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DescriptionThis antique rail-shaped paperweight was made in 1921 (Taisho 10) to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Japan’s railway system.The piece is engraved the 50th Anniversary of the Railway“鐵道省”
Ministry of 14, 1921Japan’s first railway opened in 1872. By the early 1920s, the railway network had become one of the most important foundations of modern Japan, carrying people, industrial goods, coal, food, and other essential materials across the country.What makes this piece especially interesting is its form: the commemorative object itself was made in the shape of a rail cross-section, directly symbolizing the infrastructure it was created to celebrate.This was not a military-issued object. However, railways were also essential to modern military mobilization, transporting troops, weapons, food, and military supplies. The railway network built during the Meiji and Taisho eras later became an important part of the infrastructure that supported Imperial Japan.In that sense, this piece tells the story not of a weapon, but of the system that helped move a modern nation.The item shows age-related wear, oxidation, discoloration, and surface marks consistent with a metal object more than 100 years old. The original inscriptions remain visible and clearly identify the commemorative purpose and date.An interesting piece for collectors of Japanese railway history, industrial history, prewar Japan, and Imperial-era infrastructure.Own a Piece of History.Shipping
FedEx or Japan Post
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Provided by HARU
