Early Photos of Kobe-based Westerners including Marshall's House and race-winning horse 'Torpedo'
[Japan] Fascinating group of 18 albumen photos relating to Kobe, Japan and China mounted on five leaves of paper. One large photo of an impressive Western-style residence is captioned, 'Marshall's House Icida', and is most likely the home of John Marshall (1833-87), who moved to Kobe in 1870 and became the Harbour Master there. 'Icida' would appear to refer to the photographer Ichida Sota (1843-96), who established a photo studio in Kobe around 1870. The other large photo is titled, '"Torpedo" - Winner of Grand Annual Welter & Spring Selling Stakes Spring Meeting 1872', and shows the horse along with a betto, the jockey, and a Westerner (possibly John Marshall). One page contains three small photos captioned, 'The Captain' [presumably John Marshall], 'The Japanese steamer 'Coila' - belonging to the Prince of Higo', and, 'The Officers', showing three Western men with a Chinese man and Japanese lady. Another page shows an unidentified Western man with a Japanese lady, a known Beato image of two Japanese ladies and a photo of the Kamakura daibutsu as well as five small photos of Chinese ladies on the rear. The final page shows three small photos of Chinese people and two of scenery, presumably in China.
Kobe. Attributed to Sota Ichida. c1872.
Largest photos approx. 21.5 x 17cm. Smaller photos about 8.5 x 6cm.
Pages a bit worn with some marks. All photos very good except the horse image which has some staining affecting the upper third of the photo. p35051418
