B154.  Nippon-To: Art Swords of Japan. The Walter A. Compton Collection by Dr.s Compton, Homma, Sato, and Ogawa Morihiro.  1976.  Clothbound with dust jacket and slipcase, 10 ¼ x 14 ½”, 135 pages in English.  This is the catalog from an exhibition at the Japan House Gallery in New York.  Dr. Compton had the most impressive collection of Japanese swords in private hands outside of Japan (famously auctioned at Christie’s in 1992).  He also is famous for having found and given back to Japan the missing National Treasure tachi by Bizen Saburo Kunimune.  This is a very useful reference.  You get the history of the Japanese sword and sword characteristics, a glossary, great pictures of great art (including the Kokuho Kunimune tachi). You get also a reproduction of an ink painting by Miyamoto Musashi, the most famous of all swordsmen. I have also the softbound edition of this title; see B387.

A former owner has stamped his name on the front end paper. Except for a couple short tears in the slipcase. everything is in excellent condition..  3 pounds, 7 ounces.  $95.