Between the Covers

Softcover. Stapled gray wrappers. Measuring 6" x 9.5". A collection of 84 black and white or sepia toned photographs affixed to stiff gray paper measuring between 1.75" x 2.75" and 3.25" x 4.25", some with printed captions. Photographs are near fine with slight waviness in a very good album with tape remnants on the front wrapper, a detached signature, and slight curling. A homemade photo album kept by an American soldier (possibly an aviator) stationed in France at the end of World War I. Interspersed throughout are commercial real photo post card photographs of the battlefields, as well as original snapshots of the war. The photos show the end of the war with trenches filled with bones and dead Calvary horses, weary troops, and demolished towns. The professional photos have captions printed along the bottom edge of them noting, "wiring (barbed) communication trench," "German machine guns after the fight," and "French trench mortars in action." It is possible the compiler was part of the Air Corps as the original snapshot photography has a significant number of airplane shots, as well as some taken looking out of a plane, and others of a young man in full pilot's uniform posing next to and in a cockpit. There are numerous photos of wrecked planes and one curious image of a dead horse in a tree. A modest, but arresting album of an American's tour of duty in France.

Item #395717