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According to the seller’s count, the album contains 423 original period black-and-white photographs. The images appear to document U.S. Army service in Germany during the early Cold War era, together with civilian, family, travel, and pre-service material.
Photographed subjects include:
- U.S. Army soldiers and fellow servicemen
- Military camps, barracks, and field tents
- Uniformed personnel and informal group portraits
- Military and civilian vehicles
- Snowy outdoor activities and sports
- German buildings, roads, towns, and landscapes
- Friends, family members, and social gatherings
- Travel scenes and everyday postwar European life
- American civilian scenes and Texas-related material
Several photographs clearly show automobiles carrying period license plates marked:
“U.S. Forces in Germany”
Visible plates appear consistent with the mid-1950s registration period, including approximately 1956 and 1957.
At least one military vehicle photographed in the album appears possibly consistent with an M59 armored personnel carrier, an early Cold War U.S. tracked vehicle. This identification has not been independently verified, and buyers should use the photographs as the final reference.
The scrapbook also contains original newspaper clippings connected with Texas, including Fort Worth-area material relating to the Southwestern Exposition and Fat Stock Show. Another clipping concerns Amon Carter Riverside High School and Daniel Dodson.
These clippings suggest a personal connection between Texas civilian life and later U.S. Army service in Germany, although the serviceman’s exact identity, military unit, and relationship to every person or clipping have not been confirmed.
A handwritten Christmas note found with the album is signed or attributed to Mrs. McGinnis, but the identities of the sender and recipient remain unverified.
Album Details
The album is an original period commercial scrapbook with advertising material for:
Ideal Spot-Gummed Scrap Books
The original printed insert describes removable spot-gummed leaves and bears a Chicago manufacturer’s mark with Made in U.S.A.
This is not a modern reproduction and does not appear to be a recently assembled group of unrelated photographs. The photographs remain mounted in their original album arrangement.
CONDITION
Heavy vintage condition with substantial deterioration to the album.
The covers, binding, spine, page edges, and outer surfaces show extensive wear, abrasion, staining, discoloration, material loss, and storage deterioration. A large section along the outer page edges has significant loss and rough damage.
The pages are heavily aged and fragile, with toning, brittleness, edge loss, tears, stains, adhesive marks, and areas where old mounting material remains visible.
According to the seller’s count, approximately 42 of the 423 photographs have some form of noticeable damage. Damage may include:
- Missing corners or edge loss
- Surface loss
- Adhesive residue
- Staining or discoloration
- Creasing or curling
- Photographs previously stuck together and later separated
- Rough or irregular edge damage
Some of the album and photograph damage may resemble rodent, insect, moisture, or poor-storage damage, but the exact cause cannot be confirmed.
The remaining photographs vary in condition and may show fading, silvering, surface marks, curling, scratches, discoloration, adhesive staining, or general handling wear.
The photographs have not been removed, cleaned, reorganized, flattened, repaired, or professionally conserved.
Due to the album’s fragile state, pages should be handled carefully. Please review every available photograph closely before purchasing.
Contents
- One original 1950s scrapbook
- Approximately 423 original black-and-white photographs
- Original Texas newspaper clippings
- Period Ideal scrapbook advertising insert
- Handwritten personal note
- All material sold together in its original arrangement
No individual photographs or clippings will be separated from the album.
Historical Interest
This album may be of interest to collectors and researchers of:
- U.S. Army history
- U.S. Forces in Germany
- Cold War military photography
- American occupation and postwar Germany
- M59 armored personnel carriers
- Military vehicle history
- Texas and Fort Worth history
- Amon Carter Riverside High School
- Mid-century personal archives
- Vernacular photography
- Social and family history
Shipping
Because the album is heavy, oversized, and fragile, it will be carefully wrapped with archival-style interleaving where practical, protected with rigid boards and substantial padding, and shipped in a sturdy box.
Loose or vulnerable material will be secured without removing it from its original arrangement. The album should be opened carefully upon arrival.
Keywords
1950s Army scrapbook, US Army Germany photos, U.S. Forces in Germany, Cold War military album, vintage soldier photographs, M59 APC photo, armored personnel carrier, Germany occupation photos, Fort Worth Texas scrapbook, Amon Carter Riverside, vernacular photography, military personal archive, 1956 Army photographs, 1957 Germany photos
Sold as one complete original scrapbook containing approximately 423 photographs. Heavy age and storage damage throughout. Identification of individuals, unit, locations, and vehicle types is not guaranteed. Sold as found and as-is.
