Yokohama Kaiko Kenbunshi - 6 vols. complete by Hashimoto Gyokuransai (Sadahide)
[Japan] One of the most important works depicting the life of Western residents of Yokohama soon after the port was opened in July 1859, this is a complete set of 6 volumes of Sadahide's wonderful work showing the various things seen and heard around Yokohama at the time. Each volume is filled with superb woodblock printed illustrations and it is fascinating to see how foreigners looked and behaved in Japanese eyes. The first 3 volumes were published in 1862 (the date of the preface) and the second 3 volumes came out in 1865 (according to the preface date in the final volume). The first volume begins with a large, folding map of Yokohama and the surrounding area and then foreigners going about their lives doing business and shopping. Some stores are even named such as the clothing shop, Fukuiya and a tea house named Iseya. Brief descriptions of each scene are given. A foreign couple gallops down the street on a horse and there are contemporary reports about such reckless behaviour that caused injuries and even death on occasion. Western children and drunk sailors can be seen, as well as the French barracks, the Ishikawa silk store, a grog shop, and more. Most of the activity was on the main streets of Honcho-dori and Kaigan-dori. Volume 2 starts with some impressive illustrations of Western ships inside and out, a procession of the five treaty powers (the US, England, France, The Netherlands, and Prussia. Interestingly, some women are in the procession so this was probably an attempt to show that these early residents were not afraid to go out at a time when there had been some murders of foreigners by disgruntled Japanese who were still against the idea of Japan opening up. A woman can be seen riding a horse and that was also unheard of in Japan prior to the country's forced opening to the world. Next we see a French merchant's establishment at No. 10, warehouses, a wonderful image of Westerners playing billiards, men of African origin lugging water barrels and presumably tending to goats that can be seen in the background, a gorgeous lunch party held on the second floor in a decorated room, food preparation, and a group of foreigners dancing in a circle. Volume 3 starts with illustrations of shipbuilding, an image of the gate to the Dutch minister's residence (presumably Dirk de Graeff von Polsbroek), some Chinese people relaxing, a woman and baby, the residence of Eugene Van Reed along with an illustration of him on a horse, men putting alcohol (presumably rum or whisky) or oil into casks for shipment, elephants being washed by handlers, Western children playing, black men and women, American women, a camera and a music box, Western women sewing, Chinese men aat a party with geisha, and a famous image of a photographer at work but a dog is looking into the lens from the other side. The 4th volume (Volume 1 of the second trio) begins with Western soldiers partaking in drills and marching, Westerners in a horse and carriage, Western children playing, the same kids falling soon after (!), children reading and studying, portraits of a Russian man, an English man, a Dutch man, an American man, and a French man. These are followed by a couple of portraits of Western women in ornate dresses and hats, a butcher's establishment with cows present, the meat being cut, the meat being boiled, and the hides being dried. Volume 5 shows a group of Americans fishing, fish being dried on the shore, fish being transported by donkey or horse, dogs and children playing, Americans whaling, a laege tiger being hunted, a walrus being hunted, Western women preparing some kind of beans, an American lady using two mirrors to check her hairstyle from behind, a Western lady in a 3-wheeled carriage that appears to not require a horse, a Western man and a lion seemingly wrestling, another man about to shoot the lion, a man riding a camel, and Western children being washed in a bathtub. The final volume (dated 1865 in the preface) starts with illustrations of London, the Dutch minister's residence in Yokohama, English men playing a game on a table, Americans playing music on one of their holidays with Japanese people looking on, a Chinese lady in the Chinese area of Yokohama, Dutch men drinking and partying with a group of Japanese people, Dutch men at a sake shop with the Japanese attendant looking annoyed, a bird's-eye view of the Dutch minister's residence, illustrations of copperplate prints of foreigners that were seen in Yokohama, an elephant pushing over a tree with its trunk, a small group of foreigners (one lady being carried on a palanquin) returning from a hike in the hills, and an image of a copperplate illustration that shows a lady riding an elephant.
No place [presumably Tokyo]. No publisher. 1862-1965.
Vol. 1 - 19 leaves. Vol. 2 - 21 leaves. Vol. 3 - 21 leaves. Vol. 4 - 19 leaves. Vol. 5 - 21 leaves. Vol. 6 - 20 leaves.
Each 24.6 x 17.5cm.
In very good condition. Covers are worn with some age wear and minor creasing and marks. Internally very good with only minor age wear and some thumbing. Title slips on covers are present except for the 2nd volume which has almost worn away. A couple of volumes have some old, small worm trail repairs. b37011784
