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Japan
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Japanese Diplomatic Corps Uniform (Item JAPAN 2-1) |
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| DESCRIPTION: This is incredible, to say the least. We are very proud to offer this super-rare outfit in the knowledge that it is one of the most beautiful military or civil outfits. It consists of the full-dress cashmere jacket with tails. The front, back, cuffs, and tails are with very heavy gold bullion paulowinia leaves. The Imperial crests have extensive vine design trimmed in geometric and floral design. The buttons have the raised relief with paulowinia design. There is also the padded white interior. The ensemble has a black cashmere vest with five buttons and three pockets with matching trousers with a broad gold-bullion stripe along the full pant’s legs. Additionally, there is the fore-and-aft cap trimmed with gold paulowinia leaves and an intricate maze design and single gold side button with short white feathers on top. Emblem name in Japanese characters inside may work out to be name (“Nishizaki”). Also included is the beautiful diplomatic dress sword with plain blade, black leather scabbard with brass paulowinia trim and gold wire-wrapped handle with Phoenix hand guard and grip. The pommel has raised relief paulowinia design along with carry strap. The uniform and sword belonged to the last Japanese diplomatic delegation to the United States prior to WWII. After Pearl Harbor the Japanese officers of the diplomatic corps beat a hasty retreat from the embassy in Washington and left behind many great things. The consigner, a Washington public figure who goes unnamed, has said that this uniform was given to him by an employee of a federal investigative agency in 1958. This agency also goes unnamed. This has to be one of the greater items we have ever offered on our site and the condition is fantastic! A finer investment in WWII exotica could not be found as far as important Japanese memorabilia.
PRICE: SOLD |
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Japanese Order of the Sacred Treasure, First Class (Zuihosho) (Item JAPAN 2-2) |
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| DESCRIPTION: This was the second-highest award presented to Japanese heroes by the direct auspices of the emperor, himself. The award was established in 1888 and its central feature surround by 16 connected circles was a mirror that was considered a sacred treasure bequeathed by the first Emperor Jimmu. There are also four or eight beams of light, depending on whether you are looking at the badge or the star. The order was established by Emperor Meigi as an award for distinguished military or civil merit. It comes in eight classes. It can be awarded to foreigners. This is considered the most coveted and distinguished order conferred by Japan and of course in this class very rare. This medal is all the more rare in that it is its original presentation box. There has been an enamel repair to one of the arms of the badge not readily noticeable at all; very professionally done. There is some very minor damage to the top and the red-enameled jewel configuration at the very top. The lacquered case is in beautiful condition with a few small inconsequential nicks at the edges. All in all we would have to say the general condition is spectacular for an article that may well be at least 60 years old; possibly 90 or 100. The fact that it is all together makes for an incredible find and an investment extraordinaire for the advanced collector.
PRICE: $4,950 |
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Imperial Tachi Sword (Item JAPAN 2-3) |
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| DESCRIPTION: The word “tachi” in Japanese means “long sword” or “extra-long sword” and was favored by some Samurai. It was considered the ancestor of the katana Samurai sword and was used in combat from the earliest days of the Samurai until the later 1500 or 1600s, basically near the time of the Tokugawa Bakufu (shogun government). After that time the katana was the combat sword and the tachi, with its great historical tradition became the court sword. These magnificent examples of Japanese high art were frequently elaborately decorated; in many cases with the chicken or rooster heads. These animals had special significant to the Samurai class. The magnificent sword we offer here has the small chicken-head finial or cap end. The sword is signed “Nagamitsu,” who was ranked as ‘good.’ This is considered a small tachi. Nagamitsu worked in the Bizen Provence in 1688, but there are Nagamitsus from that period and earlier and then down through the Koto period all the way to the late 1940s, but it is of the Shinogi Zukun shape so the consigner felt it dates in the late 1600s to early 1700s, possibly Muromachi or early Shinto period; in other words, late Koto or early Shinto. The saya, or scabbard, is of old lacquer with painted gold design. The painting is old. The saya could go back as far as the 1600 or 1700 period. The temper on the blade is excellent and exceptional. It is admittedly difficult to determine the actual age on this sword, but it is in good shape. The consigner valued it from $5,500 to $6,500 and this evaluation was done in 1999. He said back then that tachi with older blades were commanding higher prices. That was then and this is now. The length of the blade is 23 1/2 inches. The entire sword is 38 1/2 inches long. The grip is 9 inches long. The grip is of ray skin with tsuba is in the standard court-sword style. The menuki, or ornaments, are super nice, large dragons. The same ray skin grip is in fine shape. The shego, or cord, is knotted in the Imperial tachi fashion. The fuchi are finely cut and decorative. The koiguchi on the saya (scabbard) is intact and in good shape. The mekugi or metal fittings that substitute for the wooden peg on a katana are also decorated and fit together with inner screw arrangement. The saya is painted with flying-crane motif, but has metal decorations in about in places. The sayajiri, or scabbard tip, is metal (bronze). The kabuto-gane, or pommel cap, is, of course, the chicken head and is of bronze. The ashi, or hangers, are in white leather with bronze tips. This is a magnificent tachi and is the ultimate in Japanese decorative swords.
PRICE: $4,900.00; a bargain |
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Book Letzte Gedichte; im Angesicht des Galgens Presented to Hans Bauer (Item JAPAN 2-4; LUFT 12-1) |
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| DESCRIPTION: This is a book presented in Munich to General of the Luftwaffe and Hitler’s personal pilot, Hans Bauer, on his 80th birthday in 1977. It translates to: “Last Poems; in the Face of the Gallows. It is a 40-page booklet of poems and letters from Japanese officers and statesmen who were condemned to death by hanging in the 1940s after the war-crimes trials. It’s signed by the author. The Japanese is translated to German. It was published in 1965 by the Samurai Verlag in Munich. It comes with a slip-in sleeve protector, so it is in immaculate condition and is positively rare.
PRICE: $225.00 |
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WWII Japanese Parade Uniform (Item JAPAN 2-5) |
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| DESCRIPTION: This fantastic uniform comes with the following incredible group of items: hat, tunic, trousers, sash, portepee, shoulder boards; all described below. Tunic: Beautiful black tunic with red piping. All lotus buttons are present on tunic, and the collar is accented with gold bullion thread. There is what appears to be a removable sweat band inside the collar, which also bears Japanese inscriptions. Collar is embroidered with gold bullion thread. Sleeves are beautifully adorned with a sweeping gold-bullion pattern, finished off with a red cuff and accented with three lotus flower buttons. There are three inner pockets present on the inside of the tunic. There is minor mothing present in various spots on the tunic's body. Tunic size: very small. Pants: Black pants are in excellent condition. Bold red stripe runs down the side of the pants. Buttons are in great shape and are inscribed with German lettering, reading: Steinnuss Hosenknopf. The maker mark/tailor mark is in English and reads: Onoya & Co Tokyo. Very minor mothing present on pants. Pant size: very small. Sash: Red-and-white-striped silk sash with a gold-covered buckle/tightener. Ends of the belt where they feed the tassels are becoming frayed, and one side is coming apart (held together by 1/4 inch of fabric). Gold tassels are perfectly intact, with slight discoloration. Separate fastener/loop also shows weave coming loose, and shows signs of wear and repair. Portepee: For dagger/sword/samurai sword. Made from durable, gold bullion from loop to the knot itself. Comes in separate box with Japanese inscriptions on top and on the ends. Shoulder boards: Boards come in chrome presentation case, lined in red felt. There is an individual compartment for each board. Boards themselves are constructed from dense gold bullion. One board has a silver star attached, and the second board has evidence that there may have been one previously affixed. Buttons are attached to the end of both boards. Polished chrome clasps in back of both boards are in excellent condition. All Items packed within a: Trunk: 30" x 17" x 7" canvas suitcase/trunk with wood ribs and leather on all four sides and top. Wood ribs appear to be oak and are held in place by brass corners and rivets. Handles on both ends are intact. Stitching on right handle is coming apart. Handle on front has broken off of the leather strap and is now inside of the trunk. Stitching on back is separating from the frame and both front corners are splitting. Both locks work and come with key. Japanese symbols appear on left side. Overall, shows some wear and staining. This uniform is as complete as we have ever seen and its condition is great considering is age. It is probably prewar or early war. It is historically very important, indeed. PRICE: POR |
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Fine WWII Japanese Samurai Sword (Shin-Gunto) (Item JAPAN 2-6) |
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| DESCRIPTION: Here is an excellent WWII officer’s samurai sword in the traditional mounts except of the tsuba (sword guard). That particular appendage is much older; probably from this officer’s family; possibly the actual samurais were in his ancestry. The tsuba is in iron with something like floral design. The sword in its scabbard is about 39 inches long. The scabbard I leather covered. The fittings are standard WWII issue. The menuki are the chrysanthemum style. The fughi kashira also are the usual decorated, also with chrysanthemum. The blade is 25 inches long from the brass habaki; typical fine steel, machine-made blade with artificial hamon, a misty-white line that produces a grain (hada) and a highly tempered edge (yakiba). The sword is typical of those manufactured at the Mukden Arsenal in Manchuria. These blades are classifiable as ‘superior’ machine-made weapons. This one may be machine polished, but from the look of this one it may have been hand finished. It is one beautiful blade; literally no chips, dings, stains. It’s just as nice as they ever come, and better: the perfect one for an advanced collector or the WWII buff who desires to own a fine example of the world’s finest swords.
PRICE: $1,250.00; a great example |
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Japanese Carved Skull World War II (Item JAPAN 2-7) |
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| DESCRIPTION: This is not the cheap, modern carving in reground bone that you often see. This is a genuine World War II relic brought back by an American veteran from Guam, where he removed it from the tents of a Japanese officer after the Marines overran the entrenched position. We are proud that often Japanese warrior types would carry such a fetish as a reminder of the frailty of life and the promise of heaven for the bravest of soldiers. The piece is signed with an ivory inset with the initials or logo of the carver, who is excellent at his art. This skull is carved from a jadelike reddish stone and is about 2 inches high and about 2 inches wide. It measures about 1 1/2 inches across the top of the skull's cranium. This is quite macabre, but a beautiful memento of the Pacific war.
PRICE: $175.00 |
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Japanese Soldier’s WWII Photo Album (Item JAPAN 2-8) |
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| DESCRIPTION: This is an album that was found on one of the Pacific islands held by the Japanese Imperial Army at the close of the Pacific War. It contains 48 photographs of soldiers, family and friends of the soldier who owned it, officers, enlisted personnel, army and navy personages, ships etc. On the cover is a cloth Japanese miniature flag about 2 x 1 1/2 inches in size and there are four more inside on some of the pages. This was a typical patriotic soldier. Many pictures are missing, but the 48 that are there are very interesting. This is a very nice and historically important relic of the Second World War. We pray there is never another!
PRICE: $495.00 |
Page Two |
Please refer to item designator in parentheses in all correspondence.
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