B868.  Shsoin no Token by Shosoin Office.  1974.  2 volumes in one slipcase, which is encased in a cardboard sleeve.  1 volume is clothbound and the other is softbound, 10 1/2 x 15″.  The cloth volume is about 285 pages in Japanese with a  22 page introduction, description of the objects, and glossary in English.  About 160 pages of this volume are given to very crisp black & white photos of the objects.  The soft volume is about 65 pages printed one side, of oshigata.  The Shosoin is the Nara Period (8th Century AD) Imperial storehouse of treasures; this book presents the edged weapons inside.  Many of the blades were imported from China and all of them are important.  The 22 pages in English contain lots of information: blade types and configurations, grain, hamon, even mekugi-ana, and much more.  This is a wonderful reference and a very beautiful book.

The slipcase is separated at the top of the spine and for a few inches along an adjacent edge. Both books are in excellent condition. 7 pounds, 4 ounces.  $200.