WORLD WAR I SNAPSHOT PHOTO ALBUM: FRANCE (VERDUN, CHATEAU THEIRRY, REIM, LE MANS
SELF PUBLISHED: Privately Printed, c. 1918. Photograph Album. Photo album, with thick, paper-covered boards, labeled on front board in white script "Snap Shots", (7 in. x 5 1/4 in.). 36 black mounting pages, with 66 4 1/4 in. x 2 1/2 in snapshote, plus three tiny "gems" affixed to inside of rear cover. 3-inch flap-tear to spine, revealing that paper used in construction of this album was "printers waste", and a photographic image of trees may be seen on reverse of flap. Easily gluable but buyer might want to see this unique example of early "recycling". Minor edgewear to boards and a crease to rear board which has been cracked -- but with no serious damage.
First photo depicts "Dead Man Hill" in Verdun, the next few, vast bombing destruction in Reims; cannon and troops; street scenes and overview of Le Mans. Also mounted is a 1917 Cinquante Centimes banknote, Issued by the French army with a compelling designe by Ludovic Vallee, depicting the "victorious return of the [soldier] who did his duty, baggage under his arm and welcomed by his dog, advancing with outstretched arms towards his family. The wife in peasant attire, also with outstretched arms, is surrounded by two children, the older daughter of whom lays a laurel wreath at the winning hero..." (Numista site).
Other photos depict a barracks (?) built at the edge of the Sarthe River, showing bathing soldiers and hanging laundry; more street scenes in Le Mans; graveyards and urban destruction in St. Mihiel; children amongst the ruins in Chateau Thierry; devastation in Verdun; more graveyards; underground bunkers; bridges. Several pictures of Salt Lake City, Utah (Mormon Temple, SLC street scene, and several shots of soldiers recovering from battlefield injuries, in the hospital.
Roughly half the photos are identified/captioned ("Campbell", "Cpl. Evans..."; ;German Prison Camp"; "Our first picture in the AEF"; ; "Prison Camp for Pro-German", etc. Very Good Plus. Item #87875
"...the AEF, an American Expeditionary Force, consisting of troops from both the United States Army and Marine Corps units. ...The AEF counter-offensive combat action at Château-Thierry was relatively brief starting on July 1, 1918 and lasting for less than a week and was part of the allied effort to push back the recent German advance. American forces had linked up with their French allies at the Marne River on June 3, 1918 and had forced the Germans back across the river. This set the stage for the action at Château-Thierry and at the Battle of Belleau Wood. ..." (Wikipedia).
Price: $225.00