Code: 10157
An unusual antique Japanese concertina-fold illustrated album, believed to date from the late Meiji to early Shōwa period, approximately 1890s–1940s.
The album is constructed in traditional accordion/concertina format, with a series of finely detailed colour illustrations depicting figures in intimate domestic and garden settings, surrounded by traditional furniture, architecture, trees, plants, rockwork and other decorative elements.
The illustrations occupy one face of the folded leaves, with the reverse faces left plain. The unillustrated sides reveal the warm cream/buff colour and distinctive fibrous linear texture of the paper.
The album is housed between reddish-brown cloth or leather-type covered boards. The front retains its vertical paper title label with Japanese calligraphy.
Of particular interest is the distinctive irregular brown-toned treatment around the margins of the illustrated scenes. Comparable albums have been found displaying a similar characteristic, suggesting that at least some of this appearance may relate to the original production or presentation rather than straightforward later water staining.
The exact artist, publisher and date have not been established. It is therefore described conservatively as a Japanese concertina illustrated album, probably late Meiji to early Shōwa period, rather than assigning it to a particular artist or exact year.
A fascinating and unusual example of Japanese illustrated album production.
A selection of the illustrated openings is shown in the photographs.
Condition Report
The reddish-brown covered boards show rubbing, surface marks and wear around the edges and corners consistent with age and handling. The vertical paper title label remains attached to the front and displays age-related toning and wear.
The concertina-fold leaves remain together and the album opens as intended. There is age-related toning, handling wear, occasional spotting and marks, together with wear, small nicks/notches and minor losses around some edges, corners and fold extremities. A small area of more noticeable wear/damage to one corner of the page block is clearly shown in the photographs.
The plain reverse faces show considerably lighter general age toning and retain a clearly visible fibrous/linear paper texture.
The illustrated faces have distinctive irregular brown-toned margins. As comparable albums have been found exhibiting a similar effect, this is not being described simply as water damage and may relate, at least partly, to the original manufacture or presentation of the illustrations.
The illustrations retain particularly attractive, strong colour and considerable detail.
Please study all photographs carefully as they form an important part of the condition description.
