1914 Imperial Japanese Army 13th Division Manchuria Garrison Photo Album
Transcription of Cover & Colophon. Cover: ” ” (13th Division – Manchuria Garrison Commemorative Photo Album). Title Page: same inscription. Heading:?? (Reproduction Prohibited). Publisher: Amano Mando Shodo (, Dairen). Editor: Mifune Shuko (, Dairen City). Printer: Iwao Tsuji / Printing House: Meiki-sha (, Kobe). Date: Printed August 5, 1914 / Published August 8, 1914 (Taisho 3). Rear matter: publisher’s advertisement for similar military albums. An official commemorative album published in 1914 (Taisho 3) by the Imperial Japanese Army 13th Division, marking its garrison duty in Manchuria (Manchukuo). Produced in Dairen (Dalian) by the Amano Mando Shodo bookshop, it is a large-format, limited-distribution volume containing photos of the division’s soldiers, facilities, commemorative items, local scenery, and even personnel rosters. These albums were non-commercial publications, intended for distribution within the unit and related circles. Following the Russo-Japanese War, Japan controlled the Kwantung Leased Territory and South Manchuria Railway Zone. This album documents the 13th Division’s stationing period there, just as Japan consolidated its position in northeast China on the eve of World War I. Published in Dairen (modern Dalian, Liaoning Province). The photographs include Dairen, Mukden (Shenyang), Changchun, and the Liao River basin, showing both military installations and regional landscapes. It provides a rare visual record of Japanese garrison life in Manchuria at the time. The 13th Division, created in 1898 after the First Sino-Japanese War, was a permanent IJA formation drawing recruits mainly from western Japan. This album visually documents its officers, enlisted men, facilities, and even supporting organizations during their Manchurian deployment. Why is it important? Primary source: Complete with publisher and imprint, confirming Dairen as the place of publication. Includes photos, rosters, commemorative objects, and facilities, giving a full overview of garrison life. Regional history value: Beyond the military focus, it captures urban landscapes, transport, bridges, markets, and rural scenery-a rich visual record of Manchuria in the 1910s. Rarity: “Commemorative Garrison Albums” from the Taisho era are significantly rarer than later Showa Incident Albums. Survival rate is very low, making this highly desirable for collectors of military history, Asian studies, and colonial-era publications. How was it made? Large horizontal format, Japanese binding style, with gilt-titled cover and decorative cords. Edited by Mifune Shuko; published by Amano Mando Shodo, Dairen; printed by Meiki-sha, Kobe. Content includes: unit gates and barracks, group portraits, officers and enlisted men, commemorative fans and flags, monuments, scenic views of Manchuria, and name lists. 13th Division: A permanent IJA division raised after the Sino-Japanese War; active in Russo-Japanese War and later overseas garrison/security roles. Manchuria (/ Manchukuo): Northeastern China, including Liaodong, Mukden, Changchun, Harbin. Japan held the Kwantung Leased Territory and railway zones after 1905. “Commemorative Garrison Album” : A limited-edition publication, produced by military units in cooperation with local publishers, distributed to soldiers, families, and patrons to mark garrison service. Exterior: age-related rubbing, edge wear, minor loss, fraying cords. Interior: overall very good, strong print contrast, fully legible. What you see in the photos is everything included. Please check images for details. Clearly dated 1914 (Taisho 3) and published in Dairen, giving it both historical and geographic precision. Combines military photographs + regional landscapes + rosters + full imprint, making it a versatile source for collectors and researchers alike. Considerably rarer than the more common Showa-era Incident Albums. Strong crossover appeal to collectors of Manchuria, Kwantung Leased Territory, Japanese Army divisional history. This item is offered strictly as a historical document. It is not intended to promote or glorify any ideology. Inquiries welcome – additional detail photos can be provided upon request. International Buyers – Please Note. Thank you for your understanding.