Rare original CDV, 1862, showing Japanese ambassadors in London. From left to right, the men were: Chief envoy Takeuchi Shimotsuke-no-kami, vice envoy Matsudaira Iwami-no-kami, and inspector Kyogoku Noto-no-kami.
From online: The Japanese mission consisted of ‘36 persons in all – namely, the three Ambassadors, a Vice-Governor, a confidential adviser, 18 officers, and 14 servants… The principal minister is a man of 52, and the two others are some 20 years younger’ [The Times, 3 May 1862].
While they were in London, the ambassadors stayed at Claridge’s Hotel on Brook Street, and visited the Houses of Parliament (which ‘amazed and delighted them’ with its magnificence), the Zoological Gardens (where they displayed ‘extraordinary interest and pleasure’), and the opening of the International Exhibition. They also visited the Arsenal at Woolwich, the Mint, the Bank of England, the Tower of London, the London Docks, Greenwich, the Thames Tunnel, Hampton Court, Kew Gardens and the Crystal Palace. In addition, they attended many lunches, dinners and assemblies, and they even found time to travel as far afield as Newcastle, in order to see a coal mine in full operation, and Liverpool, where they were entertained at a banquet by the Mayor and corporation.
CDV is approximately 4" x 2.5", mount slightly trimmed, image in very good antique condition as shown.