An important image in regards to the emergence of Japanese documentary photography with smaller hand held cameras.

Description: in the early 1930s the spontaneous style of documentary photography was just emerging in Japan. This was due to the availability of smaller hand held cameras and roll films that provided photographers with greater mobility. This image is an example of this new style and shows a vendor selling telescopes during a naval fleet parade. Affixed to the reverse is a paper label with the caption reading:

"street vendors selling scopes to view ceremony of warship parade, specially priced at 30 Sen, publishing date October 24, 1930 " (location unknown, but thought to be the Osaka Bay/Kansai region. Additionally 100 sen=1 Japanese Yen).

- There is also a red westamp on the reverse indicating the posting date and location of this print that reads: Daimaru Department Store Nomiya-shi, October 24, Showa year '5 (1930). The location of this store is thought to be the present day Daimaru Department store in Nishinomiya, Kobe.

- There is also a red paper Asahi Photo News label afixed to the reverse.

Taken by a staff photographer of the Osaka Asahi Shimbun, still one of Japan's leading newspapers to this day. This print was made by the photographic unit of the Asahi Shimbun called Asahi Photo News. It was produced to promote the newspaper's recent news items and was intended for public dispaly at locations such as Department stores, train stations, local news bureaus and neighborhood delivery stations.

Condition: vintage large format vintage gelatin print. The overall condition is quite good, but the white margin areas show some signs of wear. There are also tiny pinhole marks in the corners from when this print was originally displayed in public. Please see the scan of the reverse below which clearly shows the condition.