Simoda from Vandalia Bluff

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of complete lithograph

The treaty was signed by Commodore Perry and the Commissioners on March 31, 1854. One provision of the treaty was that the port of Simoda would be opened immediately for American ships to use. The treaty also provided that the port of Hakodadi would be opened to American ships one year later.

Commodore Perry had previously sent ships to survey the port and they reported that it was well suited for use by American ships. On the 18th of April, Commodore Perry took the Powhatan and the Mississippi to Simoda to inspect the port. Four other American ships were already in the harbor.

This lithograph shows Simoda harbor with the Mississippi and Powhatan in the background and two of the other non-steam ships in foreground. The bluff from which the drawing was made was named by the Americans in honor of the US ship the Vandalia, probably one of the two ships seen in the foreground in the harbor. The dark area in the middle of the lithograph by the Mississippi is not a defect.

The titles/lettering read:

• From nature by Heine


• Lith of Sarony Co. New York


• SIMODA FROM VANDALIA

Bottom edge (binding edge) is ragged. Text foxing front and back and more aging overall than normal. Significant tilt of image on page. This could be masked when framed with a mat. The shaded area seen between the two ships in the middle is natural and a part of the lithograph, not a flaw.

Paper thickness is 8.25mm.

Landscape Format

Page Size (cm): 29.1x22.7cm

Image Size (cm): Width-23.8, Height-16.3, Diagonal-28.8

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