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Hong Kong [1853], Tong Wo [Photographer]. An excellent and superb "Carte-d-Visite" of the U.S.S. MISSISSIPPI in rough Typhoon seas off Hong Kong, photo 19.3 x 5.7 cm., card size 10.3 x 5.2 cm.,clean,srtong image, studio name on verso.RARE . *** **** *** . .HIGHLY RARE AND OBSCURE ORIGINAL CARTE-DE-VISITE PHOTOGRAPH . . . EXCEPTIONALLY RARE AND EARLY ORIGINAL PHOTOGRAPH . . . OF THE U.S.S. MISSISSIPPI . . . THE FLAG SHIP FOR COMMODORE PERRY'S HISTORIC VOYAGE . . . FOR THE OPENING OF JAPAN IN 1853 . . . THE JAPAN EXPEDITION 1952-1854 . . * DATE OF OUR PHOTOGRAPH: Commodore Perry and his crew aboard the U.S.S. MISSISSIPPI visited Hong Kong on 6 April, 1853. During his time in Hong Kong, he was escorted by the old Boston China trading firm of Russell & Company, namely by its head of house Mr. Paul S. Forbes. It was through the Forbes introduction to the Hong Kong photographer Tong Wo on Queen's Road that the historic photograph was arranged. The photographer created an image of the U.S.S. Mississippi in a rough "Tai-Feng" or Typhoon. This image was based on a photograph of the U.S.S. Mississippi, then enhanced with rough seas and clouds for effect. . This is perhaps one of the rarest of original photographs of the U.S.S. Mississippi with a document able date based on Perry's visit to Hong Kong. See Morison below for citation. . Per Morision on page 293 [see below], Commodore Perry and his flag ship the U.S.S. MISSISSIPPI, visited Hong Kong and Macao beginning on 6 April, 1853, which is consistent with the early vintage of this "Carte-de-Visite." We therefore attribute this work to that date. . *** THE PHOTOGRAPHER: On the verso is the name and address of the Hong Kong photographer: "Tong Wo" [He Dun in pinyin]. Printed on the verso of the photo is the English: "Photographer & Portrait Painter. No. 62, Queen's road, upstairs. Opposite the C. Bank of I.A. & China, Hong Kong." . ** COMMODORE MATTHEW C. PERRY [1794 -1858]: He was a Commodore of the U.S. Navy and commanded a number of ships. He served in several wars, most notably in the Mexican-American War and the War of 1812. . Perry played a leading role in the opening of Japan to America with the Convention of Kanagawa in 1854. With the advent of the steam engine, he became a leading advocate of modernizing the U.S. Navy and came to be considered "The Father of the Steam Navy." . *** THE HISTORIC AND FIRST U.S.S. MISSISSIPPI: "USS Mississippi, a paddle frigate, was the first ship of the United States Navy to bear that name. . Her keel was laid down by the Philadelphia Navy Yard in 1839; built under the personal supervision of Commodore Matthew Perry, one of the first steam-powered paddle ships in the U.S. Naval fleet. . Mission to Japan: The U.S.S. Mississippi was put into service as the flagship of Commodore Perry's momentous voyage to Japan in 1852. The squadron cleared Hampton Roads on November 24, 1852, for Madeira, the Cape of Good Hope, Hong Kong, and Shanghai, which was reached May 4, 1853. . The squadron now approached Japan by calls in the Ryukyu Islands and Bonin Islands, and entered Tokyo Bay on July 8, 1853. Commodore Perry proceeded, in one of the most difficult, skillful, and significant naval/diplomatic missions ever recorded, to negotiate a trade treaty with the Japanese, hitherto absolutely opposed to opening their country to Western trade and influence. After further cruising in the Far East, Mississippi and the squadron returned to Japan on February 12, 1854 and on March 31 the Convention of Kanagawa was signed. . Mississippi returned to New York City on April 23, 1855, and again sailed for the Far East on August 19, 1857, to base at Shanghai and patrol in support of America's burgeoning trade with the Orient. As the flagship for Commodore Josiah Tattnall, she was present during the British and French attack on the Chinese forts at Taku in June 1859, and two months later, she landed a force at Shanghai when the American consul requested her aid in restoring orde. Seller Inventory # 32072001
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