Between the Covers

Unbound. A collection of 19 gelatin silver photographs mounted, plus two additional portraits. Various sizes between 7" x 5" and 6.5" x 9" mounted on good quality card mounts measuring 12.25" x 10.25", each with the identical caption: "Arrivo del primo contingente di Truppe Americane in Italia. 27 Giugno, 1918" ("Arrival of the first contingent of American troops in Italy. June 27, 1918"). A little silvering in the margins of some images, else fine. The images depict the 332nd Infantry Regiment of the American Expeditionary Force on the first day of their arrival in Italy. About half of the images are of the troops on shipboard and disembarking from the ship, and the remaining images are of the troops, lead by the regimental band, parading through the streets of Genoa. From there they were based at Lake Garda, and later participated in the Vittorio-Veneto offensive. Additionally there are two formal portraits of American brothers in uniform: James L. and Stephen A. Crump, Jr. Each of these images is approximately 4" x 5.5" on larger card mounts, with the embossed mark of a Genoa photographer and each is inscribed to Captain Edgar J. Williams. The Crump brothers, from Macon, Georgia, were cotton brokers in Genoa, before, during, and after the War. Conceivably this suite of images was prepared by them to emphasis their own patriotic nature and the friendship between the Italians and Americans. Excellent and clear images.

Item #411030