Unidentified photographer / artist 1877, October The Far East
Fortnightly journal Old Japan Images and text courtesy of Terry Bennett (Old Japan - www.old-japan.co.uk - EB-30028)
The Far East was initially a fortnightly journal published in Yokohama, Japan by John R. Black 1870-75. The journal was a newspaper covering events mainly in Japan but also in other countries in the Far East. Importantly it was illustrated with actual photographs which were tipped in to each issue. Although the occasional volume has appeared at auction it remains an exceptionally rare work. Only two or three complete runs of the first series are known to exist. One regrettable reason is that when issues or the odd volume appears the rare photographs are sometimes removed and sold separately. After a short break, Black commenced a second series in July 1876 and the journal was then published monthly. It ran until December 1878. The second series was published in Shanghai, Tokyo and Hong Kong and had a much greater focus on China and appears to be even rarer than the first series. This October 1877 issue is contained in its original yellow wrappers measuring 270 x 215mm. The covers contain printed advertisements from the photo studios of
Thomas Child (Peking)
Mr Edwards (Amoy)
William Saunders (Shanghai)
L.F. Fisler (Shanghai)
Of particular interest are lists of Child's and Edwards' portfolios. There are 21pp of text and the following photographs: 1. Water Gate at Kwenshan 2. Inside the City of Kwenshan 3. From Chungking, Upper Yangtsze 4. General Le Gendre 5. Bridge at Sungkiang.
