Kita Amerika-koku-sen Torai (On the Arrival of Ships from the Country of North America)

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 Kita Amerika-koku-sen Torai ["On the Arrival of Ships from the Country of North America"]

[Scribe unidentified].

[Japan], Kōka 3 [1846]. Handwritten.

A manuscript record of the arrival of the American East India Squadron warships Columbus and Vincennes captained by James Biddle in Edo Bay in 1846. Biddle's request that Japan open to trade with America was politely declined, and the ships left the bay eight days later. This work includes: illustrations of an American flag and naval flags, details of the ships (sizes, names of high-ranking crew, the number of crew, the number of Chinese people on board, the number and sizes of cannons, etc.), a list of items presented by the Japanese side to the crew (mainly food), copies of official letters and documents relating to the incident (including what appears to be a Japanese translation of the formal request for trade from Biddle), a few notes on English pronunciation (the scribe notes, for example, that "rice" (米) is pronounced raishi (ライシ)), and so on. Records of Biddle's mission are considerably less common than those of the successful Perry Expedition that took place almost a decade later.

One kari-toji-bound volume, complete, on double leaves, traditional East Asian binding style (fukurotoji). Original wrappers creased, worn, and with stain to left extremity. Browning, occasional light stains, wormholes, and chips internally. Ex-ownership sticker to lower wrapper. Housed in non-original case. [10] leaves including wrappers. 24 x 17.3 cm. 

Kita Amerika-koku-sen Torai (On the Arrival of Ships from the Country of North America)
Price: $1,860.00 (USD)