Japanese Antique Ledger Meiji Year 1908-1923

This is a really interesting piece. It's an antique circa 1908 - 1923 Japanese antique business ledger. Rustic, unique and very different. Hand made, hand bound and very much a unique social record of time.

Called DAIFUKU CHO of these accounting ledgers were strung together and tied with a long cord so in the event of a fire, which was very common, they could be flung into the nearby well. They could then be retrieved without damage to the paper or ink.  

Dimensions: 13.5 cm (w) x 38 cm (h) approx 1.5 cm deep

Pages are still bound with string probaby hemp rope - allows the piece to be hung as interesting wall art. The journal is a little mystery in that all pages are complete with the exception of 4 around the middle of the journal  - perhaps they were skipped or perhaps there was a new owner of the business? The paper is traditional Japanese WASHI made from mulberry tree bark. 

 Here's some interesting information about the paper :-

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

The ledger appears to have been made using pre printed WASHI paper. This is a unique social record of time. It is worn due to 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.