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Collection of photographs of China

The photographs are significant documents relating to the operations of the Eurasia Aviation Corporation in China in the early twentieth century. They depict places such as Canton, Hankou, Lanzhou, Beijing including Forbidden City, Summer Palace and Ming Tombs, Shanghai, Xian and the Yangtze River. The photographs also document life and people in those places. Many of the photographs have been stamped on the back with the name 'Hans Koester', who was a German pilot working for the Eurasia …

Parts of this object

Summary

Object No.

2009/104/6

Object Statement

Collection of photographs in boxes and envelopes, paper / cardboard, various photographers and makers, China, 1930s

Physical Description

One (1) thick commercial cardboard box for 'ILFORD Photographic Paper MADE IN ENGLAND' inscribed "Rejects", "J.P. Koster, 27 Billyard Avenue, Elizabeth Bay" (and "Laobao" in Chinese characters) containing 54 loose photographs, one (1) yellow envelope containing 59 black and white photographs and four (4) thick commercial cardboard boxes for "Kodak" inscribed "A.V China. Sian - Lanchow - Peking", "A.V. China. Shanghai - Hankow- Canton", "G.V. Sian - Lanchow - Peking" and "G.V Shanghai - Hankow - Canton" containing black and white loose photographs in small envelopes. All taken in China by 1930s.


1. One (1) ILFORD box
The "ILFORD" box is covered with glossy yellow paper. The colour is faded and the corners of the box are worn. The box contains 54 black and white photographs of China including 37 aerial views. The photographs in the box are copies of photographs from 4 Kodak boxes. The subjects of the photographs include scenery, landscapes, pagodas, palaces, streets and genre scenes. There are 8 large-sized prints with green stamps on the reverse of the photograph "COPYRIGHT RESERVED BY CPT. J. P. KOSTER FILM NO_ NEG. NO_", 44 large prints with no stamps and 1 small photograph bears a blue stamp "COPYRIGHT BY HANS KOESTER 'EURASIA' 25 JINKEE ROAD, SHANHAI - CHINA" in an airplane shape on the reverse.


2. One (1) yellow envelope
The yellow envelope contains 59 black and white photographs. There is one small yellow envelope included, inscribed in pencil : 'B. LIFE + PEOPLE IN HANKOW SPARES'. Most of the photographs are copies of photographs in the 4 "Kodak" boxes. The photographs are different sizes. The largest photo measures 25x19.4cm, the smallest 15.2x21cm and the rest are approximately 25x18.5cm. The photographs also have different stamps on the reverse. 2 large prints bear "Copyright reserved by Cpt. J.P. Koster" in green, 47 of the other photographs bear airplane-shaped stamps inscribed: "COPY GHT BY HANS KOESTER "EURASIA" 25 JINKEE ROAD, SHANHAI - CHINA" in blue.
The photographs depict genre scenes such as people waiting for the Panchen lama, lamas, houses, festivals, Chinese junks, and landscapes such as Ming Tombs, pagodas, the Forbidden City (Peking) and aerial scenes of northwest China. On the back of one photograph depicting a lama riding a horse waiting for the Panchen Lama's arrival, a hand written inscription reads, "All the cardinal colours use included this Lamas garments and saddlery". One photograph also portrays a lama with sunglasses riding a horse, with a piece of paper adhered to the back with typed information: "WAITING PRIEST. Lama priests awaiting the arrival of their ecclesiastical ruler along the valley of the Upper Sining [Xining]River". One photograph depicts junks: "Chinese junks at anchor, with sails furled, lying on the Yangtse. The little sanpans [sampans] are used for plying backwards and forwards to the land.". There are some photographs of the Panchen Lama. One portrait in particular is descrived on the back, "PANCHEN LAMA RETURNING TO KOKONOR (Koko No is the Mongolian name of Qinghai Lake). The pageants shown by the surrounding pictures were taken by Mr Hans Koester, Eurasia Aviation Corporation pilot, on a recent flight when he took the Panchen Lama, - Living Budda, back to Tibet. They depict the ceremonies which occurred when the Lama, the Spiritual head of Tibet after his travels in China Manchuria and Inner Mongolia, arrived on the grass lands on the Upper Sining (Xining) River near the capitol of Kansu (Gansu). A reception was offered to his supreme Holiness at Sining Fu, before he made the climb over the mountain range to the famous Tibetan Temple City situated 9,000ft above sea level. Kumbum, which is also situated at the entrace to the Tibetian highlands. Accounts of Kunbum have been available through the travels of Father Pere Huc and Frere when they made the route from Eastern Mongolia to Lhassa in 1842. In his 'Travels in Eastern Tibet' Sir Eric Teichman gives accounts in extenso of Kumbum where 700 years the dominant of Yellow Church of Lamaism was founded."

3. Four (4) Kodak boxes
The 4 cardboard boxes are covered with faded brown paper and are damaged with worn corners. The boxes contain small envelopes of black and white silver gelatin photographs taken in China in the 1930s. The loose prints are slightly different in size. Many photographs are stamped on the reverse "Copyright reserved by Cpt. J.P. Koster" and "COPY GHT BY HANS KOESTER 'EURASIA' 25 JINKEE ROAD, SHANHAI - CHINA" in black and blue ink.

On the back of one photograph in Box 2, from a collection, relating to the Panchen Lama, there is a date stamped '6 DEC 1935', and a paper label glued to the back records; 'Lama dignitaries attired in citron-yellow silk robes and peculiar festival hats, awaiting the arrival of the Living Budda.".

Box 1. Marked "A.V CHINA SHANGHAI - HANKOW - CANTON" containing 322 photographs in 20 yellow envelopes.
1. An envelope marked "8x10 Loes A.V. LANCHOW - NINGSIA" containing 5 photographs.
2. An envelope marked "10 8x10 different subjects G.V. " containing 4 photographs.
3. An envelope marked "Peking 28 MING TOMBS 8x10 + Spares" containing 8 photographs.
4. An envelope marked "Spares" containing 35 photographs.
5. An envelope marked "Japanese Alps" containing 20 photographs.
6. An envelope marked "CHANGCHA Spares" containing 13 photographs.
7. An envelope marked "CHENGHSIEN - SIAN, CAVE DWELLINGS Spares + Repeats" containing 13 photographs.
8. An envelope marked "SHANGHAI (ROOFS) " containing 10 photographs.
9. An envelope marked "NINGSHIA - MONGOL GRALES, ORDOS - DESERT, TEMPLE - TOWN" containing 25 photographs.
10. An envelope marked "PAOTO 1)LAMA MONASTRY" containing 21 photographs.
11. An envelope marked "Lanchow" containing 16 photographs.
12. An envelope marked "PEKING 1)LAMA TEMPLE 2)PAGODA" containing 22 photographs.
13. An envelope marked "Spares" containing 13 photographs.
14. An envelope marked "Shanghai HANGCHOW BAY" containing 17 photographs.
15. An envelope marked "SHANGHAI - NANKING" containing 23 photographs.
16. An envelope marked "PANCHEN - LAMA B" containing 13 photographs.
17. An envelope marked "CANTON Spares" containing 14 photographs.
18. An envelope marked "CANTON C GENERAL STREET LIFE" containing 13 photographs.
19. An envelope marked "HANKOW - CHANGSHA + YANGTZE RAFTS G.V. + A.V. " containing 22 photographs.
20. An envelope marked "CHENGCHOW - SIAN 1) Cave dwellings" containing 15 photographs.

Box 2. Marked "G.V. Shanghai - Hankow - Canton" containing 510 photographs in 17 yellow envelopes.
1. An envelope marked "Private, Collection" containing 72 photographs.
2. An envelope marked "Lanchow, G.V" containing 23 photographs.
3. An envelope marked "4x10 Temple G.V." containing 15 photographs.
4. An envelope containing 8 photographs.
5. An envelope marked "PEKING - CITY, 1) Forbidden City 8, 2)Temple & Actor, 3) Palace" containing 14 photographs.
6. An envelope marked "Chang" containing 36 photographs.
7. An envelope marked "PANCHEN - LAMA, Spares" containing 14 photographs.
8. An envelope marked "PEKING, SUMMER PALACE" containing 20 photographs.
9. An envelope marked "Lanchow, Spares" containing 10 photographs.
10. An envelope marked "Brick Yard" containing 27 photographs.
11. An envelope marked "CANTON, general street life, Spares" containing 14 photographs.
12. An envelope marked "LANCHOW" containing 67 photographs.
13. An envelope marked "SIAN - CHENGTU - YUNAN FU"containing 50 photographs.
14. An envelope marked "SIAN - FU" containing 50 photographs.
15. An envelope marked "CHANGSHA - CANTON, TUNNEL TO CANTON" containing 50 photographs.
16. An envelope marked "HENGYANG, building" containing 7 photographs.
17. An envelope marked "PANCHEN - LAMA" containing 33 photographs.

Box 3. Marked "A.V China. SIAN - LANCHOW - PEKING" containing 443 photographs in 21 yellow envelopes.
1. An envelope marked "SIAN - LANCHOW, LOES TERASSES, SPARES" containing 31 photographs.
2. An envelope marked "Mongolia - Paots, (Spares & Repeats)" containing 22 photographs.
3. An envelope marked "SHANGHAI (GENERAL)" containing 9 photographs.
4. An envelope marked "MINGSIA - CITY" containing 17 photographs.
5. An envelope marked "CHENGTU (SZECHWAN) containing 16 photographs.
6. An envelope marked "NINGSIA - CITY, Spares" containing 9 photographs.
7. An envelope marked "Peking - Paoto (Whites), NOT INTERESTING" containing 11 photographs.
8. An envelope marked "MUGDEN & MANCHULIE" containing 22 photographs.
9. An envelope marked "LANCHOW - CITY, 1) HWANG - HO VALEY 9" containing 9 photographs.
10. An envelope marked "CHENGSIEN - SIAN, HOLY MT. & LOES, Spares" containing 10 photographs.
11. An envelope marked "Sandrow, Spares" containing 10 photographs.
12. An envelope marked "CHANGSIA (HUNAN)" containing 15 photographs.
13. An envelope marked "Junkies" containing 48 photographs.
14. An envelope marked "CHENGCHOW - SIAN, 1) Holy Mts 5, 2) Loes 11, 16" containing 16 photographs.
15. An envelope marked "CANTON. D., GRAVE MOUNTAINS" containing 29 photographs.
16. An envelope marked "SIAN - LANCHOW" containing 49 photographs.
17. An envelope marked "SIAN - LANCHOW, Spares" containing 26 photographs.
18. An envelope marked "NINGSIA - PAOTO, 28, OK" containing 28 photographs.
19. An envelope marked "LANCHOW - SINNING (B.), OK" containing 8 photographs.
20. An envelope marked "SIAN - LANCHOW, 29, OK" containing 29 photographs.
21. An envelope marked "Lanchow, Duplicates" containing 29 photographs.

Box 4 G.V. SIAN - LANCHOW - PEKING containing 355 photographs in 18 yellow envelopes.
1. An envelope marked "CANTON A REIS" containing 29 photographs.
2. An envelope marked "CHAYCHOW (SOUTH HUNAN)" containing 13 photographs.
3. An envelope marked "PEKING (general street scenes)" containing 31 photographs.
4. An envelope marked "CANTON E." containing 16 photographs.
5. An envelope marked "LANCHOW (KANSU PROV.) LIFE ON HWANG-HO RIVER" containing 17 photographs.
6. An envelope marked "C. PANCHEN - LAMA" containing 28 photographs.
7. An envelope marked "MONGOLIA" containing 15 photographs.
8. An envelope marked "JUNKS Spares" containing 21 photographs.
9. An envelope marked "Dragon boat Festival (Canton)" containing 20 photographs.
10. An envelope marked "HEADS" containing 49 photographs.
11. An envelope marked "Shanghai Roofs Spares" containing 17 photographs.
12. An envelope marked "PEKING - FORBIDDEN CITY" containing 1 photograph.
13. An envelope marked "CANTON (MODERN ARCHITECTURE) Spare" containing 10 photographs.
14. An envelope marked "YUNAN 1) Pagoda in KUNMING" containing 9 photographs.
15. An envelope marked "Rests - Spares" containing 6 photographs.
16. An envelope marked "Spares" containing 7 photographs.
17. An envelope marked "A. LIFE + PEOPLE IN HANKOW, 1) Hankow Pagoda, 2) CHENGCHOW (HONAN) Pagoda" containing 30 photographs.
18. An envelope marked "CANTON B, 1) LIFE ON PEARL RIVER, 2) CHOW DOG MARKET, 3) WATER BUFFALO" containing 36 photographs.

Marks

1. One (1) ILFORD box originally used for photographic paper. The word 'REJECTS' is written on a piece of masking tape and adhered to the face of the box. In the centre of the top of the lid is an orange square containing the words "Open in Dark Rooms Only. Photographic Paper. MADE IN ENGLAND", and on top of the square is a black rectangular label printed in white "Ilford". There are two hand written Chinese characters 'Laobao' and the name "J.P. Koster" with an address "27 Billyard Avenue, Elizabeth Bay FL 3504".

2. One (1) yellow envelope
Printed on the cover is "DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE CANBERRA A.C.T. 2600". One printed adhesive label reads "Professor Hugh Clarke Department of East Asian Studies University of Sydney SYDNEY 2006" which is crossed out with red pen with hand written inscription "Prints - Chinese / TIBET?".

3. Four (4) Kodak boxes
The covers of the 4 "Kodak" boxes are printed "Kodak", "Made in Great Britain", and "144 10x8 Inches" in the middle. 4 boxes are the same in size and colour but they are differently marked with hand writing on the cover. The hand writing on each box reads, "A.V China. Sian - Lanchow - Peking", "A.V. China. Shanghai - Hankow- Canton", "G.V. Sian - Lanchow - Peking" and "G.V. Shanghai - Hankow - Canton".

Short URL

https://ma.as/372018

Source

Credit Line

Transferred from the School of Asian Studies University of Sydney, 2009

Acquisition Date

9 December 2009

Cite this Object

Harvard

Collection of photographs of China 2022, Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences, accessed 24 March 2023, <https://ma.as/372018>

Wikipedia

{{cite web |url=https://ma.as/372018 |title=Collection of photographs of China |author=Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences |access-date=24 March 2023 |publisher=Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences, Australia}}

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