[Flags]. Bansen kishou zu (Pictures of foreign ship flags).

[Japan, ca. 1850s].

34 pp., accordion-bound, containing a double-page map of the world and 182 hand-coloured images of flags. Text in Japanese. Speckled stiff paper boards with original title label.

 7,500.00

Arranged by continent, the naval flags here depicted represent mostly European countries, though the Americas, Russia, Australia, Tunis, and Morocco are also present. Probably published soon after Commodore Perry's expedition enforced the opening of Japan to the West in 1854. Rare: a single copy located in libraries worldwide (Tokyo Imperial Palace; shelfmark 274,662).

Title label rubbed, some worming throughout.

Stock Code: BN#45635 Tags: , , , ,