RYOSUKE, TOKUNO. DAI NIPPON KAHEI SEIZU (SUPERB ILLUSTRATIONS OF JAPANESE COINS)
"Ryosuke, Tokuno. Dai-Nippon Kahei Seizu (Superb Illustrations of Japanese Coins)
Tokyo: Ministry of Finance Printing Bureau, 1878. First edition. 1 Page, followed by 54 plates. Text in Japanese. Ex-library stamp on first free end paper. The Illustrations are in gold, silver and bronze and are exceptionally well done. A total of 190 coins or gold and silver ingots are illustrated and described. It is not unlikely that this book was produced with the help of Edoardo Chiossone, Italian engraver and painter, noted for his work as a foreign advisor to Meiji period Japan, and for his collection of Japanese art. He designed the first Japanese bank notes. Chiossone arrived in Japan on January 12, 1875. The government Printing Bureau (Insatsu Kyoku) which was part of the Ministry of Finance (Okurasho) was under the directorship of Tokuno Ryosuke, who was eager to introduce modern machinery and techniques. The practical implementation of this policy was entirely the work of Chiossone, who founded printing companies such as Toppan Insatsu, trained the Japanese in printing techniques, designed official papers, paper currencies and postage stamps, taught the art of making printing ink and printing paper (with a watermark in it), and taught how to make many copies from one plate. An exceptionally rare work which undoubtedly was a costly production at the time."