Collector's Encyclopedia of Nippon Porcelain by Joan F. Van Patten (1982, Hardcover)

I have been collecting Nippon porcelain for 30 years and purchased my copy of this guide when it was first published in 1982. This is the first book in a series of four by the author. The text is informative / well written and includes an excellent history of Nippon from it's founding in the 1880's. The color photographs are invaluable in identifying "finds" as are the images of authentic Nippon backstamps. I was especially pleased that there's no duplication of photos between Vol 1 and Vol 3, so the collector has a full range of images against which to compare his collection. The book is an excellent resource for either the novice or the advanced collector. Highly recommended. A serious collector will want all four volumes of this helpful set.