Bakumatsuya - Rare Books & Photos

    Member of ABAJ - Japan


    Fine & Rare Books Illustrated Books Japan Manuscripts Maps Photography

At Bakumatsuya, we deal in rare books, manuscripts, dictionaries and phrase books, photos, woodblock prints, maps and other printed items relating to Japan mostly from the 1600s to the 1930s with a special interest in items from the 1850s to 1870s when Japan was opening up to the West. Our clients include private collectors, dealers, museums, universities and other institutions both public and private in Japan and overseas.

We issue e-catalogues of items every few months so if you would like to receive them, please let us know and we'll happily add you to our mailing list. Our focus is more on quality and/or rarity rather than quantity so we are always looking for rarities to buy as well. If you have any such items, feel free to contact us at info at bakumatsuya.com. Also, if you are searching for any particular items, we can keep an eye out for you so let us know your areas of interest. Currently the business is run from a private residence in Yokohama, Japan, so please make an appointment if you'd like to see a particular item.

The Bakumatsu Era was, arguably, one of the most interesting periods in Japan's long history. It mainly covers the period when Perry's ships came in 1853 until the Meiji Restoration of 1868. Just fifteen years but full of huge change and a period when so many beautiful things were produced here in Japan. 'Baku' is short for 'Bakufu' (Shogunate) and 'Matsu' means 'end' so the word 'Bakumatsu' means 'end of the Bakufu'. Finally 'ya' means 'a shop'. Welcome to Bakumatsuya.


Contact Information
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1057-29 Ichigao-cho, Aoba-ku Yokohama, 225-0024 Japan Get Directions


Store Hours

Open by Appointment

Highlights

Yachigusa - Volume 6 by Ueno Seikō
$1210
Uncommon work that appears to have ended up consisting of at least 14 volumes published over a few years from 1901. The book, in oblong format with decorative covers, contains 30 very nice, woodblock printed kimono designs with tissue interleaves numbered 151-180. Honda Kinnosuke of Unkindō in Kyoto published some of the most beautiful books in this genre. Kyoto. Honda Kinnosuke. 1902. 30 leaves of prints. 17.8 x 25cm. In very good condition with only minor wear. Tissue interleaves a bit darkened as expected and a couple with creases. Otherwise very good.
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World Atlas by Hashimoto Gyokuransai
$6600
An excellent example of this world atlas by Hashimoto Gyokuransai (1807-c1878) aka Utagawa Sadahide and Gountei Sadahide containing all ten maps as issued. Sadahide was one of ten Japanese artists who exhibited works at the 1867 International Exposition in Paris. This atlas was first published in the Ansei Era (around 1856) and this is a new edition from 1866. Very scarce in such nice condition and with its original paper sleeve. Tokyo. Kobunkaku. Keio 2 (1866). 18.9 x 12.6cm. Very good to fine. Very minor wear to top and bottom of covers. Sleeve with expected age wear and minor darkening. Hou
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Woodblock Printed Triptych of the Tsukiji Hotel in Tokyo
$2750
by Utagawa Kuniteru II Superb woodblock printed triptych showing the first Western-style hotel in Tokyo, the Tsukiji Hotel, built in 1868, but sadly destroyed by fire in 1872. Titled in Japanese and English, 'Plan of Hotel at Yedo, T'Skege [Tsukiji] 1868'. [Tokyo]. Publisher unknown. 1868. Each panel approx. 37 x 25cm. In very good condition. Minor age wear. Centre panel has one small hole at upper left. Left panel has two very small holes at upper right. Otherwise very good. Unbacked with nice bleedthrough.
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