Japanese book on Africa and Slavery.

According to Natsue Hayward, “World Geography book series by Uchida Masao. This is volume 9 for Africa.”

This is volume 9 of richly illustrated world geography documents the speed with which Japan accumulated and disseminated knowledge about the outside world. Detailed information is provided on the different physiognomies, costumes and living conditions of the various people. Landscapes and views of important cities give a largely accurate picture of the living standards around the world. The first three volumes deal with the Far East (Japan, China, Central, and South-East Asia), volumes 4-7 with Europe, vols. 8 and 9 with Africa. The illustrations are taken from a wide variety of Western sources including Roberts’ Holy Land; of particular interest are the varying printing processes involved in this publication, with the occasional use of copper plates from vol. 4 onwards.