Lot Essay
As part of a series of Western attempts to establish trade with Korea an American flotilla arrived in Korea in 1871, and was met with resistance. Eventually Korea signed a treaty of friendship and commerce in 1882 through the diplomatic efforts of the Chinese government. This rare album documents the landing of the Colorado in Korea and the ensuing events. Beato left Nagasaki on 16 May and returned to Shanghai on 28 June, having meanwhile produced a series of at least forty-seven views including the casualties of battle and Korean prisoners. Includes a series of twelve prints identified as 'Corean (sic) Officers and Soldiers with dispatches on board the Colorado', 'Interior of Fort McKee', 'The Monocacy turning the boats on their return to the fleet with trophies of victory', 'Two Corean wounded prisoners on bord (sic) Monocacy', 'The flag of the Commander in Chief of the Corean forces captured in Fort McKee by two marines under Captain Hilton', 'Chief of the village of Rose Island', 'The first Corean soldier aboard the Colorado', 'A Corean Official bearing the first despatches on board the Colorado', 'Corean Officials on an interview on board the Colorado', 'Interview of Marine Redoubt', 'A Corean Camp near Marine Redoubt', 'Interior of Fort McKee immediately after the capture'.