Scarce studio album containing a collection of 50 hand coloured photos of Japan, with a splendid lacquered and decorated cover. The photos were commercially produced images sold to foreign visitors in which the studio selected photographs placed in an album of their choice.
Photographs are attributed as being from the studio of the Yokohama based photographer Tamamura Kozaburo (c.1856-1923) who at his height was described as the best photographer in Yokohama.
Condition: Good/fair. Some surface scratches to the lacquer cover. Binding loose at spine.Tissue guards folded and some are loose. Photographs in good condition.
Binding: Calfskin gilded raised band spine typical of the Victorian era. Fine lacquer depicting a sunset, flying cranes and cherry blossoms symbolising renewal and fidelity and good fortune. Gilded edges.
50 hand-tinted albumen prints (30 captioned with studio stock references) mounted on thick gilt-edged card leaves measuring 19.5 x 25cm. Album measures 27.5 x 35cm; elaborately lacquered boards (scuffed and chipped with slight surface scratches.
Tamamura Kozaburo (1856-1923) was a groundbreaking Japanese photographer. In 1874 he opened a photographic studio in Asakusa, Tokyo and subsequently moved to Yokohama in 1883, opening his most successful studio there. He was an originator of the Yokohama shashin photographic scene. His studio was still operating in 1909.
- Jacket Condition: Good
- Binding Condition: Fair
- Overall Condition: Good
- Size: 27.5 x 35cm
