Graphic scenes of the Japan expedition, 1856, fine hand-coloured lithographs - photo 1
Graphic scenes of the Japan expedition, 1856, fine hand-coloured lithographs - photo 2
Graphic scenes of the Japan expedition, 1856, fine hand-coloured lithographs - photo 3
Graphic scenes of the Japan expedition, 1856, fine hand-coloured lithographs - photo 4

Graphic scenes of the Japan expedition, 1856, fine hand-coloured lithographs

Lot 231
21.09.2023 10:00UTC +00:00
Classic
Starting price
£ 15 000
AuctioneerSotheby´s
Event locationUnited Kingdom, London
Archive
The auction is completed. No bids can be placed anymore.
Archive
ID 1028539
Lot 231 | Graphic scenes of the Japan expedition, 1856, fine hand-coloured lithographs
Estimate value
£ 15 000 – 20 000
Graphic scenes of the Japan expedition. New York: Putnam,1856

FIRST EDITION, folio (520 x 380mm.), 10 mounted lithographs by Sarony after paintings by Heine, 9 hand-coloured, the tenth a lithograph portrait of Perry after a daguerreotype by Haas, the plates loosely inserted in original half roan and cloth portfolio with title in gilt on upper board, the text in original wrappers backed with later cloth similarly inserted, minor wear, foxing to mounts, portfolio rubbed

ONE OF THE GREAT AMERICAN COLOUR PLATE TRAVEL WORKS OF THE NINETEENTH CENTURY. Wilhelm Heine was the official artist on the Perry expedition that opened Japan to the West. He was responsible for many of the lithographs in the official account of the expedition (Washington, 1856). Renowned as those illustrations are, they pale in comparison to this striking portfolio of hand-coloured views.

“The plates are very beautiful scenes and places of special interest, many times finer than the plates in the 3 volume regular account of the Perry expedition” (Bennett). The superb plates are: a fine portrait of Perry, Macao from Penha Hill, Pagoda of Whampoa, Old China Street in Canton, Kung-twa at On-na, Lew Chew, Mia or Road-side Chapel at Yoku-hama, Temple at Ben-teng in the Harbor of Simoda, Street and Bridge at Simoda, Temple of Ha-tshu-man-ya Tschu-ro, at Smoda, and Grave Yard at the Simoda, Dio Zenge.

This is the deluxe-hand-colored issue on thick cards. This “extra fine edition on Bristol boards in portfolio” cost $12. The ordinary issue was priced at $6. Very scarce in any condition, this beautiful work is rarely seen complete with all ten lithographs, the text volume, and the original cloth portfolio.
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