The Far East. A Monthly Journal, Illustrated with Photographs.

First edition. New series. Vol. 1, (6 issues), vol. 2 (6 issues), & vol. 3 (5 issues, lacking the November issue). 112 original photographs (sizes between 8,5x8cm and 20x14cm) mostly good, dark-toned images. Small folio. Bound in 19th century blue cloth, lacking separate titles for vol. 1&2. Overall a very good set. [ii](Introduction), 152; [iv], 138 [ii]; [iv], 1-94, 115-140 (lacking p. 95-114)pp. Shanghai, 'Far East' Printing Office, 1876-

"It was in May 1870, that he [Black] first conceived the idea of publishing a newspaper in Japan, illustrated with photographs of the Far East [...] at length the opportunity arrived; and he has availed himself of a lengthened visit to Shanghai to make arrangements such as will give a tenfold interest to the Far East. In future it will deal fully as much as with Chinese and with Japanese subjects... But although the pictures are the distinguishing feature, and to many prove the principal inducement to subscribe, the proprietor has promises of assistance in the literary portion of the Far East, which give him great hopes of its becoming not only an interesting, but a valuable addition to the periodical literature of these regions." (Introduction). While the format has changed from fortnightly to monthly, the number of pages is increased to 23-28 pages. Most of the literary contributions are written by George Carter Stent (1833-1884, he worked at the Imperial Chinese Maritime Customs) and Black himself. The images were taken by professional photographers incl. William Saunders (Shanghai), Thomas Child (Peking), Lorenzo Fisler (Shanghai), and St Julian Edwards (Amoy). They provide a vivid illustration of daily life and leading personalities in the open ports featuring a variety of foreign buildings, shops, and temples in Shanghai, images of beggars, itinerant cobblers and coolies, high-ranking Chinese officials (incl. the Governor of Nanking, the famous statesman Li Hong-zhang), a number of missionary and political figures (incl. Sir Thomas Wade, Samuel Wells Williams, Robert Hart, Medhurst, Sir Harry Parkes, Lydia Mary Fay), punishment of the Cangue (Hongkew Police Station), views of Suzhou, Fuzhou, Yunnan, and Peking as well as two group shots of American Presbyterian Mission Conference at Shanghai. Even single issues of the 'Far East' are extremely rare. Gernsheim, Incunabula 635. See also Bennett: History of Photography in China - Western Photographers 1861-1897. p. 308ff.

Stock Code: 247031