Sex kataloger i kassett, Toyei Shuko, "An Illustrated Catalogue of the Ancient Imperial Treasure Called Shosoin at Nara

With label The Shimbi Shoin, LTD, 13, Shinsakana-cho, kyobashi-ku, Tokyo, Japan.

From the Collection of Emil Hultmark (1872-1943). Emil Hultmark was one of the co-founders of the ‘Kinaklubben’ (China Club) in Stockholm in the 1920's with Carl Kempe (1884-1967) and the Crown Prince Gustav Adolf. He is a well known collector and his beautiful home and summer house is well documented in the magazine 'Svenska Hem i ord och bild' in the 1930's, which provide us with a fascinating window into this golden age of European collecting.

Shimbi Shoin Publisher, Tokyo, (ca 1899-1938). Very quickly during this time period, Shimbi Shoin soon established itself as the premier publisher of art reproductions which were so noted for their high quality and technical excellence, that critical acclaim and praise was often bestowed upon this publisher. As a result, even today a great many of Shimbi Shoin's finest early publications (typically as "bound volumes") are now found within Japan's finest libraries and museums.

Early during this same time, it seems that Shimbi Shoin also pioneered a bold blending of some European printmaking methods together with traditional Japanese printmaking techniques. The result was the creation of astonishingly crisp and highly detailed images.