WWII Imperial Japanese Army Academy Royal Visit Photo Album Empress 1935 Set
A rare two-volume set of prewar Japanese commemorative photo albums connected with the Imperial Family and the Imperial Japanese Army. The first volume is a 1915 commemorative album for the enthronement ceremonies of Emperor Taisho. It records court ceremonies, imperial processions, public celebrations, and other official events surrounding the accession of the new emperor. The decorative binding and color ceremonial illustrations also make it an attractive example of early 20th-century Japanese publishing. The second volume is a 1935 commemorative photo album produced for a visit by Empress Teimei to the Imperial Japanese Army Academy. This album is especially interesting from a militaria perspective. It includes photographs of the academy grounds, buildings, artillery, military formations, and large groups of officer cadets. The Imperial Japanese Army Academy was one of the principal institutions responsible for training future Army officers. This makes the album more than simply a royal commemorative item-it is also a visual record of Japanese officer education during the prewar period. The Army Academy volume appears to have been created specifically to commemorate this official visit rather than for ordinary commercial sale. Materials of this type were typically distributed within a limited institutional circle, making surviving examples much less common than standard published books. Taken together, these two albums offer an unusual view of Imperial ceremony, military education, and the relationship between the Imperial Family and the Army across two decades of prewar Japan. The albums show age-related wear, toning, staining, rubbing and other signs of use consistent with items approximately 90-110 years old. Please review the photographs carefully for condition. A strong historical set for collectors of Imperial Japanese militaria, Army Academy material, royal commemorative items, prewar photography and Japanese military history. Own a Piece of History. International Buyers – Please Note.