Condition. The photographs are in Very Good condition with no faults. The mounts have waterstaining alon the bottom. The waterstaining does not enter the area of the photographs. To see an example of a photograph, inluding the entire mount, click here.

 
The 12 sepia tone (untinted/colored) albumen photographs that follow are attributed to Ogawa Kazumasa. They all are images relating to the Iyeyasu Temple in Nikko. Most are interior views but some are outside views of the temple structures. All the photographs are sepia tones (untinted). They measure 8~8 1/4+ x 10~10 1/2+ in (ca 21 x 27 cm) and are mounted one side only to thick card stock measuring 16 x 13 in (40 x 33 cm). The mounts have four rounded corners and do not appear to have been extracted from an album. It appears that these were issued in loose folio form. On the back of each there is a pencil notation stating "Japan - Nikko, set of 21 photographs."

Since the majority of the images were first published by Ogawa in 1892, that is believed to be the approximate date that these 12 photographs were marketed.

In the captions you see the "Iyeyasu Temple" or "Iyemitsu Temple." I believe that this location is now refered to as the "Ieyasu Temple" and that is a part of the Tosho-gu Temple complex which was build to house the remains of Tokugawa Ieyasu (1543 - 1616).

Ten of the 12 images appeared in the K. Ogawa's albums referenced and linked below. The other two are believed to be K. Ogawa because of the numbering, type of photograph and image shown (views in the Iyeyasu Temple).

Reference 1.
Ogawa, K. (Kasumasa):
Scenes in Nikko and Vicinity by K. Ogawa, Photographer, Tokyo, Japan in Collotype & from Photographic Negatives Taken by Him, Tokyo, Ogawa, ca 1892, small folio (11 3/4 x 16 in - 30 x 40.5 cm), no text, cord tied, 12 pp. The book contains 12 black and white collotypes with descriptive titles printed on the plate under the image. Each collotype has a tissue guard type protector. The collotypes measure approximately 7 1/2 x 9 1/2 in. There is no colophon. here.

Reference 2.
2. Ogawa, K. (Kasumasa):
Temples of Nikko, Tokyo, Hakubundo, 1897 (Meiji 30), large 4to (11 5/8 x 15 3/4 in - 29.8 x 40 cm), decorated card wraps with paste on label, no text, title page or tissue guards, spine covered at top and bottom for ca 6 cm, cord tied, Japanese style format reading back to front, 12 pages (plates) and a colophon page. The book contains 12 black and white collotypes with descriptive titles printed on the plate under the image. More information on this book is here.

Reference 3.
Ogawa, K. (Kasumasa):
The Nikko District, Photographed by K. Ogawa, F.R.P.S., Tokyo (13 Hiyoshi-cho), K. Ogawa, horizontal 4to (10 x 14 1/2 in 25.5 x 36.6 cm), Meiji 45 (1912), stiff wraps with illustrations on front and back covers, silk ties, spine covered 1 inch at top and bottom, text in Japanese and English, one page introductions in Japanese and English, reads Japanese style from back to front, 1 color plate and 23 black and white plates, 1 map. All 24 plates are half-tone. The first plate is color and appears to be a reproduction of a drawing. The other plates are black and white are reproductions of photographs. One plate has two images while the remainder contain an single image. At the bottom of each image is a descriptive caption in Japanese and English. Issued with loose tissue guards between the 24 plates. More information on this book is here.

Found in K, Ogawa Printed Albums (Collotype & Halftone):

 "31  Inside Iyeyasu Temple Nikko" Reference 2 & Reference 3.
 "55  Inside Iyemitsu Temple, Nikko"  Reference 1 & Reference 2.
"102  Interior of Iyeyasu Temple"  Reference 1 & Reference 2.
"103  Karamon Gate Iyeyasu, Nikko"  Reference 1 & Reference 2.
"104  Iyeyasu Temple, Nikko"  Reference 1 & Reference 2.
"106  Carving in door, Nikko"  Reference 1 & Reference 2.
"108  Gilt Door Iyemitsu Temple, Nikko"  Reference 1 
"112  Yashamon Gate, Iyemitsu, Nikko"  Reference 2.
"146  Carving in door, Nikko"  Reference 1. 
"153  Interior of Nikko Temple"  Reference 3.

"125"  no title but picture of interior wall and ceiling
"136   Nikko" also "Nikko." in white to the left for the first caption.
Both of these images are close-up views of carvings on the walls in the Shrine of Iyemitsu. 

All 12 Photographs.

Found in K, Ogawa Printed Albums (Collotype & Halftone):
 
 "31  Inside Iyeyasu Temple Nikko" Reference 2 & Reference 3.
 
 
 "55  Inside Iyemitsu Temple, Nikko"  Reference 1 & Reference 2.
 
 
"102  Interior of Iyeyasu Temple"  Reference 1 & Reference 2.
 
 
"103  Karamon Gate Iyeyasu, Nikko"  Reference 1 & Reference 2.
 

"104  Iyeyasu Temple, Nikko"  Reference 1 & Reference 2.
 

"106  Carving in door, Nikko"  Reference 1 & Reference 2.
 

"108  Gilt Door Iyemitsu Temple, Nikko"  Reference 1.
 

"112  Yashamon Gate, Iyemitsu, Nikko"  Reference 2.
 
 
"146  Carving in door, Nikko"  Reference 1.
 

"153  Interior of Nikko Temple"  Reference 3.
 


Not found in Ogawa Printed Albums:

"125"  no title but picture of interior wall and ceiling
 

"136   Nikko" also "Nikko." in white to the left for the first caption.
 

Both of these images are close-up views of carvings on the walls in the Shrine of Iyemitsu. 

 
Terry Bennett in Old Japanese Photographs, Collectors Data Base* lists 70 numbered photographs which he attributes to Ogawa Kazumasa. These photographs span the numbers between 1 and 344. The majority of these are temple views but the temple name is not specified. Only one of the the numbers in this unit of 12 photographs is listed. No. 55 is listed by Bennett as "Temple Wall Panel." While the title on the photograph is "Inside Iyemitsu Temple, Nikko" the image is of a room with many carved wall panels.

 
*Bennett, Terry: Old Japanese Photographs Collectors' Data Guide, London, Bernard Quaritch Ltd., 2006, © Terry Bennett, 8vo, navy blue cloth with gilt title on spine, dust jacket, 308 pp. A must for the person interested in Meiji era photography and photographers. This work will, no doubt, become a standard reference for the collector and student of early photography in Japan. The book spans the period from the importation of the first camera into Japan (1848) through the death of the Emperor Meiji in 1912. It includes sections with old and new articles on photography in Japan, important research data (including Masonic photographers in Japan), numerically sequenced listings, by photograph studio, of over 4,000 photographs (numbers and captions are provided in the listings), a comprehensive index of Japan related stereoview photographers and publishers (350+) during the period of 1859-1912 by Rob Oechsle and reprints of photograph studio advertisements found in publications of the period. The index of stereoview photographers and publishers is supplemented in the research data section of the book with detailed numerical/caption lists of Japan related stereoviews in 13 different sets.