Ogawa, Kazumasa

FIRST EDITION, 2 volumes, oblong folio (365 x 470mm.), LIMITED EDITION, NUMBER 442 OF 500 COPIES, titles and text in English and Japanese with captions to the photographs in Chinese, 166 (of 172) collotype plates (the 6 missing plates present as photographic facsimiles), including some folding (2- and 3-part) panoramas, text in original wrappers and loose plates (as issued) housed in two modern portfolios incorporating the publisher's original gilt titled and decorated covers, leather ties, lacking 6 plates (nos. 2, 17-19, 70 and 84; present as photographic facsimiles), panorama sections detached or folds strengthened on the reverse with tape, occasional light spotting or dust-soiling, portfolios slightly rubbed

[Ibid.] Decoration of Palace Buildings of Peking. Tokyo: K. Ogawa, 1906
FIRST EDITION, oblong folio (366 x 470mm.), LIMITED EDITION, NUMBER 198 OF 1000 COPIES, English text, together with 81 loose plates (as issued), comprising 80 numbered, of which 20 hand-coloured and tipped-onto black card, and 2 folding colour printed plans of Peking, and one unnumbered plate, publisher's decorative brown silk portfolio with gilt decoration on upper cover, cloth ties, text neatly rebacked, minor spotting, portfolio refurbished, new flaps and ties

Western Travellers in China 83, 105

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Two important works on the palace buildings of Beijing. In the aftermath of the Boxer Rebellion the Imperial University of Tokyo established a Commission in 1901 to study the "arrangement, construction and decoration of the Palace Buildings of the 'Forbidden City' and other palace grounds." Kazumasa Ogawa (1860-1929), considered as a pioneer in the development of photography and photomechanical printing in Japan, was appointed as the official photographer and editor. "These volumes contain an important record of the decoration of the imperial palaces at the beginning of the twentieth century - a time when, due to the decline of the Qing dynasty, they had been untouched for some time" (Western Travellers in China).