WWI and POST WAR US OCCUPATION OF GERMANY - FAMILY IN KOBLENZ GERMANY PHOTO ALBUM LOT
Item #461
Collection of more than 400 black and white photos spread across 5 albums which show the experience of an unidentified American family during the U.S. occupation of Germany after World War I, with photographs ranging in date from 1916 to 1922. Many of the photos are from an area now known as Koblenz, with plenty of stunning images of the Rhine river.
1. Book-like photo album
An adorable 4.25 x 7” photo album that looks like a normal book with a worn black cover. Inside there are around 34 black and white photographs which all measure around 2.25 x 2.25”. The photos are slipped into cut-out square boxes on the page and are unaccompanied by annotations, except for one page which identifies the Ex U.S.S. Alabama. Aside from a few images of this ship, most of the photos are of women, men in military uniforms, and babies. The album is not completely filled, with empty squares.
2. Germany and Europe album
9 x 7” string-bound album with a textured black cover. The inside covers have marble-like black and white endpapers. This album is filled with 61 black and white photos from travel around Europe, including Prague, Vienna, and several parts of Italy (Florence, Milan, and Venice). However, there are also plenty of photos from towns in Germany such as Frankfurt, Montabaur, Sankt Goar, and Koblenz. Many of the photos are of typically architecture found in these towns and in other countries in Europe, but there are also several of families, including two women who appear to be in a hospital to deliver their babies, as baby photos follow these images. Photographs measure between 1.5 x 2.5” and 7 x 5” and are glued to the brown pages. The photos are accompanied by annotations which identify some of the individuals pictured and the locations visited. At the end of the album there are photos of faculty and students at the General and Commercial School in Koblenz, and candidates for the West Point examination. One photo appears to be missing.
3. Blue album
10.75 x 8.25” string-bound blue soft cover album filled with around 62 black and white photos inserted into square holes in the pages. Most of the photos measure around 3.5 x 2.25” and are not accompanied by annotations. These photos show men preparing military maneuvers in the countryside, what looks like a parade, women with babies, and camping in the snow. There are around 5 loose photos of cattle. The album is not entirely filled, with several empty squares for photos. There is also a loose topographic map.
4. Germany photo album
11 x 8.25” string-bound black soft cover album containing around 94 black and white photos that seem to largely show off areas of Germany near where the family that created the album were staying. Photographs all measure between 2.5 x 4.25” and 4.25 x 2.5” and are inserted into square holes in the pages, accompanied by annotations which identify the locations.
5. Dark green book-like album
7.25 x 9.5” dark green bound book-like album that contains around 165 black and white photos and photo postcards from Koblenz, including the military men enjoying horse racing and boxing. The family then seems to have returned home to the United States in 1921, and there are photos of visits to Washington, Tucson, Alaska. and Long Point. There are also several photos from a woman’s college days at Gillett College which are accompanied by some charming photos of young women dressed up and several portraits of friends, all of whom are identified by the annotations penciled onto the glossy white pages. Photos measure between 1.5 x 2.25” and 7 x 5.25” and are glued to the pages. At the back of the album there are 10 loose photos of family members. It appears that a few pages have been removed and the back of the album is unused.
Price: $395.00