N. Y. K. (Nippon Yusen Kaisha) Line. Asama Maru - the Farthest Advance in Trans - Pacific Shipping [Cutaway Graphic Design]

Large, die-cut brochure; 8 x 17 1/2; pp. 2-18; brick-red wraps, decorated with a vignette in black and gold; illustrated with numerous gilded and tinted drawings and photographs, including a fold-out diagram at the end; a few small punctures to edges from removed staples (minor loss of paper to top edge of first leaf); tissue guard at the beginning detached, but present; very-thin, silk strip between pages 2 and 3; in good to very good condition.
A stunning piece, it was created by noted artist and graphic designer Lewis Rothe (1874 - 1951) as an advertisement for Asama Maru - a Japanese ocean liner, built in 1927 - 1929 by Mitsubishi for the Nippon Yusen Kaisha shipping company's luxury high-speed trans-Pacific Orient-California (Los Angeles and San Francisco) service. It could provide accomodations for 222 first-class passengers, 96 second-class passengers, and 504 third-class passengers. Leading quite the interesting life, the liner would transport the Japanese Olympic team to Los Angeles for the 1932 Summer Olympics, would carry Hellen Keller in 1937 with a message of good will from President Roosevelt, would be grounded by the Great Hong Kong Typhoon that same year, and would be intercepted and boarded by an armed party from the Royal Navy Light Cruiser HMS Liverpool in 1940.
The current brochure was composed of a series of overlaping deck outlines, from Rothe's rendering of the vessel, revealing a progressive cutaway view of the ship. As each die-cut leaf was lifted, showing that particular deck, a description of the area, the accomodations, the amenities, etc. was revealed (the pool, the Great Smoking Room, the Library, the first-class cabins). The large, fold-out diagram at the end showcased a plan of the entire passenger accomodation. The last page contained an exhaustive list of agents and correspondents at principal ports of call and shipping centers. (Inventory #: 3949)