Between the Covers

Hardcover. Two volumes. Oblong folios measuring 15" x 11". String-tied brown and cream leather over stiff paper boards. Contains 529 sepia-toned or black and white gelatin silver photographs measuring between 1" x 1" and 3" x 5" with typed captions. Very good album with chips, tears, and some edgewear with near fine photographs.

An extensive collection of photographs compiled by a soldier stationed with a U.S. Army Medical Unit during World War II. Between 1942 and 1945 his unit traveled from Ghana to China by way of Egypt, Italy, and India. The compiler included typed captions under each of his photographs detailing the images. He often photographs locals, capturing street scenes, workers, children, and soldiers interacting with them. The album opens in 1942 in Accra, Ghana with images of “native women” and the compiler posed on the beach. From Ghana they were sent to North Africa where he photographed scenes from Cairo including a bazaar, the Nile, and ancient sites in Giza such as the pyramids and sphinx. One photo shows the compiler on top of a camel with a caption which reads, “The Sheik” below it. One image of a local woman with a basket on her head reads “’wog’ woman.” They traveled through the desert to Libya where he visited Roman ruins, mosques, and cathedrals. The first album ends in Italy and includes the base, fellow soldiers, and USO shows including images of Jack Benny and Winnie Shaw performing and actress Jinx Falkenburg.

The second album begins in San Servo with photos of the town, goat-herders, “fisher folk,” and Roman ruins. Here he also photographs a tent which features the caption, “my office.” One photo shows the soldier smiling and holding a beer with “my 30th birthday” written beneath it. By 1944 he found himself in India featuring photographs of snake charmers, “sacred cows,” and “the slums.” A large section of the second album follows the unit’s time in China with images of “coolies,” workers in a rice paddy, and the medical supply office on base. One section shows a volleyball game with soldiers and then Vice President Wallace with captions reading, “Vice Pres. Wallace hitting a high one” and “muffing one (Vice Pres. Wallace).

An extensive photographic account of a medic stationed in Africa and Asia during World War II.

Item #426823