Title: A Rare, Handwritten and Painted Black Ship Scroll in Book Format, Inscribed Fall 1853. Commodore Perry’s First Expedition to Japan, Dated to the same Year. With 10 Large Paintings Depicting the Arrival of the Black Ship, Troops, Uraga Bay and More. Five Additional, Highly Detailed Paintings Bound In, Depicting Other Peoples of Asian Descent Coming to Japan
Condition: Fair
An extraordinarily rare, Late Edo Period example of a Black Ship Scroll, having been rendered into orihon format. This is one of the examples which appears to have been produced in the same year of the first expedition depicted here, as the inscribed date states it was produced in the Sixth Year of the Kaei Era, in the Fall.
The work represents one of the scarce, illustrated Japanese accounts of Commodore Matthew C. Perry’s serving as a contemporary account to the initial actions which would lead to the eventual opening of Japan, albeit actions which included a show of military force.
The paintings of the main scroll are those of the first expedition and look to have been produced by one anonymous artist, or maybe two at most. The illustrations represent a firsthand account of how the Japanese public felt and reacted to the arrival of the expedition, and their initial thoughts on what the Americans were like, at least appearance-wise.
This scroll begins with a rather detailed letter, explaining the production of this manuscript, and bemoaning the sudden chaotic situation, with musings of opening the nation to the arrival of peoples from other Asian nations, among which is listed China.
Followed by that are two paintings depicting two distinct ships, including Perry’s flagship, the USS Susquehanna, firing blank shots from the 73 cannons, an action Perry claimed was in celebration of the American Independence Day.
The third painting is a rough diagram of troop formations of the three fief lords who were charged with protecting Edo Bay and providing security for Perry’s visit.
The fourth painting depicts Edo Bay, and the ships of the Perry Expedition making their landing.
The fifth painting depicts an American procession of troops, led by a military band, making their march to Kurihama. There are two younger troops carrying red boxes containing letters from President Fillmore to be presented to Emperor Komei, and there are several more distinct officers, including one which is likely to be Commodore Perry himself.
The sixth painting depicts diagrams of the formation of the reception hall for all representatives, as well as diagrams of more troop formations.
Following this are the seventh to tenth paintings, each one depicting an American soldier of different rank and in different attire, from the Foot Soldier, up to a horse mounted Captain.
The 11th and final painting are that of various troop instruments.
After this, five additional paintings of a rather different nature have been bound in, depicting various peoples of different Asian nations, beginning with China, as well as India, and other unidentified peoples. The inclusion of these paintings may have to do with the letter at the beginning, mentioning other Asians of homogenized populations.
One manuscript in oblong orihon format (27.5 x 35), 16 pages
This manuscript is in fair shape, with some rubbing and wear to the binding, with peeling to the corners. The original pages of the manuscript have been mounted onto thicker leaves for preservation, though this has resulted in a bit of loss to the edges of each remounted painting. The pages are heavily damp stained, and there are some mold spores to the inner upper margins, as well as the outer margins. Some of the damaged leaves have repairs in places.