247 •(CHINA) An American sailor's tour album with more than 840 photographs, approximately half depicting a range of unusual subjects in Hong Kong (195), Tsingtao (123), and Shanghai and Chefoo (101).
With a variety of impromptu occupational portraits of street barbers, food cart proprietors, rickshaw runners, beggars, and many more. Also featured are well-composed photographs of bustling street scenes and public spaces in the various cities, including quiet gardens, trade-packed harbors, government buildings, and historic temples, alongside intriguing depictions of local businesses, catering to both locals and Westerners alike, with signage in Chinese and English. The first half of the album highlights the sailors' experiences on the U.S.S. Jason and their time in Manila and Hawaii. Silver prints, the images measuring approximatley 2x3 to 8x10 inches (5.1x7.6 to 20.4x25.4 cm.), and the reverse, cornered in recto/verso to black pages, most with descriptive captions beneath. Large oblong 4to, ornate leather boards; twin-bolt binding. 1930

[1,200/1,800]

The album, apparently compiled by Elmer A. Kent Jr., comprises photographs both self-made and collected from souvenir sources and his fellow sailors.