Large Format Photo of a Tow Boat or Hikifune Hand-coloured albumen print by Usui Shuzaburo
[Japan] Very scarce, hand-coloured, albumen photo print showing a boat being towed by two people. This photo is one of the earliest to show a hikifune (tow boat or pull boat) in the action of being pulled. Also, there is a sign on the building that reads 'Goto Yubinkyoku' which indicates that the building was a post office facility and, thus, one of the earliest photo to show such a placce in Japan. Presumably the photo was taken in Tokyo. Titled at lower right in negative, 'A TOW-BOAT 411' in the style Usui Shuzaburo was known to have used.
Usui Shuzaburo. c1885. 20.1 x 25.6cm.
In very good condition. Mounted on thin card. Almost no age wear. p37091955
