A rare Edo–Meiji era Japanese 印譜 (inpu) — a woodblock-printed manual of seal designs, artistic motifs, and classical seal-script characters used by calligraphers, scholars, monks, and seal-carvers.
This beautifully preserved reference book contains dozens of intricate hanko and tensho-style seals, accompanied by explanatory text, lists of names, classical phrases, and inscriptions traditionally carved into personal and artistic seals.
These 印譜 manuals were essential tools in the study of 篆刻 (seal engraving) during the late Edo and early Meiji period. They provided models for craftsmen who produced seals for literati, merchants, temples, and samurai households. The book includes:
Seal impressions in multiple formats
- Square seals (白文・朱文 / positive & negative carving)
- Round and oval seals
- Elongated artistic seals
- Complex multi-character designs
Pages of classical seal-script (篆書 / tensho)
Used as models for carving family, personal, or studio seals.
Text sections listing
- Names of individuals
- Studio names (号)
- Poetic & philosophical terms
- Temple and place names
- Calligraphic notes
Historical Significance
During the Edo–Meiji transition, literacy, calligraphy, and scholarly arts flourished. Manuals like this served as essential guides for artists and craftsmen, making surviving examples extremely desirable for collectors of:
- Japanese calligraphy
- Sumi-e and literati arts
- Traditional seal engraving
- Edo-period woodblock printing
- Antique Japanese books (和本 / wabon)
Format
- Original blue wrapper (藍表紙) with title label
- Traditional sewn binding (和綴じ / wasōji)
- Woodblock-printed text and seal illustrations
A genuine artifact of Japanese artistic education — perfect for collectors of Edo books, libraries, museums, and enthusiasts of classical Japanese calligraphy.
