Chang-su Houchins’s Artifacts of Diplomacy: Smithsonian Collections from Commodore Matthew Perry’s Japan Expedition (1853-1854)¹ offers tantalizing glimpses into Japan and Ryukyu history in the mid-19th century. After downloading the PDF file, do a search on Naha, Ryukyu, and Ryukyuan to find items related specifically to the Ryukyu Kingdom. The illustrations of a “Loo Choo” woman and Ryukyu officials, below, are but two of many others in the book.

“Loo Choo Woman” by William Heine, ca. 1853-1854, Naha, Ryukyu. Heine was the principal artist with Perry’s Japan Expedition, 1853-1854.

Hand-colored, pencil sketch of a standing
group of Ryukyuan officials in native dress by T.C. Dudley. Subjects are Nagado
and Itarajiki, interpreter for the
Ryukyuan regent, Sho Ko-kun. Naha, July 1854.

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¹ Smithsonian Contributions to Anthropology, Number 37, Smithsonian Institution Press: Washington, D.C., 1995. This is a large PDF so it may take a while to load into your reader.