This old Kuromatsu was a generous gift from a very accomplished bonsai artist many years ago.  Ian Hearn is probably one of the best black Pine bonsai growers in Australia and I was privileged to have been gifted this tree after it had been developed and shaped by Ian.

The small image here is of the original Japanese seed packet from which this bonsai had started from seed in 1970.  

The story behind bonsai like this one is an important part of the history of bonsai and must be preserved.  The story, and provenance, adds a richness to the art of bonsai.