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Buying. We are actively buying books published by the Takagi Photographic Studio. If you have material to sell, please contact us. All the books below, and any others, are of interest.

Selling. If we have a book in stock, a link to the offering is provided.

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Leaf From the Diary of a Young Lady

Tamamura (Yokohama)

From Peace to Strife, An Incident of the Bushido Spirit

"Tamamura the Photographer, Kobe"

The Chrysanthemums in Japan

"Tamamura the Photographer, Kobe" and "T. Takagi, Proprietor"

Military Accomplishments of Japan

"Takagi Photographic Studio & Art Gallery, Kobe"

 
This page considers the pictorial books published by K. Tamamura (Yokohama & Kobe) and T. Takagi (Kobe). These books are characterized by the following:

• Plates: Handcolored collotype printed plates (image area ca 4 x 6 in) with descriptive captions in English and printed on one side only.
• Number of Plates: Generally 12 plates but sometimes as many as 50 plates.
• Size: Oblong 8vo (9-10 x 6-7 1/4 in) - horizontal format.
• Boards/Binding: Hard covers (cardboard covered with fabric), ribbon tied.
• Subjects: Each book considers a specific topic, generally with a focus on a distinctive aspect of Japanese culture. Occasionally the books have a geographic or scene place theme but that is the exception.
• Colophons & Attribution: Early K. (Kozaburo) Tamamura collotype plate books do not contain a colophon. With these books the attribution is based upon similarity with known K. Tamamura photographs and the location of Yokohama is presumed as that was Tamamura's primary business location. Later books with colophons (K. Tamamura or T. Takagi) indicate Kobe. There is a definite possibility that all the colored collotype plate books listed on this page were actually produced in Kobe, either by Tamamura or Takagi.
• Deluxe Editions: At this time (late 18th through early 19th century) it was a common practice for a publisher to produce regular and deluxe editions of this type of book. I have personally examined one Takagi book (Japanese Views and Characters, 50 plates), ca 1919, which was in a deluxe format. The basic difference between deluxe and regular format books lies in the covers and not the contents. For more information on deluxe editions, click here.
• Tamamura to Takagi Transition: It appears that Tamamura sold his business operation in Kobe to T. Takagi in late 1903 to early 1904. Starting in 1906, one finds a gradual transition in the colophons in these books away from Tamamura to Takagi. The earliest book I have examined with reference only to Takagi (no mention of Tamamura) was published in 1913. For more information on this, click here.

 
Confirmed (Verified) Books.

Tamamura, Kozaburo (Yokohama) [Tamamura Shashinkan] :

• c1904, Leaf From the Diary of a Young Lady, Yokohama, Kozaburo Tamamura, c1904, oblong 8vo, black with gold floral/leaf pattern covers with color woodblock tipped to the front cover. The book is composed of 24 hand colored albumen photographs, each tipped to page. Below each photographs is descriptive text. No colophon. Accompanied by folding case. This book (see next listing) was also published with the same images and text but with the images reproduced in collotypes rather than albumen photographs.

• c1904, Leaf From the Diary of a Young Lady, Yokohama, Kozaburo Tamamura, c1904, oblong 8vo (10 x 7 1/4 in), black with gold floral/leaf pattern covers, 24 pp. This book is composed of 24 hand colored collotype photographs by Tamamura. It should be noted that whether this book was produced by Tamamura or Takagi is an open question. Some authorities have attributed it to Takagi and date it c1910. The book does not have a colophon. For more information on this book, click here.
  ~~ Available - Leaf From the Diary of a Young Lady - Purchase Here ~~

• c1905, The Japan, Yokohama, Kozaburo Tamamura, c1905, 12 black and white collotype plates.

• Japanese Views and Characters, a three volume set, Yokohama, Kozaburo Tamamura, c1910, oblong 8vo, decorative covers, string tied. Volume 1 covers Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, Kobe and Nagasaki. Volume 2 covers Yokohama, Kamakura, Fuji and Nagoya. Volume 3 deals with Tokyo and Nikko. Each volume has 24 hand colored, tissue guarded, collotypes. It should be noted that Takagi published a book with the same title ca 1919 (see below). That book contains 50 collotype plates.
  For more information on Volume I, click here.
  For more information on Volume II, type 1, click here.
  For more information on Volume II, type 2, click here.
  For more information on Volume III, click here.

• Glass (Magic Lantern) Slides. The George Eastman House, Still Photograph Archive, has an on-line gallery of 6 hand colored glass (magic lantern) slides which they attribute to "K. Tamamura." To see those images, click here. They describe these slides as "transparency, gelatin on glass with applied color." Takagi, Tamamura's successor in Kobe, also produced colored glass slides. The George Eastman House web site also lists a series of glass slides attributed to T. Takagi. To see those images, click here.

 
Tamamura, Kozaburo (Kobe, ca 1898 - ca 1906, T. Takagi Successor):

• 1904, From Peace to Strife, An Incident of the Bushido Spirit, "Bushido" the Soul of Japan, Kobe, "Tamamura the Photographer, Kobe" Meiji 37 (1904), 1st edition, oblong 8vo (6 1/4 x 9 1/4 in - 16 x 23.5 cm), English language, lithograph title page, 12 hand colored collotype plates with captions, pliable cardboard covered with silk type fabric, single string tie, unpaginated. The actual images are approximately 4 x 6 in (10.5 x 15 cm). This book was published as Japan was engaged in the Russo-Japan War. It is a pictorial account of a young man, "Taro" who was called up from the reserves to active duty. It starts with "Taro" and his mother and father tending the family crops and progresses from his receipt of the call-up letter, to preparations for departure, to his farewell and ends with a letter and poem home from him in Manchuria. For more information on this book, click here. The same book was also published without a colophon.
  ~~ Available - An Incident of the Bushido Spirit without Colophon - Purchase Here ~~

• 1906, February, The New Year in Japan, Kobe, "Tamamura the Photographer, Kobe," Meiji 39 (1906), oblong 8vo (7 x 10 1/4 in - 18 x 26 cm), English language, hand colored title page, two page introduction, 24 hand colored collotype plates with captions, no tissue guards, hard boards covered with silk type fabric, unpaginated. The actual images are approximately 4 x 6 in (10.5 x 15 cm). Pictorial depiction of New Year activities in Japan. For more information on this book, click here.

• c1906, Views in the Land of the Rising Sun, Japan, "Tamamura the Photographer, Kobe" - large 8vo, 5 1/2 x 15 1/4 in (14 x 39 cm), c1906, brown paper covers, 22 pp. This book is composed of 22 hand colored collotype photographs by "Tamamura." Each photograph has an English caption. The collotype image areas measure 3 1/4 x 11 1/4 inches. The collotypes are protected with tissue guards. There is no colophon. There is no reference to Takagi in the book. For more information on this book, click here.

• c1906, Characteristic Japan, Views in the Land of the Rising Sun, Japan, "Tamamura the Photographer, Kobe" - large 8vo, c1906, 25 pp. This book is composed of 24 hand colored collotype photographs (19 horizontal format and 5 vertical format). Each photograph has an English caption. Perhaps the above book with is a variant of this one.

• 1905-c1906, The Ceremonies of A Japanese Marriage, Kobe, "Tamamura the Photographer, Kobe" (1905-c1906), 1st & 2nd editions published between 1905 & c1906. See next comment.

• Many early editions of the books listed under T. Takagi, below, probably contain the Tamamaura, (Kobe or Yokohama) imprint in editions published prior to mid-1906. Likewise, it is likely that later editions of the Tamamura books noted above bear the T. Takagi imprint. It is also possible that both regular and deluxe type editions were produced of some of the titles shown on this web page. The primary distinction would probably be in the covers with the contents being uniform.

• 1906, February, The Festival of the Ages, "Tamamura the Photographer, Kobe." The colophon states a printing date of Meiji 39 (1906), February. A copy of this book where T. Takagi modified the colophon (see below) and marketed this book under his name has been confirmed. This appears to be the book that marks the transition of the business in Kobe from Tamamura to Takagi.

• Silver Print Photographs. Tamamura (and probably Takagi under the Tamamura name) marketed/distributed hand tinted silver print photographs from the Kobe location. These photographs measure 12.3 x 30 cm. The back of these photographs carry adverting for the Kobe operation. On occasion, these photographs are found with the original mailing envelope with a Tamamura, Kobe, return address. Such an item can be seen on the Old Japan website here (April, 2006).

 
Takagi, T. (Teijiro) (Kobe, ca 1906, Successor to Tamamura the Photographer, Kobe):

• 1906, The Festival of the Ages, "Tamamura the Photographer Kobe." The colophon states a printing date of Meiji 39 (1906), February. The book has been reported with an ink handstamp on the colophon reading "T. Takagi." Further, the book has been reported with a loose business size card reading:

  The name of this firm
  "The TAMAMURA"
  has been changed to
  "T. TAKAGI"
  which is the name of the proprietor.
  The work is carried on exactly as before and under
  the same management.

  To see this card, click here.

  Since the next book published (Meiji 40 - 1907) carried a mention of Takagi actually printed in the colophon, it appears that T. Takagi took possession of the Tamamura stock at some point in early to mid 1906. To see the front cover of this book, click here.

• c1906, The Ceremonies of A Japanese Marriage, Kobe, T. Takagi, Meiji 38 (1905), with 6 editions published between 1905 - 1919, oblong 8vo (7 x 10 1/4 in - 18 x 26 cm), English language, hand colored title page, introduction, 20 hand colored collotype plates with captions, no tissue guards, hard boards covered with silk type fabric, unpaginated. The actual images are approximately 4 x 6 in (10.5 x 15 cm). Pictorial presentation of several aspects of a Japanese marriage. Spans the sequence of events which include the male meeting with a "match-maker," the actual marriage ceremony (a series of several pictures) and the gifts. Printings 1-6 spanned the period from 1905-1919. For more information on the 5th edition (1916) of this book, click here.

• 1907, The Chrysanthemums in Japan, Kobe, "Tamamura the Photographer, Kobe and T. Takagi," Meiji 40 (1907), 1st edition, oblong 8vo (7 x 10 1/4 in - 18 x 26 cm), English language, hand colored title page, introduction, 10 hand colored collotype plates with captions, no tissue guards, hard boards covered with silk type fabric, unpaginated. The actual images are approximately 4 x 6 in (10.5 x 15 cm). For more information on this book, click here.

• 1907, In and Out of Kobe, Kobe, "Tamamura the Photographer, T. Takagi Proprietor," Meiji 40 (1907) - first edition and Meiji 42 (1909) - second edition, oblong 8vo (6 1/2 x 9 in - 16.2 x 23 cm), English language, no title page, 20 hand colored collotype plates with captions, decorated silk (1st ed) over cardboard or paper (2nd ed) over cardboard , single string tie, unpaginated. The actual images are approximately 4 x 6 in (10.5 x 15 cm). A pictorial tour of important points in and around Kobe. The colophons establish the first edition was published in Meiji 40 (1907) and the second edition in Meiji 42 (1902). For more information on this book, click here.
  ~~ Available - 1st (1907) Edition - Purchase Here ~~

• 1907, The "Ceremonial Tea" Observance in Japan, Kobe, "Published by Tamamura, Photographer, Kobe, Japan, T. Takagi, Proprietor," Meiji 40 (1907). For a 1917 edition of this book see below. This book with "Tamamura" in the colophon has a printing date of Meiji 40 (1907).8.3 and a publication date of Meiji 40 (1907).8.5. The book has been documented with a "T. Takagi" handstamp in English and Japanese on the colophon. I presume that book was issued ca 1907. The 1917 edition of this book deletes all references to Tamamura. To see the colophon of the Tamamura book with the overprinted colophon, click here.

• 1908, The Tea in Japan, Kobe, "Tamamura, Kobe, Japan, Photographer and Art Publisher, T. Takagi, Proprietor," Meiji 41 (1908), oblong 8vo (7 x 10 1/4 in - 18 x 26 cm), English language, hand colored title page, one page introduction, 15 hand colored collotype plates with captions, no tissue guards, hard boards covered with silk type fabric, unpaginated. The actual images are approximately 4 x 6 in (10.5 x 15 cm). Pictorial depiction of cultivation, harvesting, manufacture and ceremonial activities associated with tea in Japan. For more information on this book, click here.

• 1909, A Wintry Tour Around Fujiyama (24 plates), Kobe, "Tamamura the Photographer, T. Takagi Proprietor," additional ink handstamp of "T. Takagi" in colophon, Meiji 42 (1909), oblong 8vo (7 1/4 x 10 in - 18 x 25.5 cm), English language, lithographed color title page, introduction, 24 hand colored collotype plates with captions and protected by tissue guards, decorated silk boards, double string tie, unpaginated. The actual images are approximately 4 x 6 in (10.5 x 15 cm). An account of two "young farmers" returning home to Gotemba (near Mt Fuji) after a New Year trip. A 19 plate version of this book was also published. For more information on this 24 plate version of the book, click here.

• 1909, A Wintry Tour Around Fujiyama (19 plates), Kobe, "Tamamura Photographic Studio and Art Gallery, Takagi Proprietor," Meiji 42 (1909), oblong 8vo (7 x 10 1/4 in - 18 x 26 cm), English language, lithographed color title page, 19 hand colored collotype plates with captions, no tissue guards, hard boards covered with silk type fabric, unpaginated. The actual images are approximately 4 x 6 in (10.5 x 15 cm). Mount Fuji in the winter. For more information on this 19 plate version of the book, click here.

• 1913, Snap-Shots of Out-Door Life in Japan, Kobe, "Takagi Photographic Studio and Art Gallery," Taisho 2 (1913), 2nd edition, oblong 8vo (7 x 10 1/4 in - 18 x 26 cm), English language, black and white title page, 24 hand colored collotype plates with captions, no tissue guards, hard boards covered with silk type fabric, unpaginated. The actual images are approximately 4 x 6 in (10.5 x 15 cm). Various outdoor activity scenes. For more information on this book, click here.
  ~~ Available - 2nd (1913) Edition - Purchase Here ~~

• 1913, The Building in Japan, Kobe, "Takagi Photographic Studio and Art Gallery," Taisho 2 (1913), oblong 8vo (7 x 10 1/4 in - 18 x 26 cm), English language, black and white title page, 20 hand colored collotype plates with captions, no tissue guards, hard boards covered with silk type fabric, unpaginated. The actual images are approximately 4 x 6 in (10.5 x 15 cm). Pictorial representation of various aspects of constructing a house in Japan. Starts with the carpenter determining the lumber required for a house and follows the construction of the house through the final finished state with landscaping (Japanese garden). For more information on this book, click here.

• 1915, The Silk in Japan, Kobe, "Takagi Photographic Studio and Art Gallery," Taisho 4 (1915), oblong 8vo (7 x 10 1/4 in - 18 x 26 cm), English language, black and white title page, 17 hand colored collotype plates with captions, no tissue guards, hard boards covered with silk type fabric, spine covered, unpaginated. The actual images are approximately 4 x 6 in (10.5 x 15 cm). Pictorial representation of various aspects of the Japanese silk industry. A second edition was published in Taisho 9 (1920). For more information on this book, click here.
  ~~ Available - 2nd (1920) Edition - Purchase Here ~~

• 1916, The School Life of Young Japan, Kobe, "Takagi Photographic Studio and Art Gallery," Taisho 5 (1916), 2nd printing, oblong 8vo (7 x 10 1/4 in - 18 x 26 cm), English language, hand colored title page, introduction,(first part), text page introducing second part, 20 hand colored collotype plates with captions, no tissue guards, hard boards covered with silk type fabric, unpaginated. The actual images are approximately 4 x 6 in (10.5 x 15 cm). Pictorial depiction of various school scenes. The first part (12 plates) depicts scenes in school and to and from school. The second part (8 plates) has plates relating to school sports. For more information on this book, click here.

• 1917, The "Ceremonial Tea" Observance in Japan, Kobe, "T. Takagi Photographic Studio and Art Gallery," Taisho 6 (1917), 2nd edition, oblong 8vo (7 x 10 in - 18 x 25.5 cm), English language, hand colored title page, one page "Explanation" of the significance of the tea ceremony by H. Spencer, 15 hand colored collotype plates with captions, plates protected by tissue guards, silk type cloth over cardboard with handcolored illustration recessed in the front board, double string ties, unpaginated. The actual images are approximately 4 x 6 in (10.5 x 15 cm). A pictorial essay on the tea ceremony in Japan at the turn of the 20th century. The colophon indicates the first edition was published in Meiji 41 (1908). An edition of this book with "Tamamura" on the colophon carries a colophon with the date o Meiji 40 (1907). For more information on the 2nd edition (1917) of this book, click here. See 1907, above, for an earlier edition of this book.

• 1917, Girls' Pastimes in Japan, Kobe, "Takagi Photographic Studio and Art Gallery," Taisho 6 (1917), 2nd printing, oblong 8vo (7 x 10 1/4 in - 18 x 26 cm), English language, hand colored title page, introduction, 23 hand colored collotype plates with captions, no tissue guards, hard boards covered with silk type fabric, unpaginated. The actual images are approximately 4 x 6 in (10.5 x 15 cm). Pictorial presentation of various activities of girls and young ladies in Japan. For more information on this book, click here.

• 1917, The Fujiyama, Kobe, "Takagi Photographic Studio and Art Gallery," Taisho 6 (1917), large oblong 8vo (9 5/8 x 12 1/2 in - 25 x 33 cm), 20 hand colored collotype plates with captions. The actual images are approximately 14.5 x 23 cm.

• 1918, Military Accomplishments of Japan, Kobe, "Takagi Photographic Studio and Art Gallery," Taisho 7 (1918), oblong 8vo (7 x 10 1/4 in - 18 x 26 cm), English language, hand colored title page, introduction, 20 hand colored collotype plates with captions, no tissue guards, hard boards covered with silk type fabric, unpaginated. The actual images are approximately 4 x 6 in (10.5 x 15 cm). Pictorial presentation of various military arts which include Fencing, Archery, the Halberd, Judo and Warriors of Old (samurai, soldiers in armor etc). For more information on this book, click here.

• ca 1918, Views of Kioto, Kobe & Kioto, "T. Takagi Photographic Studio and Art Gallery, Kobe & Kioto," not dated, ca 1918, oblong 8vo (7 x 9 3/4 in - 18 x 25 cm), English language, title page, 20 hand colored collotype plates with captions, no tissue guards, cloth over cardboard, two string ties, unpaginated. The actual images are approximately 4 x 6 in (10.5 x 15 cm). A pictorial tour of important points in and around Kioto. The book has no colophon so the date is approximate and estimated based upon the T. Takagi designation given on the title page. For more information on this book, click here.

• c1918, Hills in Kobe, Kobe, "T. Takagi Photographic Studio and Art Gallery, Kobe," ca 1918, oblong 8vo (6 1/4 x 9 in - 16 x 22.8 cm), English & Japanese language, title page with red lettering, 20 hand colored collotype plates with captions, linen type cloth over cardboard with handcolored illustrations, single string ties, no tissue guards, no colophon, unpaginated. The actual images are approximately 4 x 6 in (10.5 x 15 cm). A pictorial essay on the hills around Kobe. For more information on this book, click here.

• ca 1919 Japanese Views and Characters, Kobe, "By T. Takagi, Kobe, Japan," no colophon - not dated but ca 1919, oblong 8vo (6 1/4 x 9 in - 15.6 x 22.5 cm), English language, illustrated hand colored title page, 50 hand colored collotype plates with captions, tissue guards between places, illustrated cloth over cardboard, single string tie, unpaginated. The actual images are approximately 4 x 6 in (10.5 x 15 cm). For more information on this book, click here. This book is similar to the book below but it does have a significant number of different plates.
  ~~ Available - Japanese Views & Characters, 50 Plates - Purchase Here ~~

• ca 1919 Japanese Views and Characters, Kobe, "Takagi Photo Co., Kobe, Japan," and "By T. Takagi, Kobe, Japan," no colophon - not dated but ca 1919, oblong 8vo (7 x 10 in - 18 x 25.2 cm), English descriptive captions, 50 hand colored collotype plates with captions, no tissue guards, hard boards covered with silk type fabric, tied with one or two string ties, unpaginated. These books has different views from the book above. For more information on these books, click here.
  ~~ Available - Japanese Views & Characters, 50 Plates - Purchase Here ~~

• ca 1919 Japanese Views and Characters, Kobe, "Takagi Photo Co., Kobe, Japan," deluxe edition, no colophon - not dated but ca 1919, oblong 8vo (7 x 10 in - 18 x 25.2 cm), English descriptive captions, 50 hand colored collotype plates with captions, no tissue guards,boards in silk (padded), all edges gilt, folding case, two string ties, unpaginated. This book has the same images as the book above. For more information on this book, click here.
  ~~ Available - Japanese Views & Characters, 50 Plates, Deluxe Edition - Purchase Here ~~

• Glass (Magic Lantern) Slides. T. Takagi also produced and marketed hand colored glass (magic lantern) slides. The George Eastman House, Still Photograph Archive, has an on-line gallery of 26 selected images from these slides. To see those images, click here. They describe these slides as "transparency, gelatin on glass with applied color."

 
Unconfirmed (Not Personally Verified) T. Takagi Books.

• 1907 (Meiji 40), The School Life of Young Japan, Kobe, Takagi, 1st printing, 20 color collotypes, see 1916, above, for 2nd printing.

• 1908 (Meiji 41), Snap-Shots of Out-Door Life in Japan, Kobe, Takagi see 1913, above, for 2nd printing.

• 1910 (Meiji 43), Girls' Pastimes in Japan, Kobe, T. Takagi, 1st printing, see 1917, 2nd printing, above.

• 1920, The Silk in Japan, Kobe, Takagi, 25 x 18 cm, 19 black and white collotypes, confirmed with 17 hand colored collotype plates however.

• Fishing in Japan, Kobe, Takagi, 19 hand colored collotypes.

• The Rice in Japan, Kobe, T. Takagi, Photographic Studio and Art Gallery, No. 42, Nishimachi, Kobe.

 
Unconfirmed (Not Personally Verified) Tamamura the Photographer.

• 1906 (Meiji 39), The Japanese Tea-House, the Social Restaurant, Kobe, Tamamura Photographic Studio. Also reported as 1907 with 12 handcolored collotype plates and part of the "Things Japanese" series by Tamamura.

• c1906, The Fisherman's Life in Japan, Tamamura the Photographer

• c1906, The Transformation of Mother Earth : from Nature to Art, Tamamura the Photographer

• c1906 Views of Kioto, Tamamura Photographic Studio, 24 handcolored collotype plates and a part of the "Things Japanese" series by Tamamura.

• 1921 Characteristic Gardens in Japan, Kobe, Tamamura the Photographer and Takagi, 20 color autotypes of public and private gardens in Kyoto.

Some books with the Tamamura Photographic Studio imprint are reported with the designation "Things Japanese."

 
Books similar to the Tamamura and Takagi books.

• c1925, The Silk Industry of Japan, Showing the Various Stages of Silk Production from the Worm to the Finished Article, Tokyo, printed by Uyeda, oblong small 8vo (6 3/4 x 8 3/8 in - 14.5 x 21.2 cm), not dated but ca 1925, Japanese and English descriptive text, no title page or colophon, 20 hand colored collotype plates, each plate is preceded by a page with descriptive text (Japanese and English), stiff wraps with illustrated front cover, staple bound with string tie, spine covered, unpaginated. The actual collotype printed images are approximately 4+ x 6 in (10.5 x 15 cm). Pictorial representation of various aspects of the Japanese silk industry. For more information on this book, click here.
  ~~ Available - The Silk Industry of Japan - Purchase Here ~~

 
General Comments Regarding Tamamura/Takagi Color Collotype Books.

• English language attribution statements found in colophons.

  1. "Published by Tamamura, Photographer, Kobe, Japan" (first/last confirmed use - 1898/1906 (Meiji 39).
     

      
     

  2. Tamamura colophon with an ink handstamps reading "T. Takagi." (only confirmed use - 1906 (Meiji 39), February. See: 1906, The Festival of the Ages, above.
     

      
     

  3. "Published by Tamamura, No 16, Sannomiyacho, Kobe, Japan, Photographer and Art Publisher, T. Takagi, Proprietor" (first/last confirmed use - 1908 (Meiji 41)/1908 (Meiji 41)).
     

      
     

  4. "Published by Tamamura, Photographer, Kobe, Japan, T. Takagi, Proprietor" (first/last confirmed use - 1907 (Meiji 40)/1909 (Meiji 42)). Sometimes states "(Collotyped and hand colored.)"
     

      
     

  5. "Published by Tamamura, Photographer, Kobe, Japan, T. Takagi, Proprietor" with an ink handstamp reading "T. Takagi." (only confirmed use - c1907 (Meiji 40). See: 1907, The "Ceremonial Tea" Observance in Japan, above.
     

      
     

  6. "Published by Tamamura, Photographic Studio and Art Gallery, No 42, Nishimachi, Kobe, Japan, T. Takagi, Proprietor" (first/last confirmed use - 1909 (Meiji 42)/1909 (Meiji 42)).
     

      
     

  7. "Published by Tamamura, Photographic Studio and Art Gallery, No 42, Nishimachi, Kobe, Japan, T. Takagi, Proprietor" with "T. Takagi" ink handstamp in English and Japanese (first/last confirmed use - 1909 (Meiji 42, July)/1909 (Meiji 42, July), A Wintry Tour Around Fujiyama).
     

      
     

  8. "Published by Tamamura, Photographic Studio and Art Gallery, No 42, Nishimachi, Kobe (Head Store) and No. 1 Sanjo, Furukawacho, Kioto (Branch Store), T. Takagi, Proprietor" (first/last confirmed use - 1912 (Meiji 45, April)/1912 (Meiji 45, April), Ceremonies of a Japanese Wedding, 4th Edition).
     

      
     

  9. "Published by Takagi Photographic Studio & Art Gallery, No. 42, Nishimachi, Kobe, Japan" designation with no reference to Tamamura. (first/last confirmed use - 1913 (Taisho 2)/1918 (Taisho 7))
     

      
     

  10. "By T. Takagi Photographic Studio & Art Gallery" no address (first/last confirmed use - ca 1918). This designation is found on the title page of Hills of Kobe which contains no colophon.
      

       
      

  11. "By T. Takagi Photographic Studio & Art Gallery, Kobe & Kioto, Japan" contains Kioto as well as Kobe (first/last confirmed use - ca 1918). This designation is found on the title page of Views of Kioto which contains no colophon. It has the only reference to a Takagi operation in Kyoto that I have seen.
      

       
      

  12. "Published by Takagi Photo Co., T. Takagi, Proprietor, No. 42, Nishimachi, Kobe, Japan" (first/last confirmed use - 1919 (Taisho 8))
      

       
      

  13. "Takagi Photo Co., No. 42, Nishimachi, Kobe, Japan" (first/last confirmed use - 1920 (Taisho 9))
      

       
      

  14. "Takagi Photo Co., Kobe, Japan" or "By T. Takagi, Kobe, Japan" designation with no address(first/last confirmed use - ca 1919/Unknown). These designations are found on the title page. Found in the 50 plate versions of Japanese Views and Characters which contain no colophon.
      

       
      

• Hand colored collotype prints (generally 10 or more per book).

• Book Format/Size. Horizontal format, generally 8vo (7 x 10 1/2 in) but sometimes large 8vo (7 x 16 in). Books are configured in Western format and read from left to right.

• Collotype Format/Size. Generally horizontal format images. Prints in the 8vo books have an image area of approximately 6 x 4 in. Images have English descriptive text printed below them. In some books the plates are separated by tissue guards but that is the exception rather than the rule.
  A Typical Collotype Plate
  

• Covers/Bindings. Covers are generally hard (cardboard) and covered with a silk type fabric. The spine is covered with very thin paper. Often the covers have no illustrations are titling. Binding is generally accomplished by two string ties on the left edge. However, at least one book has been examined with a single string tie holding the covers and two string ties internally.
  Typical Cloth Over Cardboard Cover
  Double String Tied
  

  Typical Illustrated Cloth Over Cardboard Cover
  Single String Tied
  
  Similar unillustrated covers were also used.

  Deluxe Edition, Silk (padded) Over
  Cardboard Covers, Double String Tied
  

  Atypical Cloth Over Cardboards Cover with Recessed
  Watercolor Illustration, Double String Tied
  

  Atypical Illustrated Paper Over Cardboard Cover
  Single String Tied
  

   
  
• Deluxe Editions. I have examined one book that was issued in regular and deluxe edition format. This is the 50 plate version of Japanese Views and Characters. Information regarding the standard edition book is here and information about the deluxe edition is here. The regular edition has the standard cloth over cardboard covers with a single tie. The deluxe edition has padded decorated silk over cardboard with double ties. The spine of the deluxe edition is covered with the same silk used on the boards and all edges are gilt. Additionally, the deluxe edition comes with a folding cover/case with two ivory type clasps. The contents of the regular and deluxe editions are identical.
• Typical Book Condition. The fabric covering of the boards generally has loss of fabric in areas long the edges. The covers generally have scrapes and small tears. The paper on the spine is almost always badly broken or completely missing. String ties are often loose. I consider these normal conditions and do not rate a book below Good just based on these conditions. Sometimes these books are found with the covers cut back/trimmed leaving only approximately 1 inch on the binding/tie side. In this state the internal title page appears to be the outer cover of the book.
  A Cutback/Trimmed Cover
   

• Who is "Tamamura the Photographer, Kobe"? This is the famous photographer Tamamura Kosaburo. Tamamura Kosaburo was in business during this period but his primary business location was in Yokohama, not Kobe. The K. Tamamura's studio was well know for it's work in hand coloring the albumen photographs (perhaps as many as 180,000) used in the 1897~8 Brinkley books. Tamamura Kosaburo was famous for his photographs which were generally produced as hand colored albumen (but sometime as collotype) photographs and marketed through his shop in Yokohama in the "tourist souvenir" trade. I have seen books with hand colored collotype prints by "Tamamura the Photographer, Kobe" dated as early as 1898. In his book Early Images of Japan, Terry Bennett notes that an advertisement in 1903 indicated that K. Tamamura had a branch office designated "No. 2 Kobe." In Old Japan, Catalogue No. 30, (Nov. 2000) Sebastian Dobson states that Tamamura Kosaburo "...established a branch in Kobe around 1900 (see lot 123)." Based on the information I have available, I confident that Tamamura Kosaburo is the same person as "Tamamura the Photographer of Kobe." This branch office of the Tamamura enterprise appears to have had two major roles. First, it served as a marketing agent for the line of goods that were also offered in Yokohama. Second, and most relevant to this web page, it was the focal point for the marketing (and probably manufacture) of collotype illustrated books.

• The Transition from Tamamura, Photographer, Kobe to T. Takagi, Kobe. Terry Bennett has established precise documentation regarding the transition from Tamamura, Kobe to T. Takagi. The Japan Directory for 1903 lists "16, Sanchome (Kobe). K. Tamamura, Agent for Tamamura, Yokohama. Photographic Studio, T. Takagi, Manager." The directory for 1904 lists " K. Tamamura, 16, Sanchome (Kobe), Agent for Tamamura, Yokohama, Photographic Studio, T. Takagi, Proprietor." While the transfer occurred in late 1903 or early 1904, it appears Takagi did not use his own name in the colophons of the collotype books he marketed until around February of 1906 and did not drop the Tamamura name entirely until 1913. It is clear that Takagi marketed Tamamura's images, sometimes with his own imprint, after he acquired ownership of Kobe enterprise.

• Comparison with Known Kosaburo Tamamura Book. A known color collotype book published by Kosaburo Tamamura is A Leaf From the Diary of a Young Lady. For more information on this book, click here. The format and titling on the collotypes in this book are very similar to the Tamamura/Takagi books.

• Glass Slides. Both Tamamura and Takagi marketed Japanese images on glass (magic lantern) slides. These were hand colored and measured approximately 3 1/4 x 4 in.

• Kelly & Walsh Marketing. I have examined books between 1907 and 1916 which bear a Kelly & Walsh, 78 Main Street, Yokohama, bookseller's label at the upper left on the inside front cover.
  

 
Main page for the T. Takagi books, click here

If you are aware of books produced by the Takagi Photographic Studio which are not listed above, your comments would be greatly appreciated. In addition, corrections/additions/comments regarding the above listing are welcome.

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