Nippon Books…A Plethora of Great Information
Education is a key component of the mission of the International Nippon Collectors Club (INCC). Nothing surpasses what can be learned from actually seeing and handling authentic pieces of Nippon, of course, but there are also other ways to learn about this porcelain. The INCC knows that in this busy world, when questions arise about Nippon, people usually start with an Internet search hoping to find a quick answer to their question, but we encourage you to consider books on antiques and collectibles. These are a repository of invaluable information, like the history, what backstamps were used, vintage advertisements, how an item was used, information about reproductions, and examples.
So, where do you turn to find the best resources? The INCC Journal editor compiled an up-to-date list of reading materials in the 2021 Spring E-Journal. That list has been reproduced below. Nippon collectors are fortunate that a large number of books have been written about Nippon porcelain. Even though some information is dated, even the older publications still present some lovely pieces. The first four books on the list are spiral bound and represent the first published books devoted specifically to Nippon porcelain. These books are all out of print but can be found for sale on the Internet.
Last, don’t forget about the plethora of information on this website. Here can be found an entire library of past Journals, Newsletters, E-News, Nippon Notebook, The INCC News, The Nippon Primer, The Nippon Spotter - all with valuable information about this collectible porcelain. The Journal, which is published four times a year and available to members, endeavors to keep the membership up to date on recent discoveries in the Nippon world. Whether novice or experienced, the Journal is a must have! If not a member, consider joining today so that you, too, can access this information.
The Lima and Meyer books, both published in 1971, are the first two books written on Nippon with the Robinson book following close behind. All four books display some beautiful pieces but historical information is limited. Many collectors started their collections based on the Nippon picture in these books.
The following books are hard bound; these books represent some of the best published information available about Nippon porcelain. They are a great source for information about the history of the Nippon era, the various backstamps used, decoration techniques, vintage advertisements and salesman sample pages, cultural information about the time period, reproductions, and many, many photos of Nippon including rare items. Most of these books are out of print but can be found for sale on the Internet. Please note that the price guides associated with these books are no longer valid.
The following books were produced in Japan by Japanese authors. Unfortunately, much of the text in these books is in Japanese. However, the photography is quite artistic and beautifully composed. The photos alone make these books worth having. For the American collector, fining copies of these books might be a bit difficult since they were all published in Japan. Members of the INCC might be able to obtain copies through other members an some are available through online sources.
These books, while not specifically devoted to Nippon-era porcelain, contain information pertinent to the Nippon era and also the Noritake Company. They can be a valuable reference source for the years leading up to and immediately following the Nippon era (1891 - 1921). Some of these books are also out of print.
