Japanese Antique Business Ledger Meiji Year 1876

Interesting antique Japanese business ledger from the Meiji period Year 1876. Rustic, unique and very different. It is a hand made, hand bound and hand written merchant book and was used for accounting records.

The paper (Washi) is interesting in itself- made from the bark of the mulberry tree. It is said that it will last for 1000 years.

Pages are still bound with string which is probably hemp rope - this allows the piece to be hung. Every page is full of writing; this is a unique social record of time. It is worn due to everyday use but in remarkably good condition given that it was a daily working book. Very rare. Only one available.  

This is an extremely interesting piece of wall art or could be left casually on a sideboard adding interest.

Dimensions: 13 cm (w) x 18.5 cm (h) approx 2.5cm deep

A ledger, called DAIFUKU CHO were often strung together and tied with a long cord  so that in the event of a fire (which was very common) they could be flung into the nearby well and later retrieved without damage to the paper or ink.

The ink used would have been charcoal ink made from the ashes of bamboo.

The paper, WASHI, once it dries, it returns to its original state.

Here's some interesting information about Washi :-

https://www.nippon.com/en/views/b02321/the-world-of-washi-paper-that-lasts-a-thousand-years.html