8 Beautiful Old Japanese Color Postcards, Shinto Temples, Torii, Rock Lanterns, Bridges, order Parklands, Undivided Backs, with Embossed Envelope

This is a set of 8 vintage Japanese postcards featuring color photographs of Shinto Shrines and temples, Torii gates, stone lanterns, bridges and park-lands. The back of the postcards are undivided (see picture), which indicates that they were made circa 1905 - 1907. These are truly lovely, and are still held in the original embossed envelope. What a special find! I especially enjoy seeing the landscapes with no evidence of modern technology!

Each card measures approximately 3 1/2" x 5 1/2" and have white borders with captions in Japanese at the bottom. They are printed on card stock. The pictures in color and the backs printed in red. The undivided backs have Post Card printed at the top next to a small block print of a dove with outstretched wings where the stamp would be placed. Along the right edges of each card are printed Japanese characters.

The envelope is textured pale blue paper, with, on the front, Japanese characters in grass script style, embossed and colored red. On the back of the envelope the same embossment is seen in blank reverse. It was difficult to obtain a picture that shows the back embossment clearly.

I did considerable searching on line and could find no other cards with these images. I also could find no cards that matched the postal side either; thus I presume these are fairly scarce, especially with the envelope.

CONDITION ... The envelope is faded about the edges, else clean and intact. The cards display order slight foxing and weathering about the edges; there are also a few scattered edge nicks, but nothing egregious. As you can see in the picture provided, at least one card has a bit of red ink thinly displaying on one edge - this is a result of production. The images display brightly and cleanly. the backs have not been written upon and display cleanly.