + 35 paginated leaves (1-69 [70]) – text. Black and white photomechanical reproduction of almost four thousand woodblock prints with titles by the artist and in chronological order.
  • Quarter calf over marbled boards, 16 x 9 cm, spine with raised bands, gilt in compartments, gilt-lettered label, all margins red, two title-pages (one for each vol.), illustrated with engraved frontispiece by Antonio Baratti after Antonio Balestra; engraved portrait of John Milton by Antonio Baratti, 12 plates, one for each book, after “Piazzetta, Zucchi, Balestra, Tiepolo, and other Venetian artists”, unsigned; plate II signed ‘Antonio Barati scul.’ Title page: IL PARADISO | PERDUTO | POEMA INGLESE | DI GIOVANNI MILTON | TRADOTTO DAL SIG. | PAOLO ROLLI | Con le Annotazioni | DI G. ADDISON | E alcune Osservazioni critiche. | TOMO PRIMO (SECUNDO). | {publisher’s device} | IN PARIGI , MDCCLVIII. | — | A spese di Bartolommeo Occhi. | LIBRAJO VENETO. || Collation: *-**12 ***8 (dedication, vita), A-R12 (vol. 1) A-K12 L9 (vol.2); total 365 leaves plus 14 engraved plates, incl. frontispiece and portrait. Pagination: [i, ii] iii-lxiv 1-407 [408 blank], [2] 3-258; total 730 pages. Catalogue raisonné: Wickenheiser Collection 688 [LIB-2795.2021]. Though it states 228 pp., which does not seem right. “Scarce. Not in Coleridge”. Contributors: Milton, John (British, 1608 – 1674) – author. Joseph Addison (British, 1672 – 1719) – author / criticism Paolo Antonio Rolli (Italian, 1687 – 1765) – author / transaltion Bartolomeo Occhi (Italian, 1730 – 1781) – publisher. Antonio Baratti (Italian, 1724 – 1787) – engraver Antonio Balestra (Italian, 1666 – 1740) – artist. Giovanni Battista Piazzetta (Italian,1682/83 – 1754) – artist. Antonio Zucchi (Italian, 1726 – 1795) – artist. Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (Italian, 1696 – 1770) – artist.
  • Quaritch's description: Single sheet (435 x 625 mm); coloured lithograph by Kirchmayr after a drawing by M. Fontana; hand-painted details; signed to lower left ‘M. Fon[tana]’ and to lower right ‘M. Fontana Edit. Prop. S. Giacomo dall’Orio in Isola N°.1481’; lower margin with the title ‘Il bombardamento di Venezia nell’Agosto 1849’ and key; restored tears in many places, especially along upper and lower blank margins, some affecting print; losses to lower left corner, affecting a small portion of the print, ruled border, and key, restored and re-drawn where needed; loss to the upper left corner of blank margin; two small areas of restoration to the centre of upper blank margin; the whole sheet backed; nevertheless a remarkable survival. Exceedingly rare and striking lithograph of Venice as seen from Fusina, depicting the first ever aerial bombardment in history. The bombardment took place in 1849, under the orders of Field Marshal Josef Radetzky (1766–1858), to quell the revolts that had started the previous year during the First Italian War of Independence. This curious and little-known action was the brainchild of Colonel Benno Uchatius, a brilliant young officer in the Austro-Hungarian Artillery. After long months of unsuccessful siege, Uchatius decided to deploy an unusual weapon: a hot air balloon able to bomb the city from above. Having calculated the wind speed and direction and evaluated the requisite dimensions of the hot-air balloon, Uchatius set up a workshop near Mestre, where a group of engineers and craftsmen began to manufacture a balloon equipped with a large wicker basket which could transport two crewmen and approximately one hundred kilograms of small long-fuse devices (metal spheres filled with gunpowder, pitch, oil and five hundred rifle buckshot). The initial trials, however, proved to be a disaster, because the balloon would drift off course, making it impossible to accurately deploy the bombs. Uchatius then hit upon the idea of using several smaller unmanned balloons roped together. These were to be launched over the city and, using the position of the first ‘pilot’ balloon, which was unarmed, the Austrians could calculate the correct fuse settings for the bombs. The ‘bomber’ balloons had a cloth envelope of one hundred cubic metres and a reduced load of about twenty kilograms of ordnance. According to Uchatius’ calculations, the line of balloons, launched from Mestre, would reach the lagoon city in thirty-five to forty minutes, carried by the north-west wind. In July 1849, a first launch was attempted, but when a breeze began to blow from the sea some of the balloons broke the connecting ropes and floated away, while others settled in the water in front of the northern part of the city, where a curious crowd of Venetians observed the failure of the enterprise and commented colourfully on the ‘buffoonery of Radetzky’. Uchatius’ second attempt, which is depicted in this lithograph, was also largely unsuccessful: only a few of the unmanned bomber balloons reached their target, and some even drifted back over the Austrian lines. Uchatius, having accomplished the first ever aerial bombardment, and having designed the first ever military ‘drones’, was forced to abandon the project permanently. Another fascinating aspect of this work is the vantage point used to depict the city of Venice, seen here from Fusina, a very rare viewpoint that makes this piece even more remarkable. We were unable to locate any copies in any institution or bibliography. G. Kirchmayr (fl. mid-19th century) is mentioned at British Museum database as "Lithographer active in Venice; related to Venetian painter Cherubino Kirchmayr (b. 1848)?" However, I was not able to find that name on the print. Not much is known of M. Fontana either.  
  • Title-page: IDYLLES | DE BION | ET | DE MOSCHUS, | TRADUITES EN FRANÇAIS | Par J. B. Gail, Professeur de littéra- | ture grecque au collège de France. | Ouvrage orné de Figures dessinées par le Barbier. | DE L’IMPRIMERIE DE DIDOT JEUNE. | A PARIS, | Chez Gail, au Collège de France, place | Cambrai. | L’AN TROISIEME. || Small volume in-12mo, 14.7 x 10 cm, bound in tree calf with gilt ornamental border, flat spine with gilt lozenges in compartments, lacking upper label and half of the lower label, gilt dentelle inside, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. Collation: 1st and last leaves blank, [1]-96, total 54 leaves and 9 engraved plates, incl. frontispiece. Pagination: [1-5] 6-106 [2] (notice), total 108 pages, ils. Illustrations: (1) Frontispiece bust portrait of Jean-Baptiste Gail in two states, one proof before letters signed Le Barbier del., — C. S. Gaucher inc. a. ƒ., the other in finished state lettered « J. B. Gail | Professeur de littérature grecque | au collège de France » signed Le Barbier del. — C. S. Gaucher incid. (2) Le tombeau d’Adonis in two states, the first unsigned, the second signed by Le Barbier and Gaucher in Greek Λε Βαρβιερ εγραφε — Γαυχερ εχαλχενε, with tissue guard. (3) Enlèvement d’Europe in two states, the first signed Baquoy fecit., the second Le Barbier inv. — Delignon Sculp. (4) Amour du fleuve Alphée pour la fontaine Aréthuse in two states, the first unsigned, the second signed Le Barbier inv. — Dambrun. (5) Daphnis et Naïs only in final state signed by Le Barbier and Gaucher in Greek Λε Βαρβιερ εγρφε — Γαυχερ εχαλχενε. (sic.) Catalogue raisonné: Cohen-DeRicci 151-2, attributes to 1895, in-18, Daphnis et Naïs without the proof state;  Lewine 64, "very scarce, particularly that of the portrait, a fancy price". Contributors: Bion [Βίων] (fl. late 2nd century BCE, Phlossa near Smyrna) – author. Moschus [Μόσχος] (fl. mid 2nd century BCE, Syracuse) – author. Jean-Baptiste Gail (French, 1755 – 1829) – translator. Jean-Jacques-François Le Barbier (French, 1738 – 1826) – artist. Charles-Étienne Gaucher (French, 1740 – 1804) – engraver. Jean-Louis Delignon (French, 1755 – 1820) – engraver. Jean Dambrun (1741 – 1808/14) – engraver. Pierre François Didot, Le Jeune (French, 1732 – 1795) – publisher.
  • A book of sixty-eight copperplate engravings (burin and etching) by various artists after Anthony van Dyck, and one engraving by Lucas Vorsterman I, printed in black on laid paper, bound in full calf with a blind-stamped double-fillet ruling to the boards, spine with raised bands, gilt floral lozenges in compartments, gilt lettering "RECUE DE FIGUR", all margins sprinkled red, marbled end-papers. Engravers: Adriaen Lommelin (French engraver, 1637 – c. 1673) : 12 plates: №№ 3, 17, 18, 20, 21, 24, 25, 26, 28, 30, 35, and 48. Anthony van Dyck (Flemish, 1599 – 1641) : partially engraved himself 1 plate: № 53. Antoine Couchet (Flemish, 1630 – 1678) : 1 plate № 30. Conrad Waumans [Woumans] (Flemish engraver, 1619 – after 1675) : 6 plates: №№ 5, 32, 36, 57, 64, and 66. Cornelis Galle the Younger (Flemish engraver, 1615 – 1678) : 5 plates: №№ 2, 7, 10, 29, and  33. Hendrick Snyers (Flemish engraver, 1611 – 1644) : 1 plate: № 9. Jacob Neefs, or Neeffs (Flemish engraver, 1610 – after 1660): 4 plates:  №№ 1, 16, 45, and 67. Johannes [Jan] Meyssens (Flemish engraver and publisher, 1612 – 1670) : engraved 6 plates: №№ 4, 22, 31, 51, 61, and 62. Lucas Vorsterman the Elder (Flemish engraver, 1595 – 1675) : engraved 7 plates: №№ 11, 15, 55, 58, 59, 65, and 69. Michael Natalis, or Noël (Flemish engraver, 1610 – 1668) : 1 plate: № 34 Paulus Pontius (Flemish engraver, 1603 – 1658) : 2 plates: №№ 37 and 52. Peeter Clouwet (Flemish engraver, 1629 – 1670) : 3 plates: №№ 13, 27, and 49. Peeter van Lisebetten (Flemish engraver, 1630 – 1678) : 1 plate: № 56. Pieter de Bailliu (Flemish engraver, 1613 – after 1660) : 4 plates: №№ 8, 14, 44, and 54. Pieter de Jode II (Flemish, 1606 – 1670/74) : 7 plates: №№ 12, 19, 23, 46, 47, 50, and 60. Richard Gaywood (British, fl. 1644 – 1668) : 1 plate: № 63. Robert van Voerst (Dutch, 1597 – 1636) : 1 plate: № 6. Schelte Adamsz. Bolswert (Flemish, c. 1586 – 1659) : 2 plates: №№ 18 and 68. Wenceslaus Hollar (Bohemian, 1607 – 1677) : 6 plates: №№ 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, and 43. Publishers: 36 prints were printed/published by Johannes [Jan] Meyssens (Flemish, 1612 – 1670) : (2), (4), (5), (7), (8), (9), (10), (12), (14), (22), (29), (31), (32), (33), (34), (36), (37), (39), (40), (41), (42), (43), (44), (45), (46), (51), (53), (54), (56), (57), (60), (61), (62), (64), (66), (67). Gillis Hendricx (fl. 1640 – 1677) published 11 prints, including the title page: (1), (13), (18), (26), (30), (47), (48), (50), (59), (65), (68). N. Burgund. Cons. Brab : (20); John Overton (British, 1639/40 – 1713) : (63); Hendrik van der Borcht II (Dutch, 1614 – c. 1690) : (38); Peter Stent (British, fl. c. 1637 – 1665) : (63). Description of plates:
    1. Engraved title page by Jacob Neeffs in 1646. On the slab supporting the bust, left: “ANT. VAN DYCK”, right: “Ant. van Dyck fecit aqua forti”. On the face of pedestal: “PRINCIPVM | VIRORVM DOCTORVM, | PICTORVM CHALCOGRAPHORVM, | STATVARIORVM NEC NON AMATORVM | PICTORIÆ ARTIS NVMERO CENTVM | AB | ANTONIO VAN DYCK, | PICTORE AD VIVVM EXPRESSÆ | EIVSQ: SVMPTIBVS ÆRI INCISÆ.” In cartouche: “ANTVERPIÆ | Gillis Hendricx excudit | Anno 1645” (corrected by hand “1646”). At lower left margin: “Iac. Neeffs Sculpsit.” The print with cut off margins pasted to the bound-in leaf. Size of the print: 24.3 x 15.8 cm.
    2. Ferdinand III, Holy Roman Emperor and King of Hungary and Bohemia (1608 – 1657); engraved by Cornelis Galle the Younger (Flemish, 1615–1678) in 1649. Inscription: “FERDINANDUS III. DEI GRAT. IMPERATOR ROM.SEMP.AUGUST. | GERM. HUNG. BOH. REX: ARCHIDICUX AU ST. DUX BURGUND. ETC.”. Below: “Ant. van Dÿc pinxit” <–> “Corn. Galle Iunior sculp∫it.”<–> “…excudit Antuerpiæ A.o 1649”. Second state with Meyssens’ name burnished.
    3. Charles I, King of England, Scotland, and Ireland (British, 1600 – 1649); engraved by Adriaen Lommelin (French, 1637 – c. 1673). Inscription: “CAROLVS DEI GRATIA MAGNÆ BRITANNIÆ, FRANCIÆ ET HIBERNIÆ REX”. Below: “Ant. van Dÿc pinxit” <–> “Adr. Lommelin sculpsit”.
    4. Charles I, King of England, Scotland, and Ireland (British, 1600 – 1649); engraved by Johannes [Jan] Meyssens (Flemish, 1612 – 1670). Inscription: “CAROLVS DEI GRATIA MAGNÆ BRITANNIÆ, FRANCIÆ ET HIBERNIÆ REX”. Below: Antonius Van Dÿck eques pinxit” <–> “...excudit”. Meyssens’ name burnished. [See similar print №61 with Ioannes Meysens name present].
    5. Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange, Count of Nassau (Dutch, 1584 – 1647); engraved by Conrad Waumans [Woumans] (Flemish, 1619 – after 1675). Inscription: “FREDERICVS HENRICVS, D.G. PRINCEPS ARAVSIONENSIVM, COMES | NASSAVIÆ, ETC. | MARCHIO VERÆ ET FLISSINGÆ, BARO BREDÆ GRAVÆ, | DIESTÆ ETC.” Below: “Antonius van Dÿck pinxit” <–> “Conraet Waumans sculpsit” <–> “…excudit”. Meyssens’ name burnished. [Similar to №57, but with Ioannes Meyssens name in place].
    6. Count Ernst von Mansfield (German, 1580 – 1626); engraved by Robert van Voerst  (Dutch, 1597 – 1636). Inscription: “ERNESTO PRINCIPI ET COMITI MANSFELDIÆ, MARCHIONI | CASTELLI-NOVI ET BUTIGLIRIÆ, BARONI AB HELDRUNGEN, GENERALI ETC.” Below  “Ant. Van Dÿck pinxit” <–> “Robertus van Voerst Sculpsit”.
    7. Engelbert Taye, Baron of Wemmel (Flemish, ? – 1638); engraved by Cornelis Galle the Younger. “DOMINVS ENGELBERTVS TAIE EQVES, BARO WEMMELIVS ETC.A | DEPVTATVS ORDINARIVS INTER NOBILES STATVS BRABANTIÆ.”. Below: “Antonius van Dyck pinxit”, “Cornelius Galle iunior ∫culpsit” <–> “…excudit Antuerpiæ.”. Second state, with “Ioannes Meyssens” erased.
    8. Antoine de Bourbon, comte de Moret (French, 1607 – 1632); engraved by Pieter de Bailliu (Flemish, 1613 – after 1660). Inscription: “ATHONIVS BOVRBONIVS, COMES MORETANVS, ET ABBAS S.TI STEPHANI | CAENTINI, FILIVS NATVRALIS, HENRICI MAGNI ET JACQVELINÆ BVEILANÆ | COMITISSÆ MORETANÆ,”. Below: “Antonius van dyck pinxit.” <–> “Petrus de Ballu sculpsit.” <–>“… excudit Antverpiæ.”. Second state with “Ioannes Meyssens” erased. Antoine de Bourbon was the illegitimate son of Henri IV, Roi de France and Jacqueline de Bueil, Comtesse de Moret.
    9. Prince Rupert of the Rhine (German, Bohemian, 1619 –1682); engraved by Hendrick Snyers (Flemish, 1611 – 1644). Inscription: “ILLVSTRISSIMVS PRINCEPS ROBBERTVS, COMES PALATINVS RHENI, EQVES | ORDINIS S.TI GEORGII. HIPPARCHVS SVÆ MAI.TIS MAGNÆ BRITANNIÆ. ETC.A”. Below: “Antonius van Dyck pinxit” <–> “Henricus Snyers sculpsit” <–> “...excudit Antuerpiæ.”. Second state with “Ioannes Meyssens” erased.
    10. Gottfried-Heinrich, Count of Pappenheim; engraved by Cornelis Galle the Younger. Inscription: “GODEFRIDVS-HENRICVS COMES DE PAPENHEIM CONSILIARIVS AVLICVS | SVÆ CES. MAIES. EIVSQ³ EXERCITVVM MARESCHALLVS GENERALIS.” Lettered with production details below: “Ant. van Dyck pinxit” <–> “C. Galle ∫chulpsit.” <–> “…excudit”. Second state with “Ioan. Meyßens” erased.
    11. Thomas Howard, 14th Earl of Arundel (British, 1585 – 1646); engraved by Lucas Vorsterman the Elder (1595–1675). Inscription: “Illustri∫∫imus Dñs. D.Thomas Howardvs, Comes Arundeliæ et Surreiæ, Primus Angliæ Comes, Dominus | Howardi, Maltrauers, Mowbray, Segraue, Breus, Clun et O∫estriæ, Comes Mare∫callus Angliæ, Nobilißimi | Pericelidis ∫iue Garterij ordinis Eques, et Serenißimo Regi Carolo, Magnæ Britaniæ, Franciæ et Hiberniæ | Regi ab intimis Consilijs, Liberalium artium Mæcenas, et promotor omnion virtutum Actione et Laude.”. Below: “Ut donum hoc, mantenque probes qua consecro, Amori | Sufficit hocci tuo: Hic Magnvs ARONDELIVS”, “C.O.Q.D.A. VAN DYCK D. Vor∫termani.”, “Cum priuile.”. Third state with ‘Opera Vorstermanni’ burnished and two lines of Latin added below the four lines of the title.
    12. Jan van Montfort [Jean de Montfort] (Flemish, 1567 – 1648); engraved by Pieter de Jode II (Flemish, 1606 – 1670/74). Inscription: “D. IOANNES DE MONTFORT SERENISSIMORVM ARCHIDVCVM ET PRINCIPVM BELGII | ALBERTI ET ELISABETHÆ AVLARVM PRIMARIVS CONSTITVTOR ET EXORNATOR, NEC | NON REGIS CATHOLICI MONETARVM CITRA MONTES CONSILIARIVS, ET MAGISTER. | GENERALIS, NOBILIVMQ3 DOMINARVM PALATII SERENIS.MÆ ELISABETHÆ INVIOLATVS CVSTOS.” Below: “Antonius van Dyck pinxit.” <–> “Petrus de Iode sculpsit.” <–> “…excudit Antuerpiæ”. Second state with “Ioannes Meyssens” erased.
    13. Henry Rich, 1st Earl of Holland (British, 1590 – 1649), engraved by Pieter Clouwet (Flemish, 1629 – 1670). Inscription: “HENRICVS RICHE COMES HOLLANDIÆ BARO DE KENSINGTON NOBILISSIMI | ORDINIS GARTERII EQVES CAROLI. LOREGIS MAGNÆ BRITANIÆ A CONSILIIS. ETC.”. Below: “Ant. van Dÿck pinxit.” | “Pet. Clouwet sculpsit” <–> “Gillis Hendricx | excudit”. Third state with the title added and production details re-engraved.
    14. Honoré d’Urfé, marquis de Valromey, comte de Châteauneuf (French, 1568 – 1625); engraved by Pieter de Bailliu (Flemish, 1613 – 1660). Inscription: “ILLVS.MVS DOMNIVS HONORIVS VRFEIVS NOBILIS ORD.RIVS CVBICVLI REGII, DVX 50. ARMATORVM | HOMINVM A SVO MANDATO, COMES NOVI CASTELLI, BARO ARCIS MORANDANÆ ETC.A”. Below: “Antonius van Dyck pinxit” <–> “Pet. de Bailliue sculpsit.” <–> “… excudit”. Second lettered state with title and production details, with “Ioannes Meyssens” erased. [There is another copy in this binding, №54, where Ioannes Meysens' name is in place].
    15. Johannes [John VIII], Count of Nassau-Siegen (German, 1583 – 1638); engraved by Lucas Vorsterman I (Flemish, 1595 – 1675). Inscription: in the oval around the portrait “EXCELLENTISSIMVS DOMINVS: D. IOANNES, COMES NASSAOVIÆ, CATTNELLIBOCI: VIANDEN, DIETZ, &C. EQVES AVREI VELLERIS. S. MA: CÆS, MARESCHALIVS, CATH. REG. IN BELGIO. EQVITVM GENERALIS. &C”, in lower margin: “ILLVSTRISSIMÆ PRINCIPI ERNESTINÆ DE LIGNE EIVSDEM D. COMITIS VXORI DD.”, and “AVan Dÿck pinxit.” <–> “Cu Priuleg”. Fourth state with Vorsterman’s address burnished. [For the third state with “Lucas Vorsterman exc” present see № 55].
    16. Joost de Hertoghe (Flemish, ? –1638); engraved by Jacobus Neefs. Inscription: "Me∫∫ire IOSSE DE HERTOGE chevalier ∫.r de franoÿ, hon∫walle etc: con∫eillier du conseil | de brabant, amba∫∫adeur de la part de ∫a Ma.te catholique co.e ducq de bourgoigne | et des pais bas, a la diete de rati∫bone de l'an 1636." In Lower margine: "Ant: van Dÿck pinxit.", <–>"Jacobus Neefs ∫culp.". Second, lettered state with the title and production details added.
    17. Philippe Le Roy (Flemish, 1596 – 1679). No inscription. The printmaker is unidentified but is possibly Adriaen Lommelin. The print is a copy of the print by Vorsterman and Pontius.
    18. Schelte Adamsz. Bolswert (Flemish, c. 1586 – 1659); engraved by Adriaen Lommelin, published by Gillis Hendricx. Inscription: “SCELTE A BOLSWART | CALCOGRAPHVS ANTVERPIÆ”. In lower margin: “Ant. van Dÿc inuentor | Adr. Lommelin sculpsit” <–> “Gillis Hendricx excudit”. Third state with an entirely different head, title and production details added.
    19. Willem Marquis (Flemish, 1604 – 1640); engraved by Pieter de Jode II. Inscription: “GVILIELMVS MARCQUIS ANTVERP. MED. DOCT. ÆT. 36.A.O 1640.” In lower margin: “Ant. van Dyck Pinxit” <–> “Petr. de Iode sculp.”. Second, lettered state with Borreken’s name burnished and replaced by Van Dyck’s.
    20. Frederik de Marselaer (Flemish, 1584 – 1670); engraved by Adriaen Lommelin. Inscription: “D. FREDERICVS DE MARSELAER, EQVES AVRATVS, TOPARCHA DE PARCK, ELEWYT | HARSEAVX, HOYCKE, BORNAGE, LIBERIQUE DOMINII DE OPDORP, CONSVL BRVXELLÆ.” Three lines of verse below: “Quantum occulta viris vis nominis ominis addat | Ceu fatale aliuid; placidum Mars E Lare, scitum, | Legatusue orbi manifestat, pacis alumnus.”. In lower margin: “Ant. van Dÿck pinxit | Adrian Lommelin sculpsit” <–> “N. Burgund. Cons. Brab:”. Third state with the roll of paper rounded.
    21. Jan Baptist de Wael I (Flemish, 1558 – 1633); engraved by Adriaen Lommelin. Inscription: “IOANNES DE WAEL.”. In lower margin: “Ant. van Dyck pinxit.”<–> and “Adrian Lommelin sculpsit.”. Second, lettered state with the title and production details. British Museum № 1872,1012.4168.
    22. François van der Ee (Flemish, ? – 1645); engraved and published by Johannes Meyssens. Inscription: “D . FRANCISCVS VANDER EE | Dñs de Meys, Pretor Ciuitatis Bruxellensis”. In lower margin: “Anton van Dyck pinxit”, and “fecit et excud.”. Fourth, lettered state, finished with the burin, with second line added to the title, with address “Ioannes Meyssens” almost completely burnished.
    23. Quintijn Simons (Flemish, 1592 – after 1634); engraved by Pieter de Jode II. Inscription: “QVINTINVS SIMONIS. | BRVXELLENSIS PICTOR HISTORIARVM.”. In lower margin: “Ant. van Dijck pinxit.” <–> “Pet. de Iode sculp.”. Third state with second line of title added.
    24. Adriaan Stevens (Flemish, 1561 – 1640); engraved by Adriaen Lommelin. Inscription: "INTEGERRIMVS VIR ADRIANVS STEVENS / S.P.Q. ANTVERP. AB ELEMOSYNIS.". In lower margin:"Ant van Dÿc pinxit." <–> "A. Lommelin sculp.". British Museum # R,1b.20.
    25. Jan van Malderus (Flemish, 1563 – 1633); engraved by Adriaen Lommelin. Inscription: “PERLL.ris et REVEREN.mus DOMINVS. D. IOANNES MALDERVS”. In lower margin: “Ant Van Dÿck pinxit” <–> “Adrianus Lommelin sculpsit”.
    26. Zeger van Hontsum (Flemish, ? – -1643). Engraved by Adriaen Lommelin, published by Gillis Hendricx. Inscription: “Zegerus van Hontsum S.T.L. cathedralis | pænitentiarius et Canonicus Ecclesiæ Antuerpiensis”. In lower margin: “Ant. van Dÿc pinxit” <–> “Adr. Lommelin sculp.” <–> “G. Hendricx excudit”.
    27. Carolus Scribani (Flemish, 1561 – 1629); engraved by Pieter Clouwet. Inscription: “R. P. CAROLVS SCRIBANIVS Bruxellensis, é Societate IESV; in qua Antuerpiæ et I Bruxellæ Rector, ac Flandro-Belgicæ Provincialis, per multos annos fuit. Pietate, | doctrina, consilio, rebus bono publico gestis, libris editis clarus. Obijt Antverpiæ | 24. Iun. anno 1629. ætatis 69.”. In lower margin: “Antonius van Dÿck pinxit.” <–> “Petrus Cloüet Sculpsit.”. Second, lettered state with the title and production details.
    28. Jan Baptist van Bisthoven (Flemish, 1602 – 1655); engraved by Adriaen Lommelin. Inscription: “R.P. IOANNES BAPTISTA DE BISTHOVEN Antverpiensis e societate IESV | Collegÿ Alostani Rector, nec non in missione fidei catholicæ propagandæ apud exteros | præpositus obÿt A.o 1655”. In lower margin: “Ant:van Dÿck pinxit”, and “A. Lommelin sculp”. Second, lettered state with the title and production details.
    29. Maria of Austria (Spanish, 1606 – 1646); engraved by Cornelis Galle the Younger, published by Johannes Meyssens. Inscription: “MARIA AUSTRIACA FERD. III. UXOR. I. DEI G. IMP. ROM. SEMP. AUG. | GERM. HUNG. BOH. REG. ARCHIDUCISSA AUTR. DUCISSA BURGUN. ETC”. In lower margin: “Ant. van Dyck pinxit.” <–> “Corn. Galle Iunior sculpsit.” <–> “...excudit Antuerpiæ A.o 1649”. Third, lettered state with Meyssens’ name burnished badly.
    30. Henriette Marie de Bourbon, Queen of Charles I (French, 1609 – 1669); engraved by Antoine Couchet and Adriaen Lommelin, published by Gillis Hendricx. Inscription: “Serenißima Potenti∫simâq Henrica Maria Dei gratia | Magne Britaniæ, Franciæ, Hibern. Regina”. In lower margin: “Ant. van Dyck pinxit” <–> “Ioseph Couchet sculp” <–> “Gillis Hendricx exc.”. State with “Lommelin sculp.” right after “Ant. van Dyck pinxit” burnished, but still legible.
    31. Henriette Marie de Bourbon, engraved and published by Ioannes Meyssens. Inscription: “HENRICA MARIA DEI GRATIA MAGNÆ BRITANIÆ FRANCIAÆ HIBERN. REGINA.”. In lower margin: “fecit et excud.” <–> “Anton van Dyck Pinxit”. Third state, finished with a burin; with Meyssens’ name burnished. [Similar to print №62 which has "Ioan. Mey∫ens" signature present].
    32. Amalia van Solms, Princess of Orange (German, 1602 – 1675), engraved by Conraad Waumans and published by Johannes Meyssens. Inscription: “EMELIÆ DE SOLMS, D. G. PRINCPES ARAVSIONENSIVM, COMITISSA NASSAUVIÆ, ETC. | MARCHIONISSA VERÆ ET FLISSINGÆ, BARONISSA BREDÆ, GRAVÆ, DIESTÆ ETC.”. In lower margin: “Antonius van Dijck pinxit.” <–> “Conraet Waumans sculpsit.” <–> “… excudit”. First, lettered state with the title and production details, with Meyssens’ name burnished. [Similar to №66, which has Ioannes Meysens name present].
    33. Henriette de Lorraine, Princess of Phalsbourg (or Pfalzburg) (French, 1605 – 1660); engraved by Cornelis Galle the Younger, published by Ioannes Meyssens. Inscription: “HENRICA LOTHARINGIÆ, PRINCIPISSA PHALSEBVRGÆ, ET RIXHEIMÆ, COMITISSA | BOVLAYÆ, BARONISSA ASPIRIMONTIS, DOMINA NOVI-CASTELLI, PRENY | HOMBVRGI, S.TI ANOLDI, AVANTGARDÆ, SAMPIGNI, FRANC-ALTORFFI ETC.A”. In lower margin: “Antonius van Dyck pinxit.” <–> “Cornelius Galle iunior sculpsit.” <–> “… excudit.”. First state with the title and production details, with Ioannes Meyssens’ name burnished. British Museum # R,1a.248.
    34. Ernestine Yolande de Ligne, Countess of Nassau-Siegen (Flemish, 1594 – 1668); engraved by Michiel Natalis, published by Jan Meyssens. Inscription: “ERNESTINA PRINCEPS LIGNEANA ET S.TI IMPERII, COMES NASSAVI. ETC.A”. In lower margin: “Antonius van Dyck pinxit.” <–> “Michael Natalis sculpsit.” <–> “…excudit Antuerpiæ.”. Second state with the initials of Ioannes Meyssens erased.
    35. Marie de Barbançon, Princess of Arenberg (1602 – 1675); engraved by Adriaen Lommelin. Inscription: “MARIA DEI GRATIÂ PRINCEPS COMES ARENBERGIÆ | PRINCEPS BARBASONIA ETC.A”. In lower margin: “Ant. van Dÿck pinxit. | Adrian. Lommelin sculpsit.”. Second, lettered state with title and production details and adjustments made in the face. British Museum # 1876,1014.181
    36. Marie-Claire de Croy, Duchess of Havré (Flemish, 1605 – 1664); engraved by Conraad Waumans, published by Ioannes Meyssens. Inscription: “MARIA CLARA DE CROIIO, DVX HAVREANA CROYANAQ3 PRINCEPS STE. IMPERII, | SOVVERANEA ET BARONISSA FENESTRANGIÆ ET COSTÆ COMES FONTENOIIA ETC.”. In lower margin: “Antonius van Dyck pinxit.” <–> “Coenraerdus Waumans sculpsit.” <–> “…excudit.”. Third state with Ioannes Meyssens’ name burnished. British Museum # 1891,1015.21. [Similar to №64, which has Ioannes Meysens’ name present].
    37. Marie de Barbançon, Princess of Arenberg (1602 – 1675); engraved by Paulus Pontius, published by Ioannes Meyssens. Inscription: “MARIA DEI GRATIÂ PRINCEPS COMES ARENBERGIÆ, | PRINCEPS BARBASONIA ETC.A”. In lower margin: “Antonius van Dyck pinxit. | Paulus Pontius sculp. Anno 1645.” <–> “… excudit Antuerpiæ”. Second state with a thick borderline, title and production details added, Ioannes Meyssens’s name burnished.
    38. Karl I Ludwig, Elector Palatine (German, 1617 – 1680); engraved by Wenceslaus Hollar (Bohemian, 1607 – 1677). Inscription: “CAROLVS LVDOVICVS D:G: COMES PALATINVS AD RHENVM, S:ri R.ni IM:rii | Princeps, Archidapifer & Elector, Dux Bauariæ, …Nobilissimi Ordinis Garterij Eques etc.”. Below: “Ant: van Dyck pinxit” <–> “WHollar fecit,” <–> “1646”. First, lettered state with the title and production details, without “H: van de Borcht excu:”. British Museum # 1867,1012.598. Hendrik van der Borcht II (Dutch, 1614 – c. 1690)
    39. Richard Weston, 1st Earl of Portland (British, 1577 – 1635); engraved by Wenceslaus Hollar, published by Ioannes Meyssens. Inscription: “PERILLUSTRIS DOMINVS HIERONYMVS WESTONIVS, COMES PORTLANDIÆ, | HEYLANDÆq3, etc’,”. Below: “Antonius van Dyck pinxit”<–> “W: Hollar fecit, aqua forte. 1645”. Ioannes Meyssens’s name completely burnished.
    40. Thomas Howard, 14th Earl of Arundel (British, 1585 – 1646); engraved by Wenceslaus Hollar, published by Ioannes Meyssens. Inscription: "ILLVSTRIS:us & EXCELLENT:mus D:nus. DOMINVS THOMAS HOWARD, COMES ARXNDELIÆ & SVRRIÆ | primus Comes & summus Marescallus Angliæ, etc nobilisimi ordiuis Garterÿ Eques, Serenis∫imi po: | tentis∫imq3 Principis Caroli: Magnæ Britanniæ & Hiberniæ Regis, Fidei defen∫oris, etc. in Anglia, Sco | tia et Hibernia a Secretioribus Consilijs, et eju∫dem Regis Ao1639. Contra | Scotos Supremus & Generalis Militiæ Dux,”. In lower margin: “Ant: van Dyck Eques pinxit” <–> “WHollar fecit 1646”. Second state with Ioannes Meyssens’s name completely burnished.
    41. Lucas de Wael (Flemish, 1591 – 1661) and Cornelis de Wael (Flemish, 1592 – 1667); engraved by Wenceslaus Hollar, published by Ioannes Meyssens. Inscription: “LVCAS ET CORNELIVS DE WAEL ANTV: FFr. GERMANI IOis QUI PICTORIAM AR | TEM HÆREDITARIO IVRE CONSECVTI HIC RVRALIVM, ILLE OMNIGENVM PRÆCIPVEQVE / CONFLICTVVM REPRÆSENTATOR.”. In lower margin: “Ant. van Dyck Eques pinxit.” <–> “W: Hollar fecit, 1646.” <–> “I: Meysens exc”. First, lettered state with the title and production details.
    42. Mary (Elisabetha ) Villiers, Duchess of Lennox and Richmond (British, 1622 – 1685); engraved by Wenceslaus Hollar, published by Ioannes Meyssens. Inscription: “ILLUSTRISS: ma D:ma DOMI.na ELISABETHA VILLIERS DVCESSA DE LENOX ET RICH | MOND. etc: FILIA GEORGIJ VILLIERS DVCIS ET COMITIS BVCKINGHAMIÆ.”. In lower margin: “Ant: van dyck pinxit” <–> “W:Hollar fecit” <–> “… Antverpiæ.”. Ioannes Meyssens’ name completely burnished. First state with the title and production details.
    43. Frances (Maria) Stuart, Countess of Portland (British, 1617 – 1694); engraved by Wenceslaus Hollar, published by Ioannes Meyssens. Inscription: “ILLVSTRIS: DOMINA DNA: MARIA STVART COMITISSA | PORTLANDIÆ NEYLANDIÆ, etc.”. Below: “Ant: Van Dycke pinxit,” <–> “W: Hollar fecit, A:o 1650,”, “...excud: Antuerpiæ,”. Second state with Meyssens’ name burnished. British Museum # 1853,0112.1761
    44. Lucy Percy, Countess of Carlisle (British, 1599 – 1660); engraved by Pieter de Bailliu, published by Ioannes Meyssens. Inscription: “LVCIA PERCYE, COMES CARLYLENSIS, MARCGRAVIA | DONCASTRENSIS BARONISSA HAYÆ IN SALCÏA, ETC.A”. In lower margin: “Antonius van Dyck pinxit.” <–> “Petrus de Baillue sculpsit.” <–> “...excudit Antuerpia.”. Third, lettered state with Joannes Meyssens’ name burnished.
    45. Marie-Marguerite de Berlaymont ( ? – 1654); engraved by Jacobus Neeffs, published by Ioannes Meyssens. Inscription: “D.DNA. MARIA MARGARETA DE BARLEMONT COMITISSA HEGMONDANA.” In lower margin: “Ant. van Dyck pinxit.” <–> “Iacobus Nefs sculpsit.”<–> “...exc.”. Fourth state with Ioannes Meyssens’ name erased. British Museum # 1876,1014.206. [Similar to №67, which has Ioannes Meysens name present].
    46. Béatrix Constance de Cussance, Princess of Cantecroix (French, 1614 – 1663); engraved by Pieter de Jode II, published by Ioannes Meyssens. Inscription: “BEATRIX COSANTIA PRINCEPS CANTECROYANA ETC.A”. In lower margin: “Antonius van Dyck pinxit” <–>“Petrus de Iode sculpsit.” <–> “… excudit Antuerpiæ.”. Second, lettered state with Meyssens’ name burnished.
    47. Johanna de Blois; engraved by Pieter de Jode II, published by Gillis Hendricx. Inscription: “D. IOHANNA DE BLOIS”. In the lower margin: “Ant. van Dÿck pinxit | Petr. de Iode sculpsit” <–> “Gillis Hendricx | excudit.”. British Museum # 1876,1014.189.
    48. Katherine Howard, Countess of Newburgh, Lady d’Aubigny (British, ? – 1650); engraved by Adriaen Lommelin, published by Gillis Hendricx. Inscription: “EXCELLmæ ILL.mæq3 DOMINÆ CATHARINÆ HOWARD, EXCELLmi DUCIS LIVOXIÆ | HÆREDIS CONIUGIS DELECTISSIMÆ, VERA EFFIGIES.” In lower margin: “A. van Dÿck pinxit.” <–> “G. Hendricx excudit” <–> “A. Lommelin scup.”. British Museum # P,3.326
    49. Anna Wake (Flemish, 1606 – 1680); engraved by Pieter Clouwet. Inscription: “D. ANNA WAKE.”. In lower margin: “Ant. van Dÿck pinxit.” <–> “Petrus Clouwet sculpsit”.
    50. Pieter de Jode II (Flemish, 1606-1670/74); engraved by Pieter de Jode II. Inscription: “PETRVS DE IODE IVNIOR / CHALCOGRAPHVS ANTVERPIÆ.”. In lower margin: “Ant. van Dyck pinxit.”<–> “Petrus de Iode sculpsit.”. Third state (before the initials G.H. (of Gillis Hendricx) added. The print with cut off margins pasted to the bound-in leaf.
    51. Mary Ruthven, Lady van Dyck (Scottish, c. 1622 – 1645); engraved and published by Ioannes Meyssens. Inscription: “MARIA RVTEN VXOR D. ANTONI VAN DYCK EQVES”. In lower margin: “Anton.van Dyck pinxit” <–> “Ioan. Meysens fecit et excud.”. First, lettered state with the title and production details. Tired plate. British Museum # 1863,0725.747. Van Dyck's wife.
    52. Sir Balthazar Gerbier (British, Flemish, 1592 – 1663); engraved by Paulus Pontius. Inscription: “D. Balthazar Gerberius Eques Auratus primus post renouationem. | Foederis cum Hispaniarum Rege anno 1630. A Potentissimo | et Serenissimo Carolo Magnæ Britanniæ Franciæ et Hiberniæ. Rege, Bruxellas Prolegatus. A:o 1631”. Below “Anton van Dyck pinxit”<–> “Paul Pontius schupcit.”. Top left corner: “Ætatis suæ 42 | A.o 1634”. The paper in Gerbier’s hand is lettered “viuat | memoria | Buckinga: | mii”.
    53. Paul de Vos (Flemish, 1596 – 1678); printed by Ioannes Meyssens, face and collar engraved by Anthony van Dyck, the body engraved by Ioannes Meyssens. Second, lettered state. Inscription: PAVLVS DE VOS PICTOR”. In lower margin: “Anton. van Dyck pinxit fecit.”, and “Ioan. Meysens excudit.”. British Museum # R,1b.95. [Look s very much alike №68, but with a one-line inscription and engraved by Meyssens instead of Bolswert].
    54. Honoré d’Urfé, marquis de Valromey, comte de Châteauneuf (French, 1568 – 1625); engraved by Pieter de Bailliu (Flemish, 1613 – 1660). Inscription: “ILLVS.MVS DOMNIVS HONORIVS VRFEIVS NOBILIS ORD.RIVS CVBICVLI REGII, DVX 50. ARMATORVM | HOMINVM A SVO MANDATO, COMES NOVI CASTELLI, BARO ARCIS MORANDANÆ ETC.A”. Below: “Antonius van Dyck pinxit” <–> “Pet. de Bailliue sculpsit.” <–> “Ioanes Meysens excudit.”. Second lettered state with title and production details. [Similar to №14, but with Ioanes Meysens name in place].
    55. Johannes [John VIII], Count of Nassau-Siegen (German, 1583 – 1638); engraved by Lucas Vorsterman I (Flemish, 1595 – 1675). Inscription: in the oval around the portrait “EXCELLENTISSIMVS DOMINVS: D. IOANNES, COMES NASSAOVIÆ, CATTNELLIBOCI: VIANDEN, DIETZ, &C. EQVES AVREI VELLERIS. S. MA: CÆS, MARESCHALIVS, CATH. REG. IN BELGIO. EQVITVM GENERALIS. &C”, in lower margin: “ILLVSTRISSIMÆ PRINCIPI ERNESTINÆ DE LIGNE EIVSDEM D. COMITIS VXORI DD.”. Below: “AVan Dÿck pinxit.” <–> “Cū Priuleg” <–> “Lucas Vorsterman exc”. Third state. [For the fourth state with Lucas “Vorsterman exc” burnished see № 15].
    56. James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Hamilton (British, 1606 – 1649); engraved by Peeter van Lisebetten (Flemish,(1630 – 1678), published by Ioannes Meysens. Inscription: “IACOBVS HAMILTONIVS, MARCHIO AB HAMILTON, COMES | CAMBRICENSIS ET ARANENSIS, BARO EVENIVS ET ABER: | BROCHIVS MAGISTRO EQVITVM SVÆ MAIESTATIS | MAGNE BRITTANIÆ, ET EQUES ORDINIS GARTERY.”.In lower margin: “Ant. van Dÿck pinxit” <–> “Pet. van Lisebetius sculp.”<–> “Ioannes Meÿssens excudit.”. Second state with title and signatures. British Museum # P,2.208.
    57. Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange, Count of Nassau (Dutch, 1584 – 1647); engraved by Conrad Waumans [Woumans] (Flemish, 1619 – after 1675). Inscription: “FREDERICVS HENRICVS, D.G. PRINCEPS ARAVSIONENSIVM, COMES | NASSAVIÆ, ETC. | MARCHIO VERÆ ET FLISSINGÆ, BARO BREDÆ GRAVÆ, | DIESTÆ ETC.”. Below: “Antonius van Dÿck pinxit” <–> “Conraet Waumans sculpsit” <–> “Ioannes Meyssens excudit.” First, lettered state with title and production details. [Similar to №5, but this one with Ioannes Meyssens name present].
    58. Francisco de Moncada, Count d’Osuna (Spanish, 1568 – 1635); engraved by Lucas Vorsterman I. Inscription: “EXCELL.MVS D. FRANCISCVS DE MONCADA MARCHIO AYTONÆ, COMES OSSONÆ VICE– | COMES CABRERÆ ET BAAS, MAGNVS SENESCALCVS REGNI ARRAGONIÆ, PHILIPPO IV. | HISPANIAR.INDIARVMQ3 REGI A CONSILIIS STATVS, EIVSDEMQ3 LEGATVS EXTRAORDIN,ET | SVPREMVS MILITIÆ TERRA MARIQ3 IN BELGIO PRÆFECTVS". Above within portrait frame, to the right: “D.A.van Dÿck pinxit. | LVorsterman sculpsit.”.
    59. Wolfgang Wilhelm, Count of Pfalz-Neuburg and Duke of Jülich (German, 1578 – 1653); engraved by Lucas Vorsterman I. Inscription: "SERENISSIMVS PRINCEPS WOLFGANGVS WILHELMVS, D.G. COMES PALATINVS RHENI, | DVX BAVARIÆ, IVLIACÆ, ET MONTIVM :COMES VELDENTII, SPONHEMII | MARCHIÆ, RAVENSBVRGI ET MOERSII, DOMINVS IN RAVENSTEIN. ETC." In lower margin: "D. A. van Dÿck Eques Pinxit." <–> "Cū. Priuileg:" <–> "LVorsterman sculp.". Fifth state with initials of Gillis Hendricx burnished. British Museum # 1863,0509.825.
    60. Ferdinand, Cardinal Infante of Spain and Archduke of Austria (Spanish, 1609 – 1641); engraved by Pieter de Jode II, published by Ioannes Meyssens. Inscription: “SERENISSIMVS PRINCEPS FERDINANDVS AVSTRIACVS S.R.E CARDINALIS | BELGARVM BORGVNDIORVMQ3 GVBERNATOR ETC.A”. In lower margin: “Antonius van Dÿck pinxit” <–> “Pet. de Iode fecit” <–> “Ioannes Meysens excudit”. Third, lettered state with title and production details. British Museum # R,1a.28.
    61. Charles I, King of England, Scotland, and Ireland (British, 1600 – 1649); engraved by Johannes [Jan] Meyssens (Flemish, 1612 – 1670). Inscription: “CAROLVS DEI GRATIA MAGNÆ BRITANNIÆ, FRANCIÆ ET HIBERNIÆ REX”. Below: “Antonius Van Dÿck eques pinxit” <–> “Ioan. Meysens excudit”. [Similar to №4, but with Ioannes Meysens name present].
    62. Henriette Marie de Bourbon, engraved and published by Ioannes Meyssens. Inscription: “HENRICA MARIA DEI GRATIA MAGNÆ BRITANIÆ FRANCIAÆ HIBERN. REGINA.” Lettered with production details in lower margin: “Ioan. Meysens fecit et excud.” <–> “Anton van Dyck Pinxit”. Third state, finished with a burin. [Similar to print №31, but this one with Ioan. Mey∫ens signature present].
    63. Mary Ruthven, Lady van Dyck (Scottish, c. 1622 – 1645); copy in reverse by Richard Gaywood after Bolswert (see also №51 by Meyssens) published by Peter Stent. Inscription: “Maria Ruten nata in Anglia vxor Antonÿ van Dyck Pictoris”. Below: “Ant: van Dyck pinx:”, “P Stent excud”, “R: Gaywood fecit”. Below centre: “Sould by John Ouerton at the white horse without New gate”. John Overton, publisher (British, 1639/40 – 1713); Richard Gaywood (British, fl. c. 1644 – 1677). Peter Stent (British, fl. c. 1637 – 1665). See BM # P,3.351.
    64. Marie-Claire de Croy, Duchess of Havré (Flemish, 1605 – 1664); engraved by Conraad Waumans, published by Ioannes Meyssens. Inscription: “MARIA CLARA DE CROIIO, DVX HAVREANA CROYANAQ3 PRINCEPS STE. IMPERII, | SOVVERANEA ET BARONISSA FENESTRANGIÆ ET COSTÆ COMES FONTENOIIA ETC”. In lower margin: “Antonius van Dyck pinxit.” <–> “Coenraerdus Waumans sculpsit.” <–> “Ioannes Meysens excudit.”. Second state. British Museum # R,1a.188. [Similar to №36, but this one with Ioannes Meysens name present].
    65. Isabel Clara Eugenia, ruler of the Spanish Netherlands (Spanish, 1566 – 1633); engraved by Lucas Vorsterman I. “SERENISSIMA D. ISABELLA. CLARA. EVGENIA. HISPANIARVM INFANS ETC. | SER.MI ALBERTI. ARCHID. AVSTRIÆ, DVCIS BVRGVNDIÆ, BELGARVM PRINCIPIS, ETC. | VIDVA, MATER CASTRORVM.” In lower margin: “D. A.van Dÿck Eques pinxit.” <–> “Cū Priuileg.” <–> “LVorsterman sculp.”. Fourth state with initials of Gillis Hendricx burnished. British Museum # 1863,0509.820.
    66. Amalia van Solms, Princess of Orange (German, 1602 – 1675), engraved by Conraad Waumans and published by Johannes Meyssens. Inscription: “EMELIÆ DE SOLMS, D. G. PRINCPES ARAVSIONENSIVM, COMITISSA NASSAUVIÆ, ETC. | MARCHIONISSA VERÆ ET FLISSINGÆ, BARONISSA BREDÆ, GRAVÆ, DIESTÆ ETC.” In lower margin: “Antonius van Dijck pinxit.”, “Conraet Waumans sculpsit.” and “Ioannes Meysens excudit.”. First, lettered state with the title and production details lettered. [Similar to №32, but this one with Ioannes Meysens name present].
    67. Marie-Marguerite de Berlaymont ( ? – 1654); engraved by Jacobus Neeffs, published by Ioannes Meyssens. Inscription: “D.DNA. MARIA MARGARETA DE BARLEMONT COMITISSA HEGMONDANA.” In lower margin: “Ant. van Dyck pinxit.” <–> “Iacobus Nefs sculpsit.” <–> “Ioes Meyssens exc.”. Fourth state. [Similar to №45, but this one with Ioannes Meysens name present].
    68. Paul de Vos (Flemich, 1596-1678); engraved and etched by Anthony van Dyck and by Schelte Adamsz. Bolswert, published by Gillis Hendricx. Eighth state with the initials of Gillis Hendricx burnished. Inscription: PAVLVS DE VOS PICTOR | VENATIONVM ANTVERPIÆ.”. “Ant. van Dyck pinxit et | fecit aqua forti.” <–> “S. à Bol∫wert | sculpsit. ”. [Look s very much alike №53, but with a two-line inscription and engraved by Bolswert instead of Meyssens, etc.].
    69. Paul-Bernard de Fontaines (French, 1566 – 1643) delineated and engraved by Lucas Vorsterman I (Flemish, 1595 – 1675) in 1615–75. Inscription: “Excellentissimus Dns. Paulus Bernardus Comes de Fontaine. liber Toparcha supremae terrae de fougerolle etc: Armeme tarij Catho. Matis. per Belgium Gnalis Praefectus: Vrbis Brugensis et Territorij fraconatus Magnus Praetor. Supremus nuper armpru Prouinciam flandriae Moderator etc: D.D.L Vorsterman sculptor. delin”. Cut without margins and pasted to inbound leaf. See: MET: Accession Number: 51.501.1332
  • Softcover, 24 x 16.5 cm, publisher's pictorial wrappers, lettering to spine, pp.: [6] 7-224. Full reproduction of Katsushika Hokusai's [葛飾 北斎] (Japanese, 1760 – 1849) series of three illustrated books [絵本, e-hon] One Hundred Views of Mount Fuji [富嶽百景, Fugaku hyakkei], published in Japan in 1834-1849, with commentaries.
  • Iron tsuba of mokko form decorated with brass flat inlay (hira-zōgan) all over on both sits and going over the rounded rim. Black patina, well-forged iron. Hitsu-ana outlined with brass inlay. Former owner's catalogue number in red paint reads 25-17-61. Gary D. Murtha provides detailed account of this type of tsuba in Japanese Sword Guards. Onin-Heianjo-Yoshiro book on pages 118-122. He calls this type of tsuba "Heianjo Mogusa Tsuba": "The term mogusa is commonly used for an inlay design that represents an aquatic weed, similar to a duck weed or sago plant, which is known to quickly invade and overtake bodies of water. [...] Perhaps the visual image has some cross-over meaning for samurai in that, like the plant, a small aggressive samurai force could conquer a larger foe/area." I tried to find any reference to "mogusa" in literature, - to no avail. Neither on the vastness of internet, including Wikipedia... I did find the "duckweed" (one word), but visually it has nothing to do with the pattern on tsuba. "Sago plant" probably stands for 'Sago palm", and there is some very distant reminiscence in the construction of the sago palm leaf and the said design of inlay, but I would not go that far. In the old catalogues, such as Naunton and Hawkshaw collections, this pattern as called "sea weed" and/or "conventional fir". I will stick to these descriptions, tested by the time, and leave the enigmatic "mogusa" alone. Obviously, this type of tsuba has transformed into Yoshirō tsuba, both in Kaga province and Bizen province. Momoyama period (ca. 1660). Dimensions: 74.5 x 73.7 x 4.4 mm.
  • Iron tsuba of round form pierced with the design of slanting rays of light (Christian motif, Jesuit’s IHS symbol) in positive silhouette (ji-sukashi). This design is often called “tokei” [時計], or “clock gear”. Nakaga-ana fitted with copper sekigane. Rounded rim. Unsigned. Higo school. Early Edo period, mid-17th century (1632-1650).

    Size: 78.3 x 77.0 x 5.3 mm

    For information regarding this type of tsuba see the article 'Kirishitan Ikenie Tsuba by Fred Geyer at Kokusai Tosogu Kai; The 2nd International Convention & Exhibition, October 18-23, 2006, pp. 84-91. School and age attribution thanks to Bruce Kirkpatrick. . ​

    IHS emblem of the Jesuits

     
  • Iron tsuba of round form (tsurumaru) decorated with a design of crane and pines, or "nesting crane (sugomori-tsuru)" in openwork (sukashi). Details carved in kebori. Rounded rim.

    Size: 74.7 x 69.8 x 4.8 mm.

    Unsigned.

    Edo period, ca. 17th century.

    NBTHK Certificate № 463485. The certificate says it's a Higo School piece. The design was popular in both Akasaka and Higo schools. The Akasaka example: at Kodogu and tsuba. International collections not published in my books. (Toso Soran). Ph. D. Kazutaro Torigoye, 1978, p. 246: "Late Edo. Jiyūgata. Sined: Akasaka Tadanori saku."  

    Torigoye, 1978, p. 246. Late Akasaka.

    The Higo example can be found at Iron tsuba. The works of the exhibition "Kurogane no hana", The Japanese Sword Museum, 2014, p. 69, №56: Sugomori-tsuru sukashi-tsuba (Nesting Carne). Mumei: Matashichi (1st generation), early 17th century.

    Kurogane no hana, 2014, p. 69, №56. Higo tsuba.

  • Front cover: LONDON | Highlights from | the Erotica Library | of Tony Fekete | Tuesday 18 November 2014 | {vignette in colour} | CHRISTIE'S || Pagination: [2] 3-134 [2], total 136 pages, 221 lot. Binding: 16.7 x 21 cm, publisher’s pictorial wrappers, red spine with white lettering.
  • Herni Cohen. Guide de l'amateur de livres à gravures du XVIIIe siècle (6e édition) / Revue, corrigée et considérablement augmentée par Seymour de Ricci, préface par R. Portalis; 2 Volumes. – Paris: Librairie A. Rouquette, 1912. – Achevé d'Imprimer à Melun par Émile Legrand le 25 juin MDCCCCXII [1912]. Vol. 1, Première partie – ABAA-LUY: ffl [4 blanks] [2 - orig. grey front wrapper w/title, verso blank] [2 blanks] [2 - ht, tirage] [2 - blank, frontis. w/protect. sheet] [2 - blank, frontis. w/protect. sheet] (double frontis. - correct), [2 - t.p., blank] [i - avant-propos w/vignette] ii-vi, [vii - préface w/vignette] viii-xxvi; [1-2 - Tome 1, I] 2-668 (two numbers per page), [2 - fin, blank] [2 blanks] [2 - orig. grey back wrapper, recto blank] [orig. spine strip] [4 blanks] bfl. Vol. 2, Seconde partie – MAB-ZUR : ffl [4 blanks] [2 - orig. grey front wrapper w/title, verso blank] [2 blanks] [2 - ht, blank] [2 - t.p., blank] [2 - blank, frontis. w/protect. sheet] [2 - blank, frontis. w/protect. sheet] (double frontis. - correct), [1-2 - Tome II, 22] 671-1248 (two numbers per page), [2 - printer, blank] [2 blanks] [2 - orig. grey back wrapper, recto imprim.] [orig. spine strip] [4 blanks] bfl. Size: Super Royal 8vo, 26.2 x 17.2 x 5.1 cm. Binding: Contemporary blue half morocco over marbled boards, marbled end-papers, top margin gilt, gilt lettering to spine (title, owner: P. R.).; bookplate pasted to verso of the first blank leaf: " Ex Libris R. Decamps Scrive." – for bibliophile René Descamps-Scrive (French, 1853 –1924). Original wrappers preserved. Printed on Hollande paper, copy № 2 of the first 50; total print-run 1050 copies. Catalogue raisonné of French illustrated books of the 18th century.
  • Hardcover volume, 18.2 x 11.8 cm, bound in quarter black polished calf with gilt lettering “cartonnage romantique” design to spine, marbled boards, matching marbled endpapers, blue margins. Title-page: SCÈNES | DE LA BOHÊME | PAR | HENRY MURGER | {publisher’s device ML} | PARIS | MICHEL LÉVY FRÈRES, LIBRAIRES-ÉDITEURS | RUE VIVIENNE, 2 bis. | 1851 || Half-title: ŒUVRES | D’HENRY MURGER || Advertisement: Chez le même Éditeurs. | BIBLIOTHEQUE CONTEMPORAINE | (page of text) || Collation: π2 (h.t/advert., t.p. / blank), 1-33 (17)12, χ6; total 212 leaves without ffls (3 front, 2 back). Pagination: [2] – h.t. / blank, [2] – t.p. / blank, [i] ii-xiii [xiv blank], [1] 2-406; total 424 pages. Scènes de la bohême, in later editions Scènes de la vie de bohème. Translations: Into English: LIB-2719.2021. Henri Murger. The Bohemians of the Latin Quarter. (Scènes de la vie de Bohême) / Translated from the French. — London: Vizetelly & Co., 1883. Into German: LIB-2686.2021. Henri Murger. Die Bohème : Szenen aus dem Pariser Künstlerleben. — Leipzig: Insel-Verlag, 1906. Into Russian: LIB-3182.2023. А. Мюрже. Сцены из жизни богемы / Пер. с франц. и прим. Е. А. Гунста; вст. ст. С. И. Великовского; художник Н. А. Кравченко. — М.: Художественная литература, 1963. Contributors: Murger, Henri [Henry] (French, 1822 – 1861) – author.
  • Small softcover volume, édition minuscule’ in-32, 13 x 8 cm, publisher’s wrappers, pp.: [1-6] (h.t., t.p., advert.), [7] 8-160 [2 table/blank], included in pagination 8 pasted etchings on India paper after Félicien Rops and one blank leaf next to plate 1; laid paper with watermarks, some pages uncut. Title-page: DOCUMENTS | POUR SERVIR A L’HISTOIRE DE NOS MŒURS | – | LES | BAS-FONDS | DE LA SOCIÉTÉ | PAR | HENRY MONNIER | AVEC | 8 dessins à la plume | de F. R. | {fleuron} | ÉDITION MINUSCULE | tirée | à 64 exemplaires. || Pencil handwriting on top: 8 gravures de Felicien Rops | 250 –, in the bottom: [1879]. Print run: 64 copies; clandestine edition. Catalogue raisonné: Vicaire V, 1019; Bory p. 100 (though here is the frontispiece for Les Bas-fonds de la société par Joseph Prudhomme [Henry Monnier], 1864, with all the sheets together; Dutel I, A-134. Ref: (1) Poulet-Malassis & ses amis № 90 [LIB-3118.2022] ; (2) Félicien Rops: L'oeuvre graphique complète. / Ouvrage établi et présenté par Jean-François Bory. Avec un texte contemporain de l'artiste par J. K. Huysmans. — Arthur Hubschmidt, 1977. [LIB-2241.2019] Contributors: Henry Monnier (French, 1799 – 1877) – author. Félicien Rops (Belgian, 1833 – 1898) – artist. Henry Kistemaeckers (Belgian, 1851 – 1934) – publisher. Auguste Poulet-Malassis (French, 1825 – 1878)
  • Hardcover volume, 21.5 x 14.7 x 5.7 cm, bound in red cloth with blind-stamped ms signature to front board and gilt lettering over black labels, and gild design elements to spine; pp.: [i-iv] (h.t./blank, t.p./copyright) v-xv[xvi] blank, [1-2] f.t./blank, 3-1653 [1654] blank, [2] publ. note/blank; 1672 pp total; Blue ink ms inscription to h.t. 'Lawrence Wyman'. Title-page (in a two-rule frame): THE COMPLETE WORKS OF | O. Henry | Foreword by | WILLIAM LYON PHELPS | AUTHENTIC EDITION | {publisher’s device, G.C.P.} | De Luxe Edition | — | Garden City Publishing Co., Inc. | GARDEN CITY    NEW YORK || Contributors: O. Henry [William Sydney Porter] (American, 1862 – 1910) – author. William Lyon Phelps (American, 1865  – 1943) – author/foreword.
  • Title: PROBLÈMES ET DOCUMENTS | HENRI ROLLIN | L'APOCALYPSE | DE | NOTRE TEMPS | Les dessous de la propagande allemande | d'après des documents inédits | nrf | S. P. | GALLIMARD | Paris — 43, rue de Beaune Pagination: [1-9] 10-567 [9]. Size: 22.6 x 14.2 cm Binding: original publisher's wrappers. Ex libris Lorenzo Grazzini of Librairie Scritti (book store in Paris). Publishing Year: 1939; Publisher: Gallimard; Acheve d'impremier - Le 23 Septembre 1939 par l'Impremierie Orleanaise 68, rue Royale, Orleans.
  • Title: THE BOHEMIANS | OF | THE LATIN QUARTER. | (SCÈNES DE LA VIE DE BOHÊME.) | By HENRI MURGER. | ILLUSTRATED WITH 10 ETCHINGS FROM DESIGNS BY MONTADER. |{publisher’s device}| LONDON: | VIZETELLY & CO., 16, HENRIETTA STREET, | COVENT GARDEN. | 1888. || Pagination: [i-v] vi-xxxiv, [1] 2-317 [318 blank]; collation: 8vo, π1 (h.t.), [a]-b8, B-U8 X7 + 10 etchings by Charles Courtry after Alfred Montader (incl. frontispiece and portrait of Henri Murger). Binding: 23 x 14.5 cm, olive cloth, black lettering to cover and gilt lettering to spine. Contributors: Murger, Henri [Henry] (French, 1822 – 1861) – original text (French). Montader, Pierre Marie Alfred (French, fl. c. 1881 – 1925) – artist. Courtry, Charles Jean Louis (French, 1846 – 1897) – engraver. Vizetelly, Henry Richard (British, 1820 – 1894) – publisher.
  • Pictorial title by von Bayros: Die | Bohème. | Scenen aus dem Pariser | Künstlerleben | von | Henri Murger | Leipzig im | InselVerlag | 1906. | F. Bayros || Pagination: [2] – pictorial frontispiece, [2] – pictorial t.p., 1-280 [2] – inhalt, [2] – colophon, [2] – blank, + 4 plates drawn by Franz von Bayros and reproduced as photogravure, with guards. Binding: 23.5 x 15.5 cm, cream parchment, raised bands, gilt-lettered orange morocco label to spine; text printed on laid paper (Linden Paper watermark), untrimmed, illustrations on wove paper as photogravure. Bookplate: “Ex libris Walter Schniewind” engraved by C. L. Becker. Original title: Henry Murger. Scenes De La Vie De Boheme. — Paris: Michel Lévy frères, 1851. Tirage: 50 copies on laid paper, of which this is № 14 (per Sarkowski: 50 numerierte Ex. auf Bütten. Pergament mit Goldschnitt). Author: Murger, Henri [Murger, Louis-Henri, Henry] (French, 1822 – 1861). Translator: Grove, Frederick Philip [Greve, Felix Paul] (German-Canadian, 1879 – 1948). Illustrator: Bayros, Franz von (Austrian, 1866 – 1924). Printer: Drugulin, Wilhelm Eduard (German, 1822 – 1879); Offizin W. Drugulin (Leipzig). Provenance: Schniewind, Walter (German, 1870 – 1927). Catalogue raisonné: Heinz Sarkowski (1999): № 1175 VA, p. 195; Bayros Zeichnungen, pp. 43-46.
  • Hardcover volume, 19 x 13 cm, collated in-12mo, bound by Henri Creuzevault (signed) in full crushed brown morocco, spine with raised bands, gilt lettering “H. DE RÉGNIER | – | LA PÉCHERESSE” and “PARIS 1920” in the bottom compartment; gilt fillet to cover margin, five gilt fillets inside, marbled endpapers, bookplate of J.-P. Dutel to flyleaf, original yellow publisher’s wrappers preserved, top edge gilt, in a marbled slipcase; printed on dense wove paper (Japon). Inset: Receipt from Librairie ancienne et modern – Georges Venot (Lyon), dated April 16, 1938. Title-page / Cover: HENRI DE RÉGNIER | DE L’ACADÉMIE FRANÇAISE | – | La Pécheresse | HISTOIRE D’AMOUR | {publisher’s device} | PARIS | MERCVRE DE France | XXVI, RVE DE CONDÉ, XXVI | MCMXX || Limitation: 158 copies on Japon (№№ 1-158), 95 copies on Chine (№№ 159-253), 515 copies on Hollande (№№ 254-768), 1,650 copies on vélin pur fil de Lafuma (№№ 769-2393, and 25 copies not for sale marked A-Z. This is № 75 (on Japon), a unique copy enriched with 7 original watercolours by Serge de Solomko. Collation: 3 blank flyleaves, front wrapper, π6 (1 h.t./advert., 1 t.p./limit., 1 dedication, 3), 1-206, 212, back wrapper, spine, 3 blank flyleaves, list of illustrations pasted to recto endpaper “La Pécheresse. | 7 aquarelles de Solemko (sic.) | 57, 64, 168, 256, 289, 320, 346”, seven plates bound in as per the list. Pagination: [1-5] 6-350, ils. OCLC Number / Unique Identifier: 715077259. Contributors: Henri de Régnier (French, 1864 – 1936) – author. Auguste Gilbert de Voisins (1877 – 1939) – dedicatee. Sergueï Solomko [Сергей Сергеевич Соломко, Serge de Solomko] (Russian-French, 1867 – 1928) – artist. Henri Creuzevault (French, 1905 – 1971) – bookbinder. J.-P. Dutel description: RÉGNIER, Henri de. LA PECHERESSE. Paris, Mercure de France, 1920. In-12 (18,3 x 11,4 cm) de [1] f., 350 pp., maroquin janséniste grenat, dos à 5 nerfs, filets dorés intérieurs, tête dorée, filets dorés sur les coupes, non rogné, couverture et dos conservés, étui bordé. (Creuzevault). ÉDITION ORIGINALE. Tirage : 95 ex. sur chine. 158 ex. sur japon. 515 ex. sur hollande. UN DES 158 EXEMPLAIRES SUR JAPON. EXEMPLAIRE UNIQUE ENRICHI DE 7 AQUARELLES ORIGINALES HORS-TEXTE SIGNÉES PAR SERGE DE SOLOMKO. Sergueï Sergueïevitch Solomko « Serge de Solomko », (Saint-Petersburg, 1867- Sainte Geneviève des bois, 1928) est un illustrateur, graphiste et aquarelliste russe qui vécut en partie en France. Qualifiée d'histoire d'amour, cette œuvre d'Henri de Régnier est dédiée à Gilbert de Voisins, poète et romancier, en témoignage de fraternelle amitié. Elle est placée par son auteur sous les auspices du moraliste et critique libertin Saint-Evremond dont une citation figure en exergue du livre : « Il y a des temps où l'on pleure les plaisirs perdus, des temps où l'on pleure les péchés commis. » Et l'auteur d'incipiter comme suit : « J'ai toujours été si curieux des particularités que l'on découvre au caractère des femmes que, pas une fois, je n'ai négligé de m'instruire sur le sujet. » « (...) le point où se montre le mieux et le plus ouvertement ce que la nature les a faites, est celui de l'amour. »
  • Title: DER INSEL VERLAG | EINE BIBLIOGRAPHIE | 1899-1969 | […] Bearbeitet und herausgegeben | von Heinz Sarkowski | INSEL VERLAG || Pagination: [i-vi] vii-xiii [xiv] [2] 1-452. Binding: Blue cloth, black label with gilt lettering to spine, lettered and blind-stamped DJ.
  • Iron tsuba of mokkō form (mokkōgata) pierced (sukashi) and inlaid with precast dark brass inlay (taka-zōgan) with somewhat abstract/geometrical design that can be liberally described as pines, mist, and snow.

    Momoyama or early Edo period. End of the 16th - beginning of the 17th century. Heianjō school. Unsigned. Dimensions: 86.8 x 82.9 x 4.5 mm.
  • Iron tsuba of four-lobbed mokkō form decorated in brass and shakudō inlay on the face with design of rotten skull, fly, maple leaf, pine cones and needles, and on the back with design of rotten skull, wild boar, pine cones and needles. Scattered brass dots on both sides. Hitsu-ana possibly cut off later. Surface has traces of lacquer (urushi). Momoyama period. Dimensions: 67.3 x 61.5 x 4.3 mm A similar example can be found at Tsuba Kanshoki by Kazutaro Torogoye, 1975 on p. 61: "Heianjōzōgan tsuba. No sig. Iron: Pine-cone, seeds, ants & rock, brass zōgan. Kakumimi: C. 1.5 bu. Age: Momoyama. Sup. - Early work. Interest."

    Tsuba Kanshoki, 1975, p. 61: Heianjō tsuba, Momoyama Period.

  • Tsuba of oval form decorated with clematis six-petal flowers, tendrils, and leaves in cast brass with details carved in kebori, inlaid on iron plate carved in low relief  (kebori and sukidashi-bori). Hitsu-ana plugged with shakudō. Copper sekigane.

    Heianjō (or Ōnin) school. Unsigned. Mid Muromachi period (1454-1513). Dimensions: 87.2 x 84.3 x 4.3 mm. Tsuba is illustrated and described in Gary D. Murtha's "Onin-Heianjo-Yoshiro" book on pages 38-39. Mid-Muromachi is the age attribution by Gary. “A picture book of Japanese sword guards. Victoria & Albert Museum“, published in 1927 presents us with a somewhat similar tsuba: "Floral ornament. Iron, with brass incrustation". V&A attributes the tsuba to Ōnin style, 16th century.
  • Tsuba of oval form decorated with vines, tendrils, and leaves on trellis in brass inlay with details carved in kebori, and pierced with six family crests (mon) with two, three and four pointing stars in openwork, each outlined with brass wire and carved in kebori. Original hitsu-ana outlined with brass wire was probably enlarged later. Copper sekigane.

    Momoyama to early Edo period (end of the 16th - beginning of the 17th century). Dimensions: 68.3 x 64.5 x 3.4 mm.
  • Iron tsuba of mokko form decorated with trellis, vines, foliage, and gourds inlaid in brass with details carved in low relief.

    NBTHK: Tokubetsu Hozon №2003186.

    Momoyama period (1574 – 1603). Dimensions: H: 85.5 cm, W: 79 mm, Thickness (centre): 4.8 mm. Tsuba of a similar design can be found in this collection [TSU-0373]. In that example, the plate was later pierced with geometrical mon-like openwork to resemble Koike Yoshirō's handguards. More about this type of tsuba here.
  • Iron tsuba of round form pierced (sukashi) and inlaid in flat (hira-zōgan) and cast brass (suemon-zōgan), details carved in kebori, with design of two phoenixes, bamboo, and paulownia leaves and flowers (kiri-mon) on both sides. According to seller: Bizen-Yoshirō school (or Heianjō school). Unsigned.

    Momoyama period. End of the 16th - beginning of the 17th century. Dimensions: Diameter: 99.5 mm; Thickness: 2.1 mm at centre; 4.3 mm at the rim. According to Merrily Baird (Symbols of Japan), "bamboo teamed with paulownia blossoms or with paulownia and the phoenix, in reference to the Chinese legend that the phoenix perches only on the paulownia and eats only the bamboo". Citation from http://www.clevelandart.org/art/1986.2.1: "The immense heraldic birds on display [...] reflect the Momoyama era's spirit of newly gained self-confidence and an affinity for grand expressive statements in painting, architecture, the textile and ceramic arts, as well as garden design. While that period preceded the arrival of prosperity, it clearly marked an extraordinary moment in Japanese cultural history, one frequently compared with the twelfth century of the Heian period.  [...] Rather than an emblem of immortality, as it is in Western lore, in Japan, the phoenix evolved out of its origins in Chinese mythology to become, by the sixteenth century, an auspicious symbol of political authority. Together with clusters of the distinctively shaped paulownia leaves, this long-tailed, mythical bird  [...] proclaiming an air of graceful command".  
  • Heianjō tsuba, carved and inlayed in brass with a somewhat primitive design of rocks, plants, and waves, and a man in a boat beside two jakugo stone baskets on the face and a religious structure (stupa, grave stone) on the reverse. Muromachi or Momoyama period.

    Size: 83.2 x 82.4 x 3.6 mm; 149.2 g

    The Carlo Monzino Collection of Japanese sword fittings and swords (Sotheby's, London, 18 June 1996. p. 12-13) №9 provides an illustration of the similar tsuba with the following description: Heianjo tsuba, carved and inlayed with rocks, plants, and waves, also pierced with a jakago [sic] (stone basket).

    Gary D. Murtha in his Japanese sword guards Onin - Heianjo - Yoshiro (GDM Publications, 2016) on page 53 shows a look-a-like tsuba (though, with a kogai-hitsu-ana) with the follwoing description: Iron, 77 mm, tsuba with brass tree, snake, jakugo baskets, and curved brass pieces (representing water flowing over rocks). Buddhist halo to reverse. Although showing Onin traits, a Shoami Heiamjo attribution would fit better. Azuchi-Momoyama period.

  • Thin iron tsuba of round form pierced with six three-leaf wood sorrels (katabami) in ko-sukashi and inlaid with brass decoration along the rim. Kozuka-hitsu-ana probably cut at a later date.

    Late Muromachi or Momoyama period, 16th century. Dimensions: 78.0 x 77.7 x 2.5 mm.
  • Large and thin iron tsuba of round form (width > height) decorated with the design of a tiger sheltering in bamboo in suemon-zōgan brass inlay. A fragment of tail inlay is missing. Bamboo leaves on the reverse. According to Merrily Baird [Symbols, p. 166], tiger sheltering in bamboo symbolizes "weak giving shelter to the strong". Momoyama period. Unsigned. Dimensions: 90.8 x 91.2 x 3.4 (center), 3.1 (rim) mm. Custom wooden box. NBTHK Certificate № 4001593.
  • Iron tsuba of almost round form with a brass outlined circular opening (sukashi) in the bottom adorned with the Myriad Treasures [takaramono, 宝物] and winter motifs inlaid in cast brass (suemon-zōgan); hitsu-ana possibly cut later, both plugged with shakudo, nakaga-ana fitted with copper sekigane. According to Merrily Baird*) (2001), the symbolism of Myriad Treasures “is associated with the Seven Gods of Good Luck, who carry them in a sack”. Among the treasures, which are said to ensure prosperity, long life, and general good fortunes, are (reading clockwise from the top):
    1. Sake set [shuki, 酒器], namely flask, ladle, and cups
    2. Cloves [choji, 丁子]
    3. Purse of inexhaustible reaches [kinchaku, 巾着]
    4. Magic mallet [kozuchi, 小槌]
    5. Key to the storehouse of the Gods [kagi, 鍵]
    Then, Pine, Moon, and Bamboo (see below);
    1. Rhombus, or Lozenge (hosho, 方勝), with the second ideograph meaning victory.
    2. Sacred (or wish-granting) gem, or jewel [hōju, 宝珠]
    3. Hats of invisibility [kakuregasa, 隠れ笠]
    The Myriad Treasures is carried by the Seven Gods of Good Luck (a.k.a. the Seven Lucky Gods or Seven Gods of Fortune [shichifukujin, 七福神], who are transported by the Treasure Ship [takarabune, 宝船] during the first three days of the New Year. Pine, Moon, and Bamboo: bamboo [take, 竹] and pinecones [matsukasa, 松笠], or pine [matsu, 松] – two of the Three Friends of Winter [shōchikubai, 松竹梅] – symbolize fidelity, fortitude, steadfastness, perseverance, and resilience. The third ‘friend’  – plum, [ume, 梅] – in this case replaced by the Moon [tsuki, 月] – large (11 mm) circular opening at 6 o’clock; the three small carved dots represent the dewdrops. The other side is decorated with an arabesque (karakusa) of cloves and vines, with carved dots (dewdrops) along the rim. The overall New Year / Winter connotation of the tsuba is clear. The prominence of the Moon conveys purity, coldness (sadness/loneliness), and slenderness – the inherent qualities of a samurai. H: 93 mm x W: 90 mm, thickness 4.2 mm at the centre, slightly tapered towards the rim. *) Merrily Baird. Symbols of Japan: Thematic motifs in art and design. — NY: Rizzoli international publications, 2001. Seller’s description: École Heianjo - Début Époque EDO (1603 - 1868). Nagamaru gata en fer à décor incrusté en hira-zogan de laiton de tama, choji, jarre à saké et des attributs de Daikoku (maillet, chapeau d'invisibilité et sac de richesse) et de branches de choji de l'autre côté et ajourée en kage-sukashi d'un cercle. H. 9,2 cm