A rare mid-19th-century Japanese woodblock-printed 印譜 (Inpu, seal-impression manual), this Edo-period volume from the series 万寶全書 (Manpō Zensho) preserves an exceptional collection of seal designs, surname charts, calligraphic models, and illustrated scenes for artists and scholars.
Produced between c.1840–1860, the book served as a practical handbook for calligraphers, ceramic artists, literati, temple scribes, and craftsmen who needed reference models for official seals, signature marks, and decorative motifs. These manuals were working tools and most were heavily used; surviving examples in complete condition are increasingly scarce.
Inside, the book features:
Over 100 woodblock-printed seal designs (印章・印影)
Including square, round, oval, and oblong seals used for:
• personal names
• family surnames
• artisans and merchants
• literati signatures
• temple officials
• symbolic motifs (dragons, Dharma imagery, auspicious forms)
Illustrated narrative scenes
Landscape vignettes, scholars, monks, and didactic scenes typical of Edo educational art.
Surname reference tables (百家姓, Hyakkasei)
A Japanese interpretation of the classical Chinese surname list, paired with seal-style renderings.
Calligraphy models & explanatory text
Pages of handwritten-style commentary provide guidance on proper seal usage and design.
Original Edo binding
Stab-stitched blue washi covers (藍表紙), with aged patina and original title label.
This volume is a superb example of Edo visual culture, blending practical craft knowledge with fine woodblock illustration. Ideal for collectors of Japanese antiques, Edo-period books, calligraphy, inkan/hanko culture, or reference material for modern designers.
