K.T.C.121.b.1, 1

Imprint: K. Ogawa. Tokyo, Japan. 1906.

Oblong folio, quarter leather binding with red cloth boards, with royal coat of arms stamped on upper board, measuring 375 x 520 mm; original decorative silk cover laid down onto front pastedown; no. 140 of an edition of 500 copies.The preface, signed by the Imperial Museum of Tokyo, gives a brief account of the background to the project:'In 1901 whent he Allied Forces occupied and garrisoned Peking after the subjugation of the Boxers' Trouble, the Imperial University of Tokyo despatched there a Commission consisting of Assistant Professor Chiuta Itō, Kōgakuhakushi, of the College of Engineering, Mr Jiun-ichi Tsuchiya, Kōgakushi, Member of the University Hall, Mr Tsunegorō Okuyama, Assistant Expert of the College of Engineering, and Mr Kazumasa Ogawa, Photographer, for the purpose of insituting an investigation of the arrangement, sonctruction and decoration of the Palace Buildings in the 'Forbidden City' and other palace grounds.We joined in this laudable undertaking, and contributed towards the funds a sum to defray expenses incurred in connection with photographs. In consequence, all the negatives taken there have been passed into our possession on the accomplishment of the mission.The pictures, numbering 170 in all, form such a comprehensive set that all views and edifices within the city are represented therein.In view of their rare value as materials for architectural study, especially on account of the secrecy with which all the Palace grounds are jealously kept from public sight, we have given our permission to Mr. Ogawa to publish them with accompanying explanatory notes in Japanese, Chinese and English. The Japanese notes have been written by Prof. Ito, and translated into English by Mr Tomoyoshi, Tomiogi, Bungakushi, Lecturer of the College of Engineering, and into Chinese by Mr Atsutsune Aoyagi, Lecturer of the Waseda University.'