World War One Photo Albums (4) Fully Annotated 960 Photos

1914-1918. Four remarkable albums, each with 240 mounted original gelatin silver prints (sizes range from 4.5 x 5.5 inches to 4.75 x 6.5 inches) depicting soldiers and battle scenes, at a large number of locations, 1914-1918. Uniformly bound in maroon cloth; albums are 14 x 20 inches. Minor edge wear and light soiling. Interiors are remarkably clean and well preserved. Binding remains tight. All photographs are present; a couple have several corners detached.

Outstanding set of albums documenting most every phase and style of combat of World War One. A total of 960 photographs, mainly of life in the trenches and of the ruins of war. Included are photographs of the frontlines in Saloniki, Corfu, Cyprus, Macedonia, Northern France, Belgium; photographs of the various exotic troops involved in the war: the Zouaves, the Spahis, Senegalese troops etc. Most of the main (allied) generals, heads of state etc. are shown performing their war-time duties. Some important names: Clémenceau, Fayolle, Foch, Gueydon, Douglas Haig, Joffre, Lord Kitchener, Lloyd-George, Nivello, Pétain, Poincaré, Roques, Venezilos. Also interesting for the depiction of the mixture of old fashioned and modern warfare techniques: reconnaissance-balloons, kites, airplanes, Zeppelins, cavalry brigades, chemical warfare, horse-drawn cannons etc. A fascinating collection, possibly forming the photographic archive of a war-photographer or of a press-agency, judging from the traces of typescript annotations on verso of photographs. Fortunately, and remarkably each album contains a manuscript numbered list of captions, in French, each with the numbers of the series to which the photographs belong. Having handled many photo albums with no annotations, these four albums provide a feast of information with the caption lists. Likely the premier set of World War One albums we have ever handled. More scans upon request. Extra shipping will be required for this set. Item #70

Price: $5,000.00