American Historical Ephemera & Photography

ELLIS, Salathiel (1803-1879), sculptor. 3 in. cast bronze medal (light nicking to rim, light surface scratches and spots of discoloration to obverse and reverse) housed in original gilt leatherette presentation box (wear to extremities, spotting to velvet interior.

Obverse features bust portrait of James Buchanan, marked for Ellis underneath, and legend "James Buchanan, President of the United States." Reverse with enwreathed text, "In Commemoration of the First Embassy from Japan to the United States 1860" and Union shield at bottom. 

After more than two centuries under a strictly isolationist foreign policy, Japan declared itself "open" to the west, sending a delegation to the United States that arrived in Washington in 1860. Japanese diplomats met with Secretary of State Lewis Cass and President James Buchanan, and toured other important US cities including New York and San Francisco. Of course, gifts were exchanged between the representatives of both nations, and Secretary Lewis Cass presented each of the Japanese diplomats with a medal featuring Buchanan's likeness, cast in gold, silver, or bronze, depending upon the recipient's status. It is believed that 50 bronze medals were presented, to be distributed among the diplomatic suite.

Salathiel Ellis engraved the original die for the obverse of the commemorative medal, but it broke within the year and was remade by Anthony Paquet. Featured in this lot is an original Ellis example.