1860s English imitation pith painting cards of Japanese performers & tradespeople

With embossed gilt borders very similar to Thomas Nelson penny cards of the 1850s-60s, the 8 smaller cards measure 3.75 x 2 inches, the three larger cards measure 6 x 4 inches. All are good with some abrasions to versos from having been in an album. On glossy paper, or paper with a laminant or varnish that has made them shiny. The vivid colors and the particular choices of people and poses seems a clear nod to the pith paintings popular with tourists to India and the Far East from the 1840s-70s, and these also possibly echo the Chinese export porcelain from back then. Some minor loss to corners, most are curved, one of the larger ones has a lengthwise crease, but all still very presentable. Pretty sure these are Japanese folk being depicted (the characters on one of the lanterns are in Japanese) but some also look Chinese. Item #H8635

Price: $150.00