This rare Edo-period woodblock-printed manual is the Upper Volume (上巻) of 万宝全書 (Manpō Zensho), one of Japan’s most important early reference books on antique vessels, tea jars, and kiln classifications. Created during the late Edo era, the book served as an essential guide for tea merchants, craftsmen, antique dealers, and connoisseurs.
What makes this volume especially valuable is its detailed focus on 茶壺 (tea jars) — sacred storage vessels used since the Muromachi and Edo periods to preserve precious tea. Through delicate woodblock illustrations and classical Japanese text, the book explains:
- Jar shapes and proportions
- Base markings and silhouette profiles
- Regional kiln features (Seto, Shigaraki, Bizen, Karatsu, etc.)
- Firing characteristics, glaze behavior, coloration patterns
- Terminology used by Edo-era tea experts
- Ranking systems for famous jar types
These identification methods remain relevant today, making this volume significant for collectors of tea utensils, ceramics, and Japanese cultural heritage.
A True Edo Reference Manual
The book retains its beautiful 藍表紙 (indigo-blue cover) and stab-sewn binding (和本). The pages are printed on traditional washi paper, with crisp impressions of both text and illustrations. Red seals appearing on the first pages indicate historical ownership, adding provenance and charm.
Unlike many surviving Edo manuals—which are fragmentary or heavily worn—this copy remains structurally complete, making it an excellent example of an artisan’s working reference book.
Contents Include
- Meticulous tea jar drawings
- Comparative bottom-view diagrams (extremely rare in Edo manuals)
- Lists of kiln origins and stylistic notes
- Classification charts and glossary sections
- Commentary on quality evaluation and authenticity
- Examples of jars with famous historical names
Why This Book Is Rare & Collectible
✔ Original late Edo-period printing
✔ Specialized Upper Volume focusing on tea jar forms
✔ Contains numerous jar-base diagrams not common in other manuals
✔ Strong, clear printing and well-preserved pages
✔ Increasingly scarce due to age and heavy historical usage
This volume is ideal for collectors of tea ceremony antiques, Japanese ceramics, Edo-period books, woodblock-printed manuals, or cultural historians.
