Japon

Accordion-style photographic album containing 12 portraits of geishas and views of the Tokaido road on both sides. Period albumen prints hand-colored.
Red cloth binding on wooden boards.
Some tissue guards slightly creased, otherwise very handsome copy.
All the geisha portraits were taken in studio while the views of the Tokaido road, connecting Edo to Kyoto, present scenes of daily life (women at the entrance of a house, porters, men praying...)

Original albumen photograph. Caption at bottom right of image: "Girls playing on koto & samisen".
Some minimal traces of corner creases, inherent to previous framing.
The koto, on the left, is an instrument of Chinese origin but nonetheless part of Japanese musical culture. The shamisen - or samisen in English - is also Chinese and is likewise an inseparable element of Japan's traditional music.
The musician on the left has her fingers encircled with picks to pluck the strings of her instrument, while the second uses a large ivory plectrum.
Handsome impression with very good contrast.

Original albumen photograph, mounted on heavy paper and heightened in watercolor. Caption at bottom right of image: "Cathering tea-leaves at Uji".
The photograph shows women and children harvesting tea at Uji.
A small inconsequential tear at bottom of photograph.

Original albumen photograph, mounted on cardboard and enhanced with watercolor.
This image shows a young girl on the left behind a desk and the second playing the shamisen - or samisen in English - a Chinese musical instrument but an inseparable element of traditional Japanese music.
Fine print with highlights of great delicacy.

Original albumen photograph, mounted on heavy paper and enhanced with watercolor.
This image shows a group of young women and a man proceeding with tea drying.

Original albumen photograph heightened with watercolor.
Caption at bottom right of the photograph: "Doctor".
Fine proof, finely heightened.

Original albumen photograph, mounted on card and heightened with watercolor.
Caption at bottom right of the photograph: "Street amazake seller, a kind of drink made of fermented rice".
Fine proof with good contrast and finely heightened.