O-umajirushi 御馬印 [御馬印]

Author/compiler: Kyūan 久庵, hermit (other details unknown). Named in preface as Rakka Inshi Kyūan 洛下隱士久庵. Imprint: Kyōto, Nakagawa Mohē, n.d. (Preface dated Meireki 1 明暦一載, 1655.) Kango following batsubun ends: 京姉小路通堀川東へ入町 ／ 中川茂兵衞藏板. According to Kawase, this kanki may have been engraved at a later date on the original blocks of Meireki period. Description: 6 kan, 6 satsu, rebound in 1 vol. (western style). (Maki 1) ff. 2, 35; (2) ff. 30; (3) ff. 33; (4) ff. 31; (5) ff. 33; (6) ff. 35, [2] . 22.2 x 15.5 cm. Fukurotoji. Blockprint. Printing frame 19 x 12.5 cm. (approx.). No borders. No vertical rules. No fishtail design on hanshin. Kanbun and hiragana-majiri text, the latter as captions to illustrations which figure on every page. 6 lines to page in preface, mokuroku and batsu. Light brown front cover (soiled) of maki 1 only, old but not original. Title slip missing, replaced by paper label. Manuscript gedai (late-Edo period) : O uma-jirushi 御馬印. Title from naidai (mokurokudai) in each maki. Hashiragaki: maki no. + folio no. only. Book rebound in half-leather, western style. Edition: Judging from the dated preface, this copy appears to be of the Meireki 1 (1655) edition. Contents: Collected illustrations of military insignia used on horse trappings and accoutrements of warrior families, whose names are listed at the head of each maki. Preface and batsu in kanbun, both signed by Suigushi Sanshuku 雖愚子三淑.

Unrestricted

Acquired from Alexander von Siebold, 22 July 1868.

Kenneth Gardner, Descriptive Catalogue of Japanese books in the British Library printed before 1700 (London and Tenri, 1993). C. Japanese works 和書 19. Military arts 武術

Daitōkyū kinen bunko kichōsho kaidai 大東急記念文庫貴重書解題, vol. 3, p. 253; Waseda daigaku-zō kichōshosen zuroku 早稲田大学蔵貴重書選記録, p. 24.