A beautifully preserved Meiji 14 (1881) Japanese literary volume titled 『潜書殿室 (Senshodon-shitsu)』, featuring elegant vertical calligraphy printing in the classical style of early modern Japan.
Produced in Tokyo during Japan’s period of cultural transformation, this work bridges Edo-period aesthetics with Meiji modernization. The book is written in refined literary Japanese with reading annotations (furigana) and explores moral, poetic, and religious reflections on themes such as nature, spirituality, and the harmony between humanity and the divine.
The volume is hand-bound in traditional fukurotoji (Japanese stitched binding) with a washi paper cover patterned in soft woodgrain and decorated with a gold-speckled title slip. Each page is printed with sharp, clear ink impressions typical of early Meiji movable-type printing.
A red seal and the colophon indicate its printing in Meiji 14 (1881), by Kanzei Sōan, marking it as an authentic artifact of early modern Japanese publishing.
This rare Meiji-era printed book captures the beauty of early modern Japanese typography and moral literature.
Its balance of refined calligraphy, traditional binding, and minimalist gold-flecked design makes it a superb collector’s item for enthusiasts of Japanese antique books, calligraphy, or early Meiji printing.
Such books were often printed in small runs for temple schools or intellectual circles, representing the elegance of the transitional Meiji literary culture.
