「女流写真家第１号島隆」「島霞谷発明活字」資料

　「女流写真家第１号」とされる桐生出身の島隆(しまりゅう、文政６～明治３２)。孫に当たる勝二さんが、「撮影鏡」と呼んだ隆愛用の木製箱型写真機(暗箱)や隆が撮影した夫、島霞谷(しまかこく・文政１０～明治３)の肖像写真、霞谷が隆を撮った「隆子合羽の図」や一橋大納言(１５代将軍慶喜)と並ぶ蘭人ガラトマンのスナップ、写真館の宣伝文、隆が愛用した笛、一弦琴、琵琶などを保存している。

　写真機は山鹿英助さん(永楽町)の調査により、バラバラの状態で島家の蔵から見つかった。江戸指物師がこしらえたものとみられ、杉材製で縦１８.５センチ、奥行き３４センチ。小沢健志九州産業大教授が東京麻布のカメラ博物館に持ち込み復元。

　江戸・一橋家に右筆としてつとめていた隆は、通訳などの仕事で同家に出入りしていた霞谷と結婚。霞谷から写真術を学び、女流写真師として営業、４７歳で夫と死別したあとは桐生で開業した。

　開成所(東大の前身)の書記官だった霞谷は大学東校(医学部)の教科書を印刷するために鉛活字を完成させた。このときの約３号大の活字３８９本と、この活字で印刷された『化学訓蒙』『検尿要訳』『解剖学』『虎烈刺(コレラ)論』など７冊も、島さんが保存している。わが国初期の鉛活字は現在、専門家が研究中。

　夫妻が生きたのはペリー来航(１８５３)、上野戦争(１８６７)と、あわただしい開国の時代だった。浅草・浄念寺に霞谷の顕彰碑「霞谷先生略伝」(明治４年建立)があり、梅田町一丁目の鳳仙寺山門前には平成元年１０月「島隆記念碑」が建てられた。

　Kiryuu-born Ryuu Shima is believed to the first female photographer (Bunsei6- 1899). Her grandson Katsuji has preserved her 'picture-taking mirror', what she called the wooden box-type camera (black box) she usually used; portrait photos taken by Ryuu of her husband, Koku Shima (Busei10-1870); 'A Diagram of Ryuuko Kappa', Koku's photos of Ryuu; snapshots of Hitotsubashidainagon, a 15th generation commander Yoshiki, with Dutchman Garatoman; a promotional piece from Photo Hall; Ryuu's well-worn whistle, one-stringed Koto and Biwa; and other objects.

　With the help of Eisuke Yamaga's investigative work (Eiraku-cho), the camera pieces were found in various corners of the Shima family storehouse. It appears that an Edo teacher made the 18.5 cm high, 34 cm deep Japanese cedar camera.

　Takeshi Ozawa, the Kyushu industry guru, took it to an Azabu, Tokyo camera specialist store to have it restored. In the Edo period, Ryuu worked as secretary to the Hitotubashi family. She met Koku when he came to the house to do translation and other work. After marriage, Ryuu learned the art of photography from her husband and worked as a female photography teacher. After her husband died when she was 47, Ryuu opened a business in Kiryuu.

　Koku, who worked as a clerk at Kaseijo, the predecessor of Tokyo University, hastened completion of lead printing type in order to print a textbook for the university's east school (School of Medicine). Mr. Shima has kept the 389 No. 3 type blocks he used, as well as 7 volumes printed with the type - 'Chemistry Instruction', 'Urine Inspection Summary', 'Dissection Study', 'Cholera Thesis', etc. Our country's first printing type is currently being researched by a specialist.

　The couple lived in very exciting times, through the coming of Commander Perry (1853), the Ueno War (1867) and the opening of the country to foreign trade. At Johnen temple in Asakusa, there is a monument to Koku's good deeds, 'Professor Koku's Abbreviated Biography' (erected 1871) and in front of the gate to Hosen temple in Umeda-cho 1-chome, there is the 'Ryuu Shima Monument' (erected October, 1989).