Description:

Prior to the 19th century, the Chinese were concerned that European trade and missionary activity would upset the order of the empire. Strictly controlled and subject to import tariffs, European traders were limited to operating in Canton and Macao. Following a series of military defeats against Britain and France, Qing China were slowly forced to permit extraterritorial privileges for foreign nationals and even cessions of Chinese sovereignty over certain ports and mineral rights. Foreign trade was approved there for the British and French by the 1860 Peking Convention. Between 1895 and 1900, these two powers were joined by Japan, Germany, Russia, Austria-Hungary, Italy and Belgium – countries without concessions elsewhere in China – in establishing self-contained concessions each with their own prisons, schools, barracks, and hospitals. Offered here is a nice grouping of two photo albums, likely belonging to two different German soldiers during their service in German-occupied China. The first is a presentation photo album, 14.5 x 11 in., with a black lacquered cover showing the beautiful landscape of China. This album was compiled by a German soldier while stationed in occupied China and contains sixty-one images, original photographs and postcards. Images include: stunning nature scenes, young women in kimonos with painted faces, a local man dressed in a straw raincoat smoking a pipe, family homes, members of the Kriegsmarine posing with local women and a rickshaw, fisherman on the water, kimono-clad women dancing for a crowd, group photos of sailors, young men posing with their weapons, German gravesite, shocking images of a severed head suspended from a tree and a pile of emaciated burning bodies, the bustling Hanon Road in Shanghai, with the final photo showing a group photo of the crew of the warship Hamburg. Light chipping to the corners, else very good; WITH a second black lacquered photo album, 15.5 x 12.5 in., consisting of both commercial and personal photos, lacking the front cover. Nearly all of the 114 photos bear a caption in a calligraphic hand. Locales for the owner of this album varied, including China, Singapore, Samoa, and New Guinea. Images include: the battleship Scharnhorst, H.M.S. King Alfred, S.M.S. Leipzig, and many other impressive ships; group photos of members of German naval sailors; busy waterways in Singapore and Hong Kong; Samoans carrying a pig for a feast, Germans and Samoans dressed up likely to put on a show; church service and bath time on board an unknown ship; German soldiers marching; half-naked Samoan women; Samoan dancers, locals dancing in New Guinea; German soldiers posing on a hill with their guns; artillery; active city streets, and more. Regrettably several of the pages are damp-stained. Just good condition. Two pieces.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, COD (cash on delivery), Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

*SEE ADITTIONAL SHIPPING ABOVE* -Shipments are sent via FedEx and DHL (for most overseas shipments) or FedEx Ground at the auctioneer's option. Due to complications from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we will ship with USPS Priority Mail only if the buyer submits their request to us in writing and accepts responsibility for delayed shipments. Signature is always required, unless other arrangements are made. Handling and shipping charges will be added to the invoice in one entry. Buyers should be aware that large, framed, fragile or odd shaped items can incur substantial shipping and packing charges. International shipments are invoiced by DIMENSIONAL weight, not the item weight. Please contact us for an estimate before bidding NOTE: Large, heavy or bulky items may not be shipped by the auctioneer - arrangements for shipping of these items via a third-party shipper may be arranged through the auction house. Customers who supply their own courier account number will still be charged a handling fee. Please allow 2-3 weeks for shipments after receipt of payment due to the high volume of packages being shipped.

June 16, 2023 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $499 $20
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $999,999 $10,000
$1,000,000 $1,999,999 $50,000
$2,000,000 + $100,000