WWII Imperial Japanese Navy Combined Fleet Battleships 1935 Large Color Print
This is a large prewar Japanese naval color print titled “The Majesty of the Combined Fleet”, issued by the Imperial Japanese Navy Ministry in May 1935. The artwork presents the Combined Fleet as a powerful unified force: large battleships advancing in formation, destroyers cutting across the foreground, and aircraft flying overhead. Rather than portraying a single vessel, the composition was designed to express the scale, strength, and prestige of the Imperial Japanese Navy as a whole. The right margin is printed with: “The Majesty of the Combined Fleet” “May 1935″ “Navy Ministry” Additional printing information in the margin includes references to the printer in Uchisaiwaicho, Kojimachi Ward, Tokyo, and Teikoku Kaigun-sha. The date is especially important. This was published in 1935, six years before the Pacific War began, during a period when Japan still maintained a large and highly visible battle fleet. The image reflects how the Imperial Japanese Navy wished to present the Combined Fleet to the public: battleships at the center, supported by destroyers and naval aviation. At approximately 108 × 78 cm, this is a very large display piece with considerably more visual impact than ordinary wartime prints or postcards. There are age-related stains, discoloration, folds, edge wear, and other signs of use and storage. Please examine the photographs carefully for condition. More than simply a naval illustration, this is a surviving piece of prewar Japanese naval visual culture, showing how the Combined Fleet was represented at the height of its prestige. Own a Piece of History. International Buyers – Please Note.