https://militaria19191938.org Wed, 28 Oct 2026 07:32:48 +0000 en-CA hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.1.1 https://militaria19191938.org/2026/10/27/wwii-imperial-japanese-naval-magazine-1935-royal-navy-fleet-reference-photos/ https://militaria19191938.org/2026/10/27/wwii-imperial-japanese-naval-magazine-1935-royal-navy-fleet-reference-photos/#comments Tue, 27 Oct 2026 19:30:43 +0000 https://militaria19191938.org/2026/10/27/wwii-imperial-japanese-naval-magazine-1935-royal-navy-fleet-reference-photos/










Published in Japan in 1935, this is a special issue of the prewar naval magazine Umi to Sora (“Sea and Sky”), titled: World Naval Yearbook, Vol. An important point is that this was not an official Imperial Japanese Navy publication. However, it was far more serious than an ordinary hobby book. The publisher, Umi to Sora-sha, specialized in naval and aviation subjects and produced the long-running prewar magazine Umi to Sora. Its publications covered Japanese and foreign navies, warships, aircraft, naval technology, and strategy, and were aimed at readers with a serious interest in military and naval affairs. In other words, this was a professional Japanese naval reference publication intended for knowledgeable readers, enthusiasts, students, researchers, and people connected with the maritime and military world. The year 1935 gives the book additional historical interest. At that time, Britain still possessed one of the world’s most powerful navies. Japan and Britain had once been allies, but by the 1930s their strategic relationship had changed dramatically. This book therefore preserves a fascinating prewar perspective: How did Japanese naval specialists and readers view the Royal Navy before Britain became Japan’s wartime enemy? Only about six years after this volume was published, Japan and Britain would be at war across the Pacific and Southeast Asia. That makes this more than simply an old warship photo book. It is a period Japanese reference source documenting how the Royal Navy was studied and presented in prewar Japan. The cover prominently features the British naval ensign and a battleship, making the subject immediately recognizable to Royal Navy and naval-history collectors. 19 × 25.5 cm Pages: 229 Condition shows age-related wear, toning, staining, and damage to the cover and spine consistent with a publication approximately 90 years old. A strong historical piece for collectors of Royal Navy history, Imperial Japanese naval history, prewar military publications, warship photography, and international naval studies. Own a Piece of History. International Buyers – Please Note.

]]> https://militaria19191938.org/2026/10/27/wwii-imperial-japanese-naval-magazine-1935-royal-navy-fleet-reference-photos/feed/ 0 https://militaria19191938.org/2026/10/19/wwii-imperial-japanese-army-academy-royal-visit-photo-album-empress-1935-set/ https://militaria19191938.org/2026/10/19/wwii-imperial-japanese-army-academy-royal-visit-photo-album-empress-1935-set/#comments Tue, 20 Oct 2026 04:07:46 +0000 https://militaria19191938.org/2026/10/19/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.

]]> https://militaria19191938.org/2026/10/19/wwii-imperial-japanese-army-academy-royal-visit-photo-album-empress-1935-set/feed/ 0 https://militaria19191938.org/2026/09/14/wwii-imperial-japanese-navy-fukagawa-vase-royal-crest-anchor-plum-prewar/ https://militaria19191938.org/2026/09/14/wwii-imperial-japanese-navy-fukagawa-vase-royal-crest-anchor-plum-prewar/#comments Mon, 14 Sep 2026 22:20:52 +0000 https://militaria19191938.org/2026/09/14/wwii-imperial-japanese-navy-fukagawa-vase-royal-crest-anchor-plum-prewar/







This is a prewar Japanese porcelain vase made by Fukagawa Seiji, closely associated with the Imperial Japanese Navy and the Imperial Household. The front is decorated in underglaze blue with a large Imperial Japanese Navy anchor, plum blossoms, and above them the royal crest of the Takamatsu-no-miya branch of the Imperial Family. The Takamatsu-no-miya family was one of the branches of Japan’s Imperial Household, and Prince Takamatsu himself served as an officer in the Imperial Japanese Navy. Rather than going too deeply into his personal history, the important point here is the unusual combination of an Imperial-family crest and a naval anchor on the same piece. The maker is also highly significant. Fukagawa Seiji, founded in 1894 in Arita, became one of Japan’s most prestigious porcelain manufacturers. It won a gold medal at the 1900 Paris Exposition and later became an official supplier to the Imperial Household. The underside of this vase bears the Fukagawa Seiji maker’s mark. Fukagawa also had a documented connection with the Imperial Japanese Navy. In 1916, the company became a designated Navy factory and supplied tableware for naval officers. In 1942, it was further designated as a Navy-supervised factory, producing and supplying specialized tableware and military-use ceramics. This makes Fukagawa more than simply a famous porcelain maker: during the prewar and wartime period, it had an official manufacturing relationship with the Imperial Japanese Navy. No original box or supporting provenance documents are included with this piece, but the combination of: Imperial-family crest Imperial Japanese Navy anchor Fukagawa Seiji maker’s mark makes it a particularly interesting example of Japanese military and Imperial-era porcelain. I have not found evidence that Fukagawa continued as an official designated supplier to Japan’s postwar Self-Defense Forces. Its strongest documented military connection belongs to the era of the Imperial Japanese Navy. A small porcelain vase, but one that brings together three powerful elements of prewar Japan: the Imperial Household, the Navy, and one of Japan’s most prestigious porcelain makers. Own a Piece of History. International Buyers – Please Note.

]]> https://militaria19191938.org/2026/09/14/wwii-imperial-japanese-navy-fukagawa-vase-royal-crest-anchor-plum-prewar/feed/ 0 https://militaria19191938.org/2026/09/03/antique-imperial-japanese-hirohito-royal-wedding-commemorative-hanging-scroll/ https://militaria19191938.org/2026/09/03/antique-imperial-japanese-hirohito-royal-wedding-commemorative-hanging-scroll/#comments Thu, 03 Sep 2026 21:47:06 +0000 https://militaria19191938.org/2026/09/03/antique-imperial-japanese-hirohito-royal-wedding-commemorative-hanging-scroll/








This large antique Japanese hanging scroll commemorates an important moment in the life of Crown Prince Hirohito, who would later become Emperor Showa of Japan. At the bottom are portraits of Crown Prince Hirohito and Princess Nagako, the future Emperor Showa and Empress Kojun. Beneath their portraits appears the Japanese inscription: Commemorating the Auspicious Occasion of Their Imperial Highnesses This inscription is an important clue to the historical context of the piece. Crown Prince Hirohito married Princess Nagako on January 26, 1924, during Japan’s Taisho era. Hirohito was still a young Crown Prince, approximately three years before he ascended the throne and became the emperor whose reign would encompass World War II and Japan’s postwar transformation. The scroll presents much more than the young couple. Its imagery includes: Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken Meiji Shrine Nijubashi Bridge at the Imperial Palace Crown Prince Hirohito and Princess Nagako The Imperial chrysanthemum crest and decorative phoenix motifs At the top appears the phrase , approximately meaning The Glory of the Nation. The composition is particularly interesting from a historical perspective. Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken appear above the Meiji Shrine and Imperial Palace imagery, while the young Crown Prince and his bride appear below. It visually connects the Meiji imperial generation with the next generation of Japan’s Imperial Family. Today, Hirohito is inevitably associated with some of the most consequential events of the 20th century: the rise of militarized Japan, the Pacific War, Japan’s defeat in 1945, and the country’s remarkable postwar transformation. But this scroll captures an earlier moment. The war was still far in the future. Hirohito was not yet Emperor. It comes from a Japan celebrating the marriage of its young Crown Prince and his future Empress. That contrast is what makes this piece especially fascinating. Measuring approximately 150 cm (59 in) long and 51 cm (20 in) wide, it is a substantial display piece as well as an artifact of Japanese imperial and social history. The scroll shows significant age-related wear, including creases, wrinkles, discoloration, fading, stains, and other deterioration. Please examine all photographs carefully. These signs of age are consistent with an object that has survived for approximately a century. Dating Note: Based on the portraits and the inscription commemorating an auspicious occasion involving the Crown Prince and Princess, this piece is believed to relate to their 1924 marriage. However, no clearly visible production date or publisher’s mark has been confirmed, so the exact year of manufacture cannot be guaranteed. More than simply an old Japanese decorative scroll, this is a surviving image of Hirohito before he became Emperor – at the beginning of a life that would become inseparable from modern Japanese history. Own a Piece of History. International Buyers – Please Note.

]]> https://militaria19191938.org/2026/09/03/antique-imperial-japanese-hirohito-royal-wedding-commemorative-hanging-scroll/feed/ 0 https://militaria19191938.org/2026/07/04/original-spanish-civil-war-and-royal-and-military-order-medals-grouping/ https://militaria19191938.org/2026/07/04/original-spanish-civil-war-and-royal-and-military-order-medals-grouping/#comments Sat, 04 Jul 2026 06:39:47 +0000 https://militaria19191938.org/2026/07/04/original-spanish-civil-war-and-royal-and-military-order-medals-grouping/














This cohesive grouping belongs to a Nationalist combatant who was wounded in action and recognized for long-standing, dedicated military service. The medals feature beautiful original enamel work, distinct period patination, and correct original ribbon configurations mounted onto a traditional brass parade presentation bar. Medal Breakdowns (Left to Right). Cross of Military Merit (Red Distinction / Cruz del Mérito Militar con Distintivo Rojo). Red enameled Greek cross with a central quarterly shield of Castile and León, featuring the Bourbon fleur-de-lis in the center. Topped with a royal crown suspension. Awarded for courage, effective service, or merit during actual combat operations. Medal for Suffering for the Motherland (Medalla de Sufrimiento por la Patria). Gold-gilded laurel wreath enclosing a deep blue enameled center with a silver castle tower. The white outer enamel ring reads. “Sufrimiento por la Patria”. Specifically awarded to military personnel who were wounded in action during combat. Blackened bronze finish with a gilt rim. Depicts a Spanish lion slaying the dragon of Communism under a radiant sun with the date. The reverse shows the Francoist Eagle with the yoke and arrows logo and the text. The standard campaign medal awarded to all Nationalist forces who participated in active military operations during the war. Medal for the War Mutilated (Medalla de Mutilado de Guerra). Shield-shaped medal featuring a gold cross of Burgundy on a blue enameled background. “Mutilado de Guerra por la Patria – Franco 18 de Julio 1936″. A specialized, highly respected award presented exclusively to soldiers who sustained permanent, disabling physical injuries or lost limbs in battle. Royal and Military Order – Knight’s Cross. White enameled Maltese cross with a crown suspension. The central blue medallion depicts Saint Hermenegild on horseback, surrounded by the inscription. “Premio a la Constancia Militar”. The reverse features the royal cypher. Awarded to military officers to recognize long, continuous, and unblemished military career longevity and loyalty. Good overall preservation with rich, deep colors. Some light surface wear consistent with age; no major chips or structural cracks to the enameled segments. Displays an attractive, honest period patina. The gilt details retain good luster, and the strike details on the Campaign Medal are clean and sharp. The original silk ribbons show expected light fading and structural aging. The reverse side features the authentic pin assembly on a sturdy brass frame, showcasing an untouched, original period assembly. Therefore, you are asked to please check ALL posted photos and review the Description Section before purchasing an item from our store. Before listing, we clean and inspect our items for neatness and accuracy. We know how important it is that your item arrive quickly and undamaged, so we will take great care in packing your items professionally and properly. You will never be disappointed.

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MAY 20, 1936 CRUISE TO THE ROYAL DOMAIN. INCLUDES COMMENTARY – CAPTIONED CANDID PHOTOS – A LOG AND A MUSTER ROLL. 9″ x 11″ SOFTCOVER.

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A rare medal from 1924 (Taisho 13) of the 1st Company, Konoe Infantry Regiment No. Shows age-related scratches, dirt, and wear consistent with its age. Suitable for collectors of Imperial Japanese Army militaria and pre-WWII Japanese military history. International Buyers – Please Note.

]]> https://militaria19191938.org/2026/06/23/imperial-japanese-army-original-commemorative-medal-royal-guard-ww2-military/feed/ 0 https://militaria19191938.org/2026/04/06/romanian-royal-aviation-pilot-observer-badge-1930-1940/ https://militaria19191938.org/2026/04/06/romanian-royal-aviation-pilot-observer-badge-1930-1940/#comments Mon, 06 Apr 2026 23:30:43 +0000 https://militaria19191938.org/2026/04/06/romanian-royal-aviation-pilot-observer-badge-1930-1940/




Romanian Royal Aviation pilot-observer badge. Carol II King monogram. Bronze plated by silver.

]]> https://militaria19191938.org/2026/04/06/romanian-royal-aviation-pilot-observer-badge-1930-1940/feed/ 0 https://militaria19191938.org/2026/03/20/1920-imperial-japanese-army-royal-guard-photo-album-3rd-guard-infantry/ https://militaria19191938.org/2026/03/20/1920-imperial-japanese-army-royal-guard-photo-album-3rd-guard-infantry/#comments Fri, 20 Mar 2026 07:54:48 +0000 https://militaria19191938.org/2026/03/20/1920-imperial-japanese-army-royal-guard-photo-album-3rd-guard-infantry/

















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).

]]> https://militaria19191938.org/2026/03/20/1920-imperial-japanese-army-royal-guard-photo-album-3rd-guard-infantry/feed/ 0 https://militaria19191938.org/2026/02/18/1934-imperial-japanese-royal-family-pictorial-book-special-issue-celebration/ https://militaria19191938.org/2026/02/18/1934-imperial-japanese-royal-family-pictorial-book-special-issue-celebration/#comments Wed, 18 Feb 2026 19:51:46 +0000 https://militaria19191938.org/2026/02/18/1934-imperial-japanese-royal-family-pictorial-book-special-issue-celebration/











A deluxe special issue of the prestigious women’s magazine Fujin Gaho. The cover design is by Western-style painter Saburo Miyamoto. Compiled with official court and Imperial Household Agency photographs, it functions as a visual yearbook of the Japanese Imperial Family. It also includes portraits of the former Korean royal family (Yi dynasty). A richly illustrated pictorial commemorating the birth of the Crown Prince (Prince Akihito, later Emperor Akihito) at the end of 1933. Large formal portraits of the Emperor and Empress in court dress. Portraits of Yi Un (Prince of Korea), Princess Masako, and Prince Yi Gu. Photographs of Imperial family members from Meiji through early Showa – ceremonies, official outings, daily portraits. Full-color plates of Japanese orders, decorations, and military/imperial flags. Genealogical charts and explanatory texts of the Imperial family and noble houses. A valuable reference showing court dress, decorations, and rituals of the era. Published in Showa 9 (1934), totaling 304 pages. Produced immediately following the Crown Prince’s birth, capturing the celebratory atmosphere and the culture of the Imperial court in early Showa. Published in Tokyo as a Fujin Gaho special issue. The photographs feature locations such as the Imperial Palace, residences of various princes, naval ports, and official visits. The birth of a crown prince was a major national event. This volume provided an accessible visual record of the Imperial family and their ceremonial life. Today it serves as. A reference for Imperial history, court attire, and the honors system. Material for museum exhibitions, documentaries, and academic study. A core item for serious collectors of Imperial memorabilia. Printed on thick gravure paper, 304 large pages with primarily monochrome photographs and several color plates (orders, flags). Clear chapter divisions progress from portraits? Genealogies? Systems of orders and flags. Title: Fujin Gaho Special Issue – Kozoku Gaho: Commemorative Pictorial for the Birth of the Crown Prince. Cover: Design by Saburo Miyamoto. Publication year: 1934 (Showa 9). Format: 304 pages, numerous photo plates, color plates of decorations and flags, genealogical charts. Major contents: Emperor & Empress, Imperial family members, Yi dynasty royal family (Yi Un, Princess Masako, Prince Yi Gu). Shows typical age-related wear: surface rubbing and light stains on the cover, tears to the spine ends, foxing and toning to pages, binding somewhat loose. Still complete and fully legible; illustrations intact (see photos). Highlights / Research Value. Rare color plates of Imperial orders, decorations, and flags. High-quality portraits and biographical sketches of the Imperial family & Yi dynasty. Large-format pages of military and Imperial flags. Genealogical charts presenting the family structure from Meiji through early Showa. ? Note: This item is offered as a historical document only. It is not intended to promote or glorify any political ideology or past regime. Early Showa / Japanese Imperial Family / Saburo Miyamoto / Fujin Gaho / Imperial Pictorial Album / Prince Akihito / Yi Dynasty / Yi Un / Princess Masako / Yi Gu / Orders & Decorations / Flags / Genealogy / Imperial History Reference. International Buyers – Please Note. Thank you for your understanding.

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