Antique Japanese Matchbox Label Collection Album Showa Era Travel ASO456

This is a fascinating Antique Japanese collector's album specifically designed for storing matchbox labels (matchi-bako), a popular hobby in mid-20th century Japan. According to the previous collector, specialized albums like this were commercially sold during the Showa era specifically for this purpose.

The album contains approximately 200 Antique matchbox labels and covers, meticulously preserved within its pages. The collection serves as a visual time capsule of Japanese travel and tourism, featuring a wide variety of retro designs from traditional inns (ryokan), hotels, hot spring resorts (onsen), and various tourist destinations across Japan. Many pages also feature nostalgic commemorative ink stamps (eki-stamp) collected during these travels. The album comes housed in a custom-made, two-tiered wooden storage box tied with a traditional green cord.

Size (Album):
Width: 28.5 cm / 11.22 in
Height: 18.3 cm / 7.20 in
Thickness: 4.6 cm / 1.81 in

Size (Wooden Box):
Width: 23.9 cm / 9.41 in
Depth: 20.8 cm / 8.19 in
Height: 9.5 cm / 3.74 in

Condition:
The album and its contents are in good Antique condition, exhibiting natural signs of age. The matchbox labels and paper pages show varying degrees of yellowing, minor spotting, and edge wear typical of Antique  ephemera. The album cover and the wooden storage box show historical scuffs, scratches, and a deep, aged patina. 

Please check the photos carefully for details.