"his imperial majesty the tenno of japan and suite", large-format albumen print. The first-ever photograph of emperor meiji at the yokosuka naval arsenal by baron raimund von stillfried on january 1, 1872. Stillfried took this photo at a dry dock while hidden in a ship. The authorities discovered its existence almost immediately and its sale was prohibited. This photo was taken overseas to escape confiscation. Some corrections were made such as the background before publication. Emperor meiji's blurred features are a result of movement during the limited exposure time available. This unauthorized "snapshot" is of exceptional historical importance since it is the first ever taken of a japanese emperor. Date: 1 January 1872.
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