Itamiya Zenbē (sold)
Itamiya Zenbē (伊丹屋善兵衛, 前川善兵衛; c. 1785 - 1941), which was also known by several other names over its history, including Zenbei Maekawa (前川善兵衛) and Bun'eido Itamiya (Maekawa) [文栄堂伊丹屋（前川）], was a publisher based in Osaka. The proliferation of names for the firm is the result of its being an amalgamation of multiple distinct publishers belonging to the Itamiya and Maekawa lineages. The firm was an early adopter of selling books through catalogs and established a reputation as a publisher of Chinese classical works, tea ceremony books, divination books, maps, didactic works, fiction, and later for musical scores. After the Meiji Restoration, the Maekawa family also started to produce musical instruments, educational aids, and school supplies, while the family's publishing arm, rechristened Buneidō Maekawa Shoten (文栄堂前川書店 and later as Maekawa Gōmei Kaisha 前川合名会社 after a fire destroyed its building in 1912), became a leading publisher of educational books and textbooks in Osaka.
We're Still Hunting
We don't yet have any maps by this cartographer in stock — but that's more a matter of timing than availability. New acquisitions arrive regularly, and pieces from this maker do surface. Check back soon, or reach out if you're specifically looking for one — we're always happy to keep an eye out.
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