Photo album with 101 images chronicling the goodwill voyage sponsored by the Imperial Japanese government for executives from 18 leading U.S. Hotels which left San Francisco on the Tatuta Maru October 1938. The itinerary included several stops at hotels in Japan and Manchukuo Japanese-controlled China and they returned Dec. 22 1938.
193856764Portland OR: Heathman Hotel 1938. Oblong folio. 18.5 x 16.25 in. 18 leaves unnumbered. on thick beige-coloured paper w/ 101 silver gelatin photos mounted sized from 4.25 x 6 in. up to 6.25 x 8.5 in. all identified and labeled below in neat draftsman’s hand some ruling as well two images removed by family members and 1 leaf w/o lower 3rd of leaf. Recent black cloth post-binder gilt lettering stamped on front cover still VG exemplar all images with bright strong contrast from the library of Harry Heathman 1906-1962 owner and manager of the historic Heathman Hotel in Portland OR. This interesting photo album chronicles the 1938 “Entente cordiale†trip of many noted U.S. hotel managers and owners to Japan and Manchukuo China against the backdrop of continued Japanese incursions into China including the bombing of civilians in Canton and diplomatic conflicts with the U.S. Intended by Japanese officials to entice American tourists to visit Japanese hotels the hotel execs including Harry Heathman of the Heathman Hotel Charles Baad of the Los Angeles Biltmore John Ramboz of the Los Angeles Ambassador Carl Stanley of the Hotel Del Monte and others all sailed on the N-Y-K ocean liner Tatuta Maru newly renamed in 1938. The photos show the first class lounge dances and sightseeing in Japan the Tosyogu Shrine at Nikko where they stayed at the Kanaya Hotel other temples and the Buddha at Kamakura and gifts presented at the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo. Other stops included the famed Fujiya Hotel with photos of the owner Mr. Yamaguchi and manager M. Arai a visit to the Nagoya Castle and more. Carl Stanley and his wife are shown riding the “Asia†Express in Manchukuo the Mukden Yamato Hotel the Yamato hotel near Dairen formerly Port Arthur and photos at the Port Arthur monument in Manchukuo. The Tatuta Maru sailed originally as the Tatsuta Maru including transporting Olympic athletes from Japan in 1932 and was the last passenger liner to travel between Japan and the U.S. with stop in Honolulu H.T. in Oct. 1941. She was used by the Japanese Navy as a feint supposedly to pick up another load of repatriating Japanese departing Yokohama on Dec. 2nd but reversed course the night of Dec. 6/7 and returned to Japan. See: Hotel Executives to Visit Japan Los Angeles Times Oct. 15 1938 Part II p. 22; Hotel Group Due Back From Japan San Francisco Examiner Dec. 19 1938 p. 25. Heathman Hotel, hardcover
Zephyr Used & Rare Books · États-Unis950,00 $US≈ 803,80 €
