Japan Colour Research Institute – Sanzo Wada

色名帖 : 標準色準拠 (Colour Name Card: Standard Colour Compliance)

日本色彩研究所 (Publisher: Japan Colour Research Institute).

Tokyo (?): Januar Showa 24 = Januar 1949.

26 pages of introduction, explanations and colour index, 200 (!) colour sample strips, each available in duplicate, one with the exact colour name printed on it, one with only the colour number printed on it, a total of 400 colour strips.

6,5 x 13 cm. Block binding with two metal pins.

sold

It is a ‘Standard Colour Reference Printed Edition’ (標準色準拠印刷版), which was used by designers, artists and industry professionals to precisely determine and name colour shades. Sanzo Wada (1883–1967) was probably also involved in this edition. He is the key historical and theoretical figure who paved the way for modern colour systems such as the DIC Colour Guide in Japan. While DIC is the technical tool of the industry, Wada provided the aesthetic and scientific foundation.  As a pioneer in colour research, Wada was not merely a theorist, but a visionary. In 1927, he founded the Japan Colour Research Institute (Nippon Shikisai Kenkyujo), laying the foundation for the standardisation of colours in Japan long before corporations such as DIC developed their own commercial guides.

I can only verify one copy in libraries: Waseda University Library, Japan.

Perfect and complete copy.