An attractive Japanese photograph album containing thirty-seven original photographs, including a remarkable series documenting the aftermath of the Great Kantō Earthquake of 1923 around Hakone and the Tsutaya Hotel.

Bibliographic Details

Author: Various photographers, including one photograph by S. Satake, Tosari Studio.
Title: Photograph Album of Japan, principally Hakone and the Great Kantō Earthquake.
Date: Circa 1923–1925.
Format: Traditional Japanese string-bound album with mock silk-covered boards titled "Album".
Contents: Thirty-seven original photographs mounted on grey card leaves, plus one loose photograph stamped "S. Satake / Tosari Studio".
Size: Album 28 × 20 cm. Photographs of varying sizes, the largest approximately 16 × 11.5 cm, and most are 15.5 x 11.2cm. A few smaller photos, approx. 9 x 5 cm

Condition

Very Good overall. A small split to the cloth along the upper hinge together with light rubbing and slight fraying to the extremities. The photographs remain well preserved with only minor age wear. One photograph is loosely presented. A couple of photos with minor age-toning in the sky areas. Please examine the gallery images carefully or request a more detailed condition report.

Description

An appealing Japanese travel album centred on Hakone, Enoshima and the surrounding volcanic landscape, made particularly significant by its series of photographs recording the aftermath of the Great Kantō Earthquake of 1 September 1923.

The album includes views of Enoshima, Miyanoshita, Gora, Sengokuhara, Gora Park, the Gold Fish Tea House, the Thousand Waterfalls, Lake Hakone, Mount Fuji, Saijōji Temple (Dōryōzan), pagodas and volcanic scenery around Ōjigoku ("Hell"). Particularly noteworthy are several contemporary captioned photographs showing the Tsutaya Hotel before the earthquake, its condition afterwards, the construction of a replacement bridge, and the "Lake of Boiling Sulphur at Ojigoku", specifically identified as a consequence of the earthquake.

Completing the album is a loose studio photograph by S. Satake of the Tosari Studio, depicting the ceremonial ringing of a Japanese time bell. Together the photographs form an attractive record of one of Japan's best-known tourist districts during a period of profound natural and historical change, combining scenic views with unusually early documentation of the effects of one of the country's most devastating earthquakes. Provenance: From the personal collection of A. E. Bateman, of Dodwell & Co. who was based in Japan in the 1930s.

Notes

A desirable Japanese photograph album combining travel photography with rare side-glance views of the Great Kantō Earthquake's impact upon the Hakone region. Particularly attractive to collectors of Japan, earthquakes, Mount Fuji, early travel photography and Asian photograph albums.