昭和三年度. 練習艦隊巡航記念. [Showa 3-nendo. Renshū Kantai junkō kinen].
1928 Japanese Imperial Navy Training Squadron Tour Commemorative Album]

Author: [RENSHŪ KANTAI SHIREIBU]. 練習艦隊司令部編
Title: 昭和三年度. 練習艦隊巡航記念. [Showa 3-nendo. Renshū Kantai junkō kinen].
1928 Japanese Imperial Navy Training Squadron Tour Commemorative Album]
Publication: Tokyo (東京): No details of publisher. Showa 4 [ 1929]

Description:

Maps, including a playful coloured map of the tour with Australia very much in the centre, a stylised kangaroo on the left and a depiction of Mt. Fuji on the right. Black and white photographic illustrations, a large foldout photograph, and a photographic portrait with tissue-guard of Prince Takamatsu (younger brother of Emperor Hirohito). Colour illustrations, [180pp], all edges gilt, pictorial cloth covers bound with silk tassle ties, cloth fraying a little at corners and along edges, but still a very good and sound copy. 22 x 30cm.

This photographic album was issued to commemorate the Japanese Naval Training Squadron's world tour which took place between March 1928 and January 1929. Two war ships, the Izumo and the Yagumo, set off, firstly, to cruise around Japan before their departure for Shanghai in April. Following Shanghai, the ships visited Taiwan, Hong Kong, Manila, Singapore, Batavia and reached Fremantle, Western Australia in June 1928. Australian ports visited were Adelaide, Melbourne, Hobart and Sydney. The cruise continued to Wellington and Auckland in New Zealand. They continued sailing to Fiji, Honolulu, Jaluit, Chuk, and Palau before returning to Yokosuka in Japan in October. Their second cruise was to Asian ports, such as Jinhae, Incheon, Dalian, Port Arthur and Qingdao. The ships finished their tour in January 1929. Prince Takamatsu whose portrait appears in the album joined both voyages as a Naval officer.

A fascinating album that offers an extensive and detailed photographic record of all the ports that were visited during the tour with photographic vignettes of each of the countries visited. It also includes photographs of the crew together with all their names and positions as well as details of their lives on board. There are photographs of local receptions and dignitaries as well as occasional full-page coloured painting illustrations depicting local life ashore. All indications are that the ships were warmly welcomed in both Hobart and Sydney. Prince Takamatsu (younger brother of Emperor Hirohito) whose portrait appears in the album inspected the ships in Shanghai and attended various ceremonies at visiting ports. His presence might have been contributed to a special binding and colour plates and maps in this version. This edition was never widely issued, and was no doubt offered as a memento of the Japanese Naval Training's Squadron's tour for those involved.

When referring to this item please quote stockid 180722.

Seller ID: 180722

Subject: All Galleries, Antiquarian, Ephemera and Maps

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