The photographs were taken between 1901 and 1906, while Ponting was based in America and travelling regularly to Japan and other countries in Asia. Many were published during his lifetime as stereoviews or in books (including his own Fuji-San, Japanese Studies, and In Lotus Land, Japan) and magazines in Britain, America and Europe. Large-scale prints of many of the photographs in the album were also exhibited in London before Ponting left for Antarctica in 1910. Notable amongst the photogrpahs of craftsmen are several of renowned Cloisonné maker Y Namikawa of Kyoto and his studio workers. Provenance: Acquired from or following an exhibition and sale of Ponting’s effects held in his London flat after his death in February 1935, and now being sold by successors of the original acquirer. (1) £4000-6000
117 Ponting (Herbert, 1870-1935). An album of photographs of Japan, compiled by Herbert Ponting, c. 1906-10, a total of approximately 200 gelatin silver prints, printed on thin photographic paper and neatly pasted in the album on rectos and versos throughout, numbers in the range 300 to 755 inscribed besides most of the photos (relating to an overall numbering system used by Ponting from 1907 or earlier), subjects include Mount Fuji and other Japanese volcanoes, palaces, temples, natural beauty spots, and people, including craftsmen at work and in less formal, unnumbered photographs, friends and acquaintances Ponting met on his travels, images 17.5 x 12.5 cm or smaller, contemporary cloth, rubbed, oblong folio Each lot is subject to a Buyer’s Premium of 20% (Lots marked * 24% inclusive of VAT at 20%)
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