About this Item
Oblong Quarto album ca. 18x27 cm (7 x 10 ¾ in). 16 card stock leaves (plus over thirty blank at rear). With 74 mounted gelatin silver photos (some issued as real photo postcards), mostly from ca. 10,5x16,5 cm (4 ¼ x 6 ¾ in) to ca. 8x14 cm (3 ¾ x 5 ½ in); five smaller photos at rear are ca. 5x6,5 cm (2 x 2 ½ in) or slightly smaller. One photo captioned in negative "U.S.S. Dale at 17 knots, enroute to Hong Kong, China," several photos numbered in negative, otherwise no captions. One photo mounted on the studio card of "Lai Chong, North Cze Chun Rd., Shanghai." Period black full cloth album with the paper label of "The Heinn Co., Milwaukee" on the inner side of the front board. Binding neatly repaired on hinges, a couple of photos very mildly faded, one of the photos on the first leaf torn and repaired with tape, but overall a very good album with rare historically interesting photos. Historically significant collection of original gelatin silver photos, apparently taken and assembled by a crew member of the USS "Dale" (a Bainbridge class torpedo boat destroyer) during her service in the Philippines and China as a part of the US Asiatic Fleet (1904-1905, 1907-1917). The album contains about a dozen images, taken in the Philippines (beachside, thatched-roof houses, locals), but of the most photos relate to USS "Dale's" service in China during the Xinhai Revolution, which overthrew the Manchu Dynasty and established the Republic of China (October 1911 ? February 1912). About a dozen images show USS "Dale" and other American warships and their crew during voyages and military exercises at sea. Very interesting are over twenty photos of Chinese military camps, fortifications, troops, artillery guns, scenes of destruction and fires, aftermath of public executions, &c. Two photos depict a scene when a Chinese military man forcefully cuts off a queue (traditional Qing hairstyle) of an elderly man. The other photos show the Temple of Heaven in Beijing, China Inland Mission Boys School in Chefoo (Yantai), ancient pavilions, lion rock statues, Chinese girls posing in studio surroundings, &c. Several photos portray a young American sailor, who was apparently the album's compiler. Two printed postcards at rear depict the Custom House and German Club "Concordia" in Shanghai. Overall an interesting photo collection, providing an insight into the Xinhai revolution in China through the eyes of an American naval serviceman. "The First Torpedo Flotilla - convoyed by Buffalo - cleared Norfolk on 12 December 1903 and sailed to the Asiatic Station by way of the Mediterranean and the Suez Canal. Arriving at Cavite, Philippine Islands, on 14 April 1904, Dale cruised in the islands and on the coast of China until placed out of commission in reserve at Cavite on 5 December 1905. Recommissioned on 10 July 1907, she remained on duty with the Asiatic Fleet, cruising to Japan and China, engaging in torpedo and battle practice and maneuvers with the flotilla, guarding and inspecting the target range at Cavite, and transporting mail and passengers. After the United States entered World War I, Dale patrolled the entrance to Manila Bay from 30 June ? 1 August 1917, then sailed to join US Patrol Squadrons based on Gibraltar, arriving there on 20 October. She patrolled and escorted convoys in the eastern Mediterranean until the end of the war" (Wikipedia). Seller Inventory # PA58
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