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Rare Regional Hiroshima View Unposted Divided Back
OVERVIEW
Offered is a rare early twentieth century regional postcard depicting Fukuyama Park in the historic Bingo Province, modern day Hiroshima Prefecture.
Published by the local Hitomi firm, this specimen captures a quiet corner of the park featuring mature, windswept Japanese pines and period figures in traditional dress.
Regional views from smaller castle towns like Fukuyama are significantly harder to find than standard views of Japan's major treaty ports.
FRANKING & POSTAL HISTORY
This is an unposted divided back era postcard.
The front features a high contrast view titled in both English and Japanese (福山ヒトミ), indicating its dual use for local residents and regional travelers.
The reverse features the standard Union Postale Universelle and Post Card markings but remains completely free of any postage, cancellations, or manuscript messages.
This pristine, unaddressed state perfectly preserves the clean presentation of the publisher's original formatting.
CONTEXT & COLLECTOR APPEAL
Before the modern prefecture system was fully popularized in Western ephemera, regional identities like Bingo Province were the primary geographic markers.
The image provides a detailed look at Meiji era public landscaping, showcasing characteristic leaning Matsu pines stabilized by traditional supports and a glimpse of park visitors in kimono that provides a scale of daily life.
This card bears the specific imprint of Hitomi, a local publisher based in Fukuyama.
While major firms like Mitsumura dominated the export market, local hometown publishers like Hitomi produced smaller runs for residents.
This local attribution makes it a highly desirable specialist item for collectors of regional Japanese topography and Hiroshima Prefecture history, serving as a rare photographic record of Fukuyama before the extensive industrialization of the mid twentieth century.
ITEM SPECIFICS
Country: Japan
Year: Circa 1910
Type: Printed Postcard Not RPPC
Topic: Fukuyama Park Bingo Province
Theme: Regional Landscapes and Parks
Subject: Meiji Era Public Landscaping
Era: Divided Back 1907 to 1915
Occasion: Historical Regional Tourism
Region: Chugoku Hiroshima Prefecture
Artist: Not Identified
Publisher: Hitomi Fukuyama
Printing Method: Not Confirmed
Material: Paper
Postage Condition: Unposted
Size: Standard 5.5 x 3.5 in
Custom SKU: JPN-1910-FUKUYAMA-BINGO-HITOMI
CONDITION
This antique unposted postcard is in very good archival condition.
It exhibits light uniform age toning and minor corner softening consistent with its age.
The image remains dark and well defined.
The reverse is clean, featuring standard postal markings with absolutely no writing, stamps, or significant blemishes.
Please review photographs carefully to determine exact condition.
