THE JAPAN. [A Photo Album]

[Yokohama n.d. ca 1900, Tamamura]. Silk thread tied spine, color woodblock printed covers, oblong ablum,17.5 x 25 cm., very clean, crisp, 12 black & white collotype photos, each with lengthy paragraph English captions.FIRST & ONLY EDITION . *** **** *** . . A CHARMING LOOK AT ALL ASPECTS OF JAPAN & JAPANESE . . A charming Japanese binding example, with lovely color printed woodblock covers. . *** Photos show: . 1. Japanese theatre: Taiko Hideyoshi and his two sons in gorgeous court costume of the 15th century. . 2. The Kwanjo or female attendants at a the Mikado court in Tokyo. . 3. Taking the cool air on the Kamogawa in Kyoto. This photo is very similar to one found in Winke, see below for details. . 4. Chanoyu or tea-drinking ceremony. . 5. A "Loving Couple" shows two Tokyo Geisha's holding hands, and cheek to cheek. . 6. The Torioi or Japanese street musician, shows a woman playing a Shamisen. . 7. A secret message, shows two Geishas in a tea-house. . 8. Kompira pilgrims, at the famous Shinto temple of Kompira on Shikoku Island. . 9. A vegetable seller, who carries his wares on a bamboo pole [the yoke] over his shoulder. . 10. Carpenters at work. . 11. Japanese peasants with large baskets on their shoulders loaded with fire wood. . 12. Picking tea leaves. . *** Each image is carefully and tastefully composed, each image is very clear, crisp, nicely done. . *** THE PHOTOGRAPHER: WHO WAS TAMAMURA KOZABURO: Tamamura Kozaburo [1856-1923?] was a Japanese photographer. In 1874 he opened a photographic studio in Asakusa, Tokyo and subsequently moved to Yokohama in 1883, opening his most successful studio. He was an originator of the Yokohama shashin photographic scene. His studio was still operating in 1909. . Early Japanese photographer and one of the originators of "Yokohama Shashin" tourist photos. Opened shop in Asakusa, Tokyo in 1874. Later moved to Yokohama in 1883 and opened a studio where he prospered. Sold souvenir photo albums of Japan to overseas customers and took portraits in his studio. In 1909, he was reported to be the photo company paying the highest taxes in Japan. . *** Color photos are posted to our website. . *** REFERENCE: . M. Winke: SOUVENIRS FROM JAPAN: Japanese photography at the Turn of the Century page 62, #25. Ours shows the same exact people but in a slightly different pose, clearly done on the same day, by the same photographer. * More on Tamamura Kozaburo: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamamura_K%C5%8Dzabur%C5%8D . * .