1001 Banjos by Akira Tsumura

1001 banjos, The Tsumura Collection was published in 1993 and has to be The Holy Grail for banjo fans.

There are 3000 colour photographs of rare banjos that document it’s entire history through the centuries. It is a mind boggling tome of information on banjos in particular but also many other rare stringed instruments.

When first published  (2500 copies worldwide) it carried a high price tag but in hindsight it was a real bargain.

According to an article in the 2009 Fretboard Journal, Tsumura spent US$3.8 million to produce this book, which works out at $1520 each.

Akira Tsumura’s passion (or obsession) lost him a small fortune, every big instrument collector knew of him and his reputation.

The book itself weighs a hefty 18lbs (8Kgs) so calling it a book is a little lightweight, encylcopedia would be more accurate.

This copy is still in it’s original box and glanced at a few times, it is in mint condition and also comes with two sets of playing cards  and you can probably guess what’s on them (banjos). There is also a personel business card from the man himself.