Historical Mineralogical Samples

Mineral Matters #465

I picked up a number of Japanese mineral specimens while I was at the Waverley Gem and Mineral Show last weekend. All but one have a label, and they come from the Ueno Scientific Co., Japan. The labels are typed, and I expect that they would perhaps date back to the 1960s, 70s and 80s.

So what is the Ueno Scientific Co.? I did some research and found the Ueno Kagaku company that still exists today (Kagaku = Scientific). I am fairly confident that it is the same company, but I don’t know if they supply geological/mineralogical samples in the same way. The company was established in 1930.

Their website says “Ueno Kagakusha is a handmade manufacturing company that manufactures and sells models and specimens for teaching materials for elementary and junior high schools, as well as exhibits for museums and showrooms”.

And regarding geological products, “In the field of geology, we manufacture models representing geology and topography, as well as replicas of fossils. We are also developing new products in line with the revision of school textbooks”. Under the heading of “Biology and specimens”, it states “We also handle skeletal specimens and rock specimens” but there are only 16 items on their website online store, such as biological glass microscope slides.

I have emailed the company to see if they have any information about the history of the mineralogical specimens. Their offices are also quite close to Ueno Park which we will be visiting when we are in Tokyo. I am not sure if I will have time to drop in, but maybe 🤞. I will let you know if/when I find out!

Below: One of the specimens in its container and with the associated label.