Photograph Album of Shanghai and the Philippines from the Early 1930s

1932. unique album. Photo album. The photographs were taken by a doctor stationed at Sternberg General Hospital in Manila,. 130 silver gelatin photographs on 14 leaves. (95 of the Philippines and 36 of China). Oblong quarto, original black lacquered boards with pictorial inlay on front cover, leather spine.

Extremities worn, front cover chipped, front joint cracked, spine no longer attached to front; front hinge broken; photographs fine; very good.Ships from Hawaii with free Priority Mail upgrade. --

. Most photographs are of the Manila area but there are numerous images of Shanghai after the Japanese bombing of Chapei. An interesting chronicle of American military experience in the Philippines and China during the early 1930s.
Images show the hospital in Manila, the dock area, the bay, and a spindly Christmas tree set up in the medical lab. There follow street scenes in Manila, views of churches and Spanish ruins, shots of Old Manila, and views of the countryside. The author documents a train trip up to Baguio, north of Manila, with images of the train station at Baguio, scenes of the countryside in that area, a photograph of the stone quarry, and at least two images showing gold mines in the region. Two gruesome photos from this series show an American man -- our author or his friend -- posed with unburied skeletons from a burial site. The man sits on the ground with his ankles crossed, a skeleton to either side, his hand on one skull to keep the skeleton upright for the photo. The author has also taken photographs of native houses and villages, and there is a series of images depicting topless native women and girls. The images of the Philippines end with a series of views of gun emplacements on Corregidor, and several photographs of the hospital basketball team.

The images from Shanghai show Japanese warships in the harbor, as well as two images captioned "Ruins of Chapei section," dating the photos to around 1932, after the Japanese bombed out Chinese civilians at Chapei. There are numerous scenes of river traffic, and a shot of the International Settlement as seen from a boat. These are followed by snapshots of Chinwangtao (Qinhuangdao), depicting dock workers, street scenes, and American military officers on a march.