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.
Original unit photo album dated November 1920. 6th Company of the 3rd Imperial Guard Infantry Regiment. Of the Imperial Japanese Army. About the Imperial Japanese Royal Guard. Imperial Guard (Royal Guard). Was an elite formation tasked with the. Direct protection of the Emperor, the Imperial Palace, and the capital of Tokyo. Only soldiers who passed strict screening-covering. Physical ability, conduct, ideology, and loyalty. As a result, records from Guard units are. Than those of ordinary infantry regiments. 3rd Guard Infantry Regiment. Established in 1885, was stationed in. (the area of today’s Akasaka district) and served as a core unit of the Imperial Guard Division. About This Album (6th Company). This album focuses specifically on the. Not the regiment in general, making it a. Rare, company-level primary source. Guard barracks and gate views in Akasaka. Group portraits organized by internal squads. Individual portraits of officers, NCOs, and enlisted soldiers. Daily life inside the Guard barracks. At the end of the album is a. Listing the men who served together in this company-an invaluable resource for historical and genealogical research. Historical Context – Year 1920. November 1920 falls shortly after. During Japan’s rise as a major world power. This was a transitional period-calm on the surface, yet quietly tense-before the political and military upheavals of the 1930s. The soldiers shown here would later live through the. Entire arc of pre-war, wartime, and post-war Japan. Fate of the Regiment. The 3rd Guard Infantry Regiment later participated in. The regiment ultimately surrendered in. In 1945 and ceremonially burned its regimental colors, marking the end of its 60-year history. Age-related toning, spots, and wear consistent with a 100+ year old item. No major losses; well preserved as a historical document. Not a decorative album. Genuine primary historical record. From one of Japan’s most elite military formations. Approximate 7-21days(To USA).
Sino-Japanese War Photographic Collection. “Shina Jihen Shashin Zenshu” Vol. 1 – North China Front. Published by Asahi Shimbun, 1937 (Showa 12). Original pre-WW2 Japanese edition. This volume focuses on the. Covering major military operations including. Beiping-Hankou Railway Campaign. Tianjin-Pukou Railway Front. Shanxi Campaign including Taiyuan operations. The book contains numerous large black-and-white press photographs depicting. Railway and logistical movements. Military transport and cavalry. Early war field conditions. As this was produced by. One of Japan’s major newspapers, the work represents official wartime press photography and reflects contemporary wartime perspective and propaganda structure. The Sino-Japanese War expanded into full-scale conflict after the Marco Polo Bridge Incident in July 1937. North China was one of the earliest large-scale theaters of operation. Control of railway corridors such as the Jinghan (Beijing-Hankou) and Jinpu (Tianjin-Pukou) lines was strategically critical for troop movement and territorial consolidation. This volume documents that initial expansion phase. Includes fold-out campaign map. Ex-library copy from a war-related institution. Management number label at lower spine. Institutional stamp on inner margin. Spine binding is loosening. Age toning and foxing present. No dust jacket or outer box. Overall structurally intact but shows significant age wear. This is not a modern reprint. It is an original 1937 publication. East Asia conflict history specialists. Material of this scale and size is becoming increasingly difficult to source internationally. International Buyers – Please Note. Thank you for your understanding.
This is an original commemorative photo album documenting the. Imperial Japanese Navy Special Grand Maneuvers and Fleet Review held in October 1927 (Showa 2). The album consists of. 15 bound photographic pages. 15 × 22.5 cm and was issued on. Hatakeyama Picture Postcard Shop. A contemporary publisher specializing in naval and ceremonial imagery. The photographs capture key scenes from the fleet review conducted off. Including the appearance of the. Combined Fleet flagship Nagato. Large-scale fleet formations, night maneuver exercises, destroyer and torpedo flotilla actions, aerial cooperation, smoke-screen attack drills, and the activities of then-modern cruisers such as. Rather than a private album, this publication was created as a. Public commemorative record of a national naval event. Intended to visually convey the scale, organization, and technological strength of the Imperial Japanese Navy during the early Showa period. It reflects how the navy presented itself to the public at a time when battleships, fleet coordination, and modern naval doctrine were central to Japan’s maritime strategy. Condition shows natural age-related wear including light toning, surface wear, and corrosion to the original staples. Overall, it remains a highly evocative historical document from the. Valued by collectors of naval history, Imperial Japanese military materials, and early 20th-century photographic publications. Approximate 7-21days(To USA).
This is an original pre-WWII Imperial Japanese Navy graduation photo album. The album commemorates the 19th class of the Naval Technical Training School (Kaigun Gishu Yoseijo) and is marked “Koki 2600″, corresponding to 1940, a significant year when Japan celebrated the 2600th anniversary of the Imperial era. The Naval Technical Training School was an important institution responsible for training technical specialists for the Imperial Japanese Navy, including personnel involved in machinery, aviation maintenance, and other engineering fields necessary for modern naval warfare. The album contains numerous photographs documenting the training environment and daily life of the students, including. Group portraits of the cadets. Photographs of instructors and officers. Aircraft and aircraft engines. Training facilities and buildings. Sports and extracurricular activities such as baseball. Several pages also include portraits of senior officers associated with the naval command structure, including personnel connected to the Kure Naval Base, one of the most important naval bases of Imperial Japan. Graduation albums from Japanese naval training institutions rarely appear on the market today, and those related to technical training schools and aviation-related education are particularly uncommon. Because of the combination of naval education, aviation technology imagery, and the historical context of the 1940 Imperial anniversary year, this album represents an interesting historical artifact from the final decade of the Imperial Japanese Navy before the Pacific War. A desirable item for collectors of. Imperial Japanese Navy history. Japanese naval academies and training schools. Pre-war Japanese military memorabilia. The album shows expected age and wear consistent with a historical item of this period. International Buyers – Please Note. Thank you for your understanding.
This is an original pre-WWII Imperial Japanese Navy photo album documenting sailor training at the Sasebo Naval Barracks, one of the most important naval training facilities in Japan. The album was created as a graduation / completion commemorative album for sailors who entered service in June 1934 (Showa 9) and completed their training in the 6th Sailor Training Squad. Sasebo Naval Barracks was responsible for training new sailors before they were assigned to warships of the Imperial Japanese Navy. Many naval personnel who later served during the Pacific War began their careers in institutions like this. The album contains a wide range of fascinating historical photographs, including. Sailor group portraits. Naval instructors and officers. Bayonet and rifle training drills. Formation exercises and parade grounds. Life inside the naval training facility. Photographs of Sasebo harbor and naval vessels. One particularly interesting page includes a portrait of Admiral Mitsumasa Yonai, who later served as Minister of the Navy and Prime Minister of Japan. At the end of the album there is also a roster listing the names of the sailors, providing valuable historical documentation of the individuals who trained in this unit. Some roster details have been partially obscured in the listing images to protect personal information. Albums like this rarely survive with their original photographs and roster intact, making this a valuable primary historical document related to the Imperial Japanese Navy. 19 × 27 × 2.5 cm. Total pages: 57 pages. A highly collectible piece for collectors of Imperial Japanese Navy memorabilia and WWII military history. Overall good condition for its age. There are minor signs of age such as wear, stains, and small scratches consistent with a historical item. Please see photos for details. International Buyers – Please Note. Thank you for your understanding.
This is an original pre-WWII Japanese military photo album titled. “China Incident Commemorative Photo Album”. The China Incident refers to the large-scale conflict between Japan and China that began in 1937, known internationally as the Second Sino-Japanese War. This album contains numerous photographs documenting the activities of the Imperial Japanese Army in China. Inside the album are photographs showing. Japanese soldiers and military units. Marching columns and cavalry. Military exercises and artillery. Chinese towns, villages, and landscapes. Historical buildings and city gates. Everyday scenes in wartime China. These images provide a rare visual record of the military and cultural landscape of China during the late 1930s. The album is bound in a traditional Japanese format and the cover bears the five-pointed star emblem of the Imperial Japanese Army. In the later pages of the album, portraits of Japanese officers are included. Among them appears Ushijima Mitsuru, who would later become known as the commander of the Japanese 32nd Army during the Battle of Okinawa (1945). While the album itself commemorates the China Incident period, the presence of officers who later played roles in major WWII events makes it an interesting historical reference. The publication information lists. China Incident Commemorative Photo Album Publishing Association. Original wartime photo albums like this were often produced in limited numbers and distributed among military personnel or related organizations. Because of this, surviving examples today are increasingly difficult to find. Imperial Japanese Army memorabilia. Early 20th-century East Asia photography. This is a fascinating historical artifact. International Buyers – Please Note. Thank you for your understanding.
This is an original Imperial Japanese Army photo album commemorating the Manchuria deployment between 1934 and 1936. The album documents the overseas service of an Imperial Japanese Army field artillery regiment, recording the daily life, training, equipment, and surroundings of Japanese soldiers stationed in Manchuria during the early Showa period. Soldiers’ daily life and group portraits. Field artillery guns and equipment. Military training scenes and formations. Uniforms, insignia, and period gear. Landscapes and urban scenes of Manchuria. Rather than staged combat propaganda, the album presents a calm, documentary-style record of a Japanese Army artillery unit during a relatively stable pre-war phase. The unit documented in this album is identified as Field Artillery Regiment No. 22, a Japanese Army artillery regiment responsible for providing fire support to infantry formations. Artillery units played a crucial role in Imperial Japanese Army operations, requiring technical skill, coordination, and disciplined organization. This album captures the regiment before the later stages of the war, when material shortages and severe losses became widespread. Manchuria had become firmly established under Japanese control. Military organization and training were still relatively well-equipped. Large-scale total war conditions had not yet fully emerged. As such, this album preserves a moment before the extreme deterioration and collapse experienced by many units later in the war. Approximately 90 years old. Age-related toning, stains, and wear present. No major structural damage. Overall condition consistent with original military albums of this era. Please review all photos carefully. This album is more than a collection of old photographs. It is a primary historical document offering insight into. Imperial Japanese Army artillery units. Early Showa-era overseas deployment. The lived reality of soldiers stationed in Manchuria. Highly suitable for collectors of Japanese military history, Manchurian studies, and pre-World War II primary sources. International Buyers – Please Note. Thank you for your understanding.
Published in 1922 (Taisho 11) by Seiun-do, this lavish photo album Manshu Taikan (“Great View of Manchuria”) presents a rare visual record of Manchuria during the Taisho era. “Manchuria” refers to the region of today’s Northeast China (Liaoning, Jilin, and Heilongjiang), a strategic crossroads where Japanese, Russian, and Chinese ambitions collided after the decline of the Qing dynasty and the 1911 Revolution. Following the Russo-Japanese War (1905), Japan gained influence over the South Manchurian Railway and the leased territory of the Kwantung Peninsula, fueling rapid urban development and railway expansion. It captures not only urban landscapes and colonial modernity but also the multi-ethnic character and exotic cultural impressions of the region. Issued a decade before the establishment of the Japanese-controlled state of “Manchukuo” (1932), this work preserves the fleeting image of a land that has since become a vanished nation. Today it stands as a valuable primary source for historians and collectors interested in the intersection of Imperial Japan and Manchuria. Own a Piece of History. Approximate 7-21days(To USA).
Published in April 1929 (Showa 4). This “Military Life Photo Album” was issued by Kokko Senyokai (a national promotion organization in pre-war Japan). 22.7 × 15.3 cm. Horizontal format photo book. This album documents Japanese Army life before the outbreak of large-scale conflict in Asia. It predates the Manchurian Incident (1931) and captures the atmosphere of the interwar Imperial Japanese Army. Unlike battlefield albums, this book focuses on military training and equipment, including. Type 11 Light Machine Gun. Type 38 Field Gun. Early armored vehicles and tanks. Gas mask live-fire training. It represents the Japanese Army during a transitional era – not yet at total war, but preparing for it. The publisher, Kokko Senyokai, was involved in promoting national strength and military awareness. This album was likely intended to visually present the discipline, technology, and structure of the Imperial Japanese Army to the public. In other words, this is not a battlefield record. It is a visual record of an army standing on the edge of history. The layout is clean and well-composed, with numerous original period photographs of weapons and training scenes. Expected aging for a nearly 100-year-old paper item. Light toning and minor wear consistent with age. A valuable reference for. Imperial Japanese Army collectors. Type 11 machine gun researchers. Military photo archive collectors. Historians of interwar Japan. Own a Piece of History. International Buyers – Please Note. Thank you for your understanding.