Archives & Manuscripts #14 - International League of Antiquarian ...

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23 (Photography, World War I). [Photograph Album]: German World War Photo Album. [Circa 1916-1945]. $750 Oblong octavo. Flexible half suede paper-cover boards. 48 photographs and three postcards with pencil drawings. Very good with edgewear, light toning and oxidization to some photographs, else near fine. A few are captioned in German. Undated. A collection of photographs centered around a German soldier during World War I who appears to have become a pharmacist after the war and resided in Hamburg. The album features 13 wartime photographs and three drawings made on wartime postcards presenting the life of a soldier on the front, mostly of fairly happy soldiers posing for the camera. One of the photos was taken at The Hindenburg Line (Siegfriedstellung) which was a vast network of defenses in Northeastern France during World War I and was constructed by the Germans during the winter of 1916-17. One page of postwar photographs is dedicated to pharmacists and pharmacies of which two images are of Lowen Apotheke in Hamburg taken at different times, one probably before World War II and a second after it was repaired following a bombing raid; a third pharmacy shows an open sign written in English. The album also includes a single sheet of paper from the man’s diary describing in German a few days during one winter that he spent in Klosters (Switzerland) skiing along with photographs of that trip. There is also a photograph captioned “Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives” made by Lehnert & Landrock who operated in Cairo from 1924-1945 and several other photos of countryside landscapes. An interesting collection of photos from a German World War I veteran. [BTC #378786] 24 (World War I, Aviation). Merlin Maynard T.R. WWI Naval Aviation Log Book and Related Ephemera. $250 Small archive of material related to Dr. Merlin Maynard, of the Naval Reserve Force during WWI. Consisting of 1. Maynard’s Aviators Flight Log Book documenting a little over a dozen training flights, signed by the instructor. Slight soiling and wear, very good or better. 2. A formal portrait of Maynard in uniform. Measuring 6" x 8" and signed in pencil: “Bushnell, Seattle.” 3. News clipping incorporating the photograph, and noting that Maynard has been placed on the inactive list of the Navy in order to resume his medical studies at Stanford. 4. Western Union Telegram from the Superintendent of Flying School of San Diego to an unknown “Gil: They tell me Lt. (J.G.) M.T.R. Maynard U.S.N.R.F.C. is now instructing cross country flying at San Deigo. He’s not over there but he’s near that girl. Now we know why he didn’t want to go to Key West [Naval Air Station]. 5. Maynard’s engraved calling card. 6. Maynard’s business card as a practicing doctor in San Jose, California. A small and mildly amusing archive of WWI aviation related material. [BTC #384123]
25 (World War I) Private Emil Straka. Archive of World War I Letters. Illinois, Texas, France, Luxembourg: 1917-1919. $1200 A collection of 132 letters and 49 postcards sent from Private Emil Straka to his sweetheart Lillian Rose and to his family during his time serving with the United States Army during World War I, along with a few assorted keepsakes. The letters relate the experience of an American enlisted man from the onset of services to the end of the war and his doubts about returning to civilian life. All letters are very good with modest toning and small tears from opening. Emil Straka, who often refers to himself as “Dan” throughout the letters, was minimally educated before enlisting, and some of the following passages have been edited for the sake of clarity. He began active duty on September of 1917 in Camp Grant, Illinois where he underwent his basic training; “this is some place for all you see is barracks and soldiers.” He transitioned into the army like most young men with moods fluctuating from patriotic to homesick. “Feeling a little unpleasant…we were awoke in the morning by the bugle and had to dress.” He stayed at Camp Grant the remainder of the year eventually being sent to Camp Logan, Texas in January of 1918. “This is the first time the people in Texas seen snow for 20 years and believe me I am glad it came for it is fine.” As his overseas duty with the American Expeditionary Forces approached he became more aware of the danger he was potentially becoming involved in; “I think I will never be there again for if I do my part in war I may never see you if I get shot.” By June of 1918 Straka had made his way to a small town in France. “I am in good health and like it out here but it is not like the states but we are making the best of it.” The American forces played an integral part in defending Paris and ultimately forcing the Germans to retreat. “I am near the Germans now and I think I will soon get my turn at them and when I do I will sure show them what U.S. or Uncle Sam’s boys can do.” Most of the letters are sent to his sweetheart Lillian Rose in Cicero, Illinois. “Somewhere in France: Did you get my letters and post card, let me know for I am feeling that you must have another fellow and you don’t care for Danny anymore.” The struggles of the American soldiers came from the unknown and the waiting that was involved near the end of the war. “We are now in good drilling and I will sure get the Germans so fast as they can come and if they do not come we will come out and get them.” Time was passed in a myriad of different ways be it hiking, going into towns, or watching the last remnants of fighting; “I was watching a couple of airplanes having a little battle in the air just a second ago and they sure did some shooting. I sure like to watch them.” By May of 1919, after returning to France from a short stint in Luxembourg, he finally received orders to head home. The long wait had apparently planted some doubt in his sweetheart’s mind about his intentions; “Dear you think all we have to do is to take care of the French dolls but you are not right. We do not have time to think in the army. That’s how much I know about the dolls in France.” He closes his last letter with, “well sweetie I will be on the water in a couple of days now and will be back home about the 25 of May…Well Lilly this is the last letter I write to you and next time I answer a letter it will be face to face.” Accompanying the letter are a few keepsakes and souvenirs: a sepia toned photograph, measuring 2½" x 4", of various soldiers standing by a wagon; a red, white, and blue National Army ribbon; an original photograph post card of Straka sent from the Panama Canal Zone (presumably following the war); and two later stapled pamphlets: Constitutions and By-Laws:Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States and Past Commander’s Night West Suburban Post 1485 Veterans of Foreign Wars, both dated in 1929. An extensive assemblage personally chronicling the American viewpoint of the last two years of World War I. [BTC #385270]
Page 1 and 2: A r c h i v e s & M a n u s c r i p
Page 3 and 4: 2 (African-Americana). Herbert A. W
Page 5 and 6: 4 (Art, Children). Ursula Koering (
Page 7 and 8: he invented), an ALS from 1947, a f
Page 9 and 10: list is available. Life magazine, 1
Page 11 and 12: 8 Art Carduner. Collection of 31 Pr
Page 13 and 14: Dance Marathons existed as a compet
Page 15 and 16: 11 (Erotica). 82 Erotic Typescripts
Page 17 and 18: 13 (Klu Klux Klan). 10 Letters En R
Page 19 and 20: 15 (Native Americans). The Red Man
Page 21 and 22: 18 (Photography). Ernest Foss, Jr.
Page 23: vendors, performers, and family mem
Page 28 and 29: 26 (Vietnam). Archive of Vietnam Wa
Page 30 and 31: Golden Age of California Culture 28
Page 32 and 33: With a Six-Page Account of a Women
Page 34 and 35: On February 21st, he takes a “Tri
Page 36 and 37: 30 (Women). Charlotte Julie Bonapar
Page 38 and 39: 32 (Women). Barbara (Canine) Fowler
Page 40 and 41: 5. Black string-bound album. Square
Page 42 and 43: 33 (Youth Culture). Collection of Y
Page 44: Detail from item #5

Archives & Manuscripts #14 - International League of Antiquarian ...

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