About the Photos
Yes, we own most of the photographs presented on this site. The great majority of the images on MeijiShowa are from our own collection, the Kjeld Duits Collection. Over the years we have purchased thousands of original photographs, slides, stereo views, and postcards. These are carefully archived and preserved, researched, scanned, and digitally edited. Our images were purchased through reputable dealers and auctions all over the world. We also work together with other private collections, such as the Pump Park Collection.
• Why are many of these old images colored? Color photos didn’t exist yet, right?
During the second half of the 19th century, it was very common for photographers in Japan to hire artists to hand color their monochrome photographs. In most cases, these were highly trained artisans, so their choice of color and detailed work is often exquisite. This becomes especially clear when you enlarge a digital scan of a photograph.
Although hand tinting photos was done worldwide, the Japanese coloring was recognized as exceptional. One Western purchaser wrote in his album of Japanese photographs:
“Notice how delicately the photograph is coloured. The art is carried to perfection in Japan.”
Hand coloring was later continued by postcard publishers. But by the 1920s, the custom was seen as old-fashioned and tacky, and black and white photography became more popular. This in its turn would eventually give way to color printing.
Japanese hand tinted photographs have a peculiar softness that creates an impact which is romantic, magical and almost fairy tale-like.
• These images are old. What is the quality like?
We do our utmost best to only offer images of the best quality, but naturally quality varies per item. Because of the age of the original materials there may occasionally be some blemishes. The images on this site offer a fair representation.
A few items of lesser quality are listed on meijishowa because of their historical value, extreme rarity, or to complete a series.
When making your selection, consider the original medium and the size of your reproduction. Scans from large albumen prints and glass slides and negatives generally feature much more detail than those from postcards, stereo views or collotype prints. Within the same medium, there is also substantial variation in quality.
Detail of a large albumen print
Detail of a glass slide
Detail of a collotype postcard
Detail of a halftone postcard
Detail of a collotype print
Feel free to contact us about the quality of a specific item.
Ordering & Payment
• How much are the reproduction fees of your photos, illustrations and maps?
For pricing, we use a simple 3-Size system:
Editorial Use | Size | Resolution | Long Side | Fee |
---|---|---|---|---|
Small (Web) | 1 MB | 72 dpi | 750 px | USD 45.00 |
Medium (~B6) | 10 MB | 300 dpi | 2300 px | USD 110.00 |
Large (~A4) | 23 MB | 300 dpi | 3500 px | USD 140.00 |
Advertising Use | Size | Resolution | Long Side | Fee |
---|---|---|---|---|
Small (Web) | 1 MB | 72 dpi | 750 px | USD 89.00 |
Medium (~B6) | 10 MB | 300 dpi | 2300 px | USD 140.00 |
Large (~A4) | 23 MB | 300 dpi | 3500 px | USD 170.00 |
Packaging | Size | Resolution | Long Side | Fee |
---|---|---|---|---|
Small (Web) | 1 MB | 72 dpi | 750 px | USD 115.00 |
Medium (~B6) | 10 MB | 300 dpi | 2300 px | USD 160.00 |
Large (~A4) | 23 MB | 300 dpi | 3500 px | USD 185.00 |
The access fee or reproduction license is for use in a single medium for a maximum of 12 months in a single country.
For longer use, please purchase multiple licenses. Occasionally, exceptions are made for editorial usage in books and film. Please contact us.
For worldwide use, please contact us.
All images are JPG RGB, but upon request we can deliver TIF format as well.
Rates as of Jul 13, 2017.
• How do I purchase image reproductions from MeijiShowa?
- Find and select the image you want to use
- On the image page, select the size you require from the pull-down menu
- Click on Add to Cart
- Repeat for additional images
- Click on the View Cart link (top right of the page)
- Fill out the form and select the payment method (PayPal or bank transfer)
- Hit PLACE ORDER
- We will send you an e-mail with a download link as soon as payment is confirmed. Please allow up to 24 hours for delivery.
There are usually no deliveries on Saturdays and Sundays, but contact us if you’re in a hurry, and we can assist you.
• Do you accept payment other than PayPal?
Yes, you can also pay by bank transfer. Payment by bank transfer could delay the delivery of your licensed items, so please contact us in advance if you would like to use this form of payment. We do not accept cheques.
Yes, we can. Request one through our contact form. Invoices are e-mailed as pdf files. Let us know if you require a printed invoice.
• Can non-profit organizations, educational organizations and students get a discount?
Occasionally. Please give a brief description of your organization and why you require a discount through our contact form.
• Are quantity discounts available?
Please contact us and tell us your requirements.
Delivery
We will send you an e-mail with a download link as soon as payment is confirmed. Please allow up to 24 hours for delivery.
There are usually no deliveries on Saturdays and Sundays. Contact us if you’re in a hurry and we will assist you.
• How quickly can I get my images?
Please allow up to 24 hours for delivery. If you need your images faster, contact us beforehand.
There are usually no deliveries on Saturdays and Sundays. Contact us if you’re in a hurry and we will assist you.
License & Usage
• How long can I use the image?
You may use the images that you have licensed for 12 months, after which the license must be renewed. Occasionally, exceptions are made for editorial usage in books and film. Please contact us.
• Are there any restrictions on how I can use the image?
- Territory: one country. For worldwide use, please contact us.
- Period: 12 months. For longer use, please purchase multiple licenses. Occasionally, exceptions are made for editorial usage in books and film. Please contact us.
For more detailed restrictions, see the articles Grant of Rights and Restrictions in our License Agreement.
• What is limited royalty-free (Limited RF)?
You may use the image multiple times in a single medium for a maximum period of 12 months in a single country.
• What photo credit is required?
All Licensed Material used in an editorial context, must include the following credit line adjacent to the Licensed Material:
- Collection Name / MeijiShowa.com (eg. Kjeld Duits Collection/MeijiShowa.com)
For Licensed Material used in an audio/visual production:
- Images supplied by Collection Name / MeijiShowa.com
Other
• What order do you use for Japanese names?
In Japan, the family name is put in front of the first name, family name – first name. We use this order for people active before the Meiji Period (1868-1912).
For people active in the Meiji Period and later, we use first name – family name.
• How are attributions decided?
We mainly rely on Terry Bennett’s Old Japanese Photographs: Collectors’ Data Guide and on authentic contemporary catalogs from Kazumasa Ogawa, Teijiro Takagi and Nobukuni Enami.
A few attributions are based on our own research.
• I have vintage photos of Japan for sale. Are you interested?
Yes we are. Please give a brief description through our contact form. We may request scans or photos of the items that you have for sale.
• We have a large collection of vintage photographs of Japan. Can they be listed on MeijiShowa?
We welcome partners. Please give a brief description of your collection through our contact form. We will request scans or photos of the items in your collection.
If the determination is made that the material fits within the concept of meijishowa, we will discuss particulars like licensing, payment, file transfers, etc.
Please feel free to ask any questions or concerns that you may have.
• Can I get a print to frame and hang on the wall?
We do not yet offer prints.
• Can you authenticate or date my vintage photos of Japan?
Unfortunately, we are unable to offer authentication or dating services.
Using MeijiShowa
• How can I find the image I am looking for?
MeijiShowa uses a very powerful search system, and each photo contains a description, tags, categories (themes), and data about the location, period, decade and artist.
- Search by keyword using the search box (a single keyword works best).
- Use the drop-down menus on the search page. You can combine selections from different drop-down menus, and even combine these with a keyword search. This allows you to drill down to very specific results, for example Hotels & Inns in Yokohama during the Meiji Period.
- Each image has tags, listed below Find similar. On the results page, you can further narrow down this search by using the drop-down menus.
- When you click on the sections in the top menu (All Images, Photography, Illustrations, Maps, Calendar), the site remembers your last search terms and selected drop-down menu items. This allows you to carry a search to another section without needing to input all the search parameters again. To completely clear a search, click on Clear Filter.
- If you still can’t find what you’re looking for, contact us. We may have the image in our off-line archive, or find it for you through our network.