B1089. Swords of the Emperor: A Guide to the Identification of Imperial Japanese Swords 1873 – 1945 by John E. Plimpton. 2022, Hardbound, 7 3/4 x 10 1/4″, 592 pages in English. Until it was sold and broken up recently, John Plimpton’s collection of Japanese military swords was one of the two greatest in North America, if not the world. This book presents the collection in all its glory. So many different styles are shown in crystal clear color photography. The table of contents includes army, artillery & cavalry, army full-dress, navy & marine, police civil defense fire department and railway, colonial, court and imperial household, presentation, and other swords. The appendices include knots and tassels, military ranks, civil official ranks, and more.

This is a high quality book; the cover is embossed and the page block is gilded. And this copy is in like new condition: not a mark on it. 4 pounds, 6 ounces. $120.