[PERRY EXPEDITION - USS MISSISSIPPI].

[かわら版ミシシッピ号. Kawaraban Misisippi-go].
[Kawaraban Showing Matthew Perry's Flagship, the Mississippi].

[Japan]. (Circa 1853). Stock ID #218388

Two black and white woodblock kawarabans, 18 x 24cm, some light staining at margins but overall very good.

A black-and-white kawaraban (popular broadsheet) woodblock print showing Commodore Matthew Perry's flagship, the Mississippi, at the time of his visit to Japan in 1853. The text accompanying the carefully depicted ship gives the dimensions of the vessel and other details including the number of crew. It then goes on to give an interesting summary of world geography, explaining to readers that the world has four great oceans and six continents, and that Japan is situated in the east of Asia. They are also told that America lies 5000 ri (about 10,500 miles) to the east of Japan, and that its capital is Washington. On the second sheet with an illustration of a steam ship, it gives the sizes of the boat and its crew. It also refers to the speed and the distance a steam ship is able to cover and amazes with the vast distance the ship can travel.

The kawaraban is a vivid illustration of the astonishment with which Japanese people responded to the coming of Perry and his "Black Ships", and of the curiosity about the outside world which this event generated. The Mississippi was particularly impressive because it was a steam-powered paddle ship. In this image we see not only the ship and its rigging and paddle-wheel, but also the small figures of crew members, including one starting to climb the mast and another apparently sounding the depth of the water.

When referring to this item please quote stockid 218388.

Price: $650.00 AU

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