A History of Japanese Photography, 1840 – 1970, 2 Volumes

Signed by Akira Sato, Leyoshi Mihori, Takamasa Imamura, Jun Morinaga, Noriaki Yokosuka, Eikoh Hosoe, Ikko Narahara, and Jun Miki

This is a very rare two volume first edition set entitled “The History of Japanese Photography 1840 -1970” that has been signed by 8 prominent Japanese photographers that are highlighted in Volume 2.  Ryuichi Kaneko’s 2009 reference work on Japanese Photobooks, “Japanese Photobooks of the 1960s and 1970s”, credits these two volumes as the starting point for her education in Japanese Photography. This is an exhaustive anthology of Japanese photography over a 130 year period. The set is comprised of the following two volumes:

A History of Japanese Photography, 1840 – 1945 (Nihon Shashin Shi, 1840 -1945) published by The Japanese Photographers Association in 1975 that covers the Bakumatsu period and the Meiji Period. From feudal Lords or posing Samuri to a devastated Japan in 1945, the book has over 514 black and white and color photographs. The Japanese text also includes a list of photographs and bibliographic notes.

A History of Contemporary Japanese Photography, 1945 – 1970 (Nihon Gendai Shashin-shi, 1945 -1970) published by Heibonsha, Tokyo in 1977 that covers prominent Japanese photographers of the postwar era. This volume has been signed in kanji by by Akira Sato, Leyoshi Mihori, Takamasa Imamura, Jun Morinaga, Noriaki Yokosuka, Eikoh Hosoe, Ikko Narahara and Jun Miki.

Measuring approximately 10” x 12”, the books are bound in black boards and housed in a photographically illustrated slipcase. Both the books and slipcases are in Near FINE condition with the books having minor wear and the slipcases evidencing some age toning and general wear.

Photographs of the slipcases, books, and signatures appear below. Please note that although the photographs appear digitized as thumbnails, they are viewable in the photo viewer by running your mouse over the thumbnail. You can also click on the thumbnail to open a separate window where the picture is viewable in a slideshow.