Sekai Minshu Ko Geitjutsuhin Tenranki=Exhibition of Art Objects of the World

Osaka: Yamanaka & Co, 1930. Quarto. No pagination. 58 leaves. Only four copies are found on OCLC (Metropolitan Museum of Art, National Art Library of the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Smithsonian, Harvard fine art Library.). Translation of title: Ancient folk arts of the world-- mainly Japanese, Korean and Chinese ceramics. Yamanaka & Co. were preeminent Asian art dealers in New York, acknowledged by the Met as one of the main sources of its early Asian art collection. The seizure and enforced liquidation of the stock was part of a programme of closures of Japanese-American businesses during World War II. Though they had both donated fine examples to the Metropolitan and the Smithsonian all through the early 1930s, once the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, the property of the company and its properties were seized leaving them to seek some compensation after the war which was partially distributed at an estimate of less than 80 to 1 of original value. Very rare pearl necklaces were sold at Parke Benet auctions in 1943 to benefit collectors who build great collections at a fraction of their value. In pencil on first page (last page in Japanese order), notes Baron Toda family auction catalogue Osaka, Bikotsilam. 1930. String bound in decorative purple paper wraps, edges rubbed, spine missing some cloth to head and tail, one page opened carelessly at margin. A good copy of this scarce catalog.