History Bound, LLC

The German Empire was founded in January 1871. Under Chancellor Otto von Bismarck and Kaiser Wilhelm II, Germany became the powerhouse of Europe. Their economic and military powers were pre-eminent. Germany’s science and technology, education, and municipal administration were the envy of the world.

Helmeted German Soldiers lined up for review.

But Germany also played a decisive role in tipping Europe’s fragile balance of power over the brink and into the cataclysm of the First World War, eventually leading to the empire’s collapse in military defeat and revolution in November 1918.

Reims dans les Ruines apres la Retraite des Allemands. Rue Liergier et la Cathedrale.

World War I, centered in Europe, began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918. It involved all the world’s great powers, which were assembled in two opposing alliances: the Allies (based on the Triple Entente of the United Kingdom, France and Russia) and the Central Powers (originally centered around the Triple Alliance of Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy; but, as Austria–Hungary had taken the offensive against the agreement, Italy did not enter into the war). These alliances both reorganized (Italy fought for the Allies), and expanded as more nations entered the war. More than 70 million military personnel, including 60 million Europeans, were mobilized in one of the largest wars in history. More than 9 million combatants were killed.

German Ammunition Depot after a visit of the French Airmen - Alincourt, France.

The assassination on 28 June 1914 of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, the heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary, by a Yugoslav nationalist was the trigger of the war. It resulted in a Hapsburg ultimatum against the Kingdom of Serbia. Several alliances formed over the previous decades were invoked, so within weeks the major powers were at war. The conflict soon spread around the world.

Big gun let loose by the Germans. Chuignes (Somme).

By the end of the war Germany and Russia lost a great amount of territory, while the Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman empires were dismantled entirely. The map of central Europe was redrawn into several smaller states.

AND THEY DID NOT PASS.. The Main Entrance and Gate in the city of Verdun, France. Attacked by 300,000 of the German elite troops in 1916, Verdun suffered the worst that the German army could give. Tops of hills were blown off, first lines of trenches were wiped out. Buried under trenches, choked by gas, burned to cinders by liquid fire, the French still held fast. They Shall Not Pass. - and they did not.

Captured German Fokker type D VII. Paris.

HMS Drake. WWI British Armored Cruiser. Sunk by German uBoat U79 on October 2, 1917.

Kapitanleutnant Weddigen mit Gemahlin. Kapitanleutnant Otto Weddigen. WWI German Naval War Hero. Awared the Iron Cross after sinking HMS Aboukir, HMS Hogue and HMS Cressy in one single action in 1914. . One of only six non-Bavarians to receive the Knight's Cross of the Military order of Max Joseph. . One of the first German U-Boat Commanders. Dies while in command of U-29 on March 18, 1915. U-29 was rammed by the British battleship HMS Dreadnought in the Pentland Firth.

ORIGINAL WORLD WAR I IMPERIAL GERMAN KRIEGSMARINE SUBMARINE MEDAL. MARKED C.E. JUNCKER, BERLIN S.W. plus HALLMARKED "CEJ" ! MANY VETERAN SAILORS WORE THESE BADGES WELL INTO THE SECOND WORLD WAR INCLUDING ADMIRAL DOENITZ.

Lillian Diana Gish (1893 - 1993) was an American stage, screen and television actress whose film acting career spanned 75 years, from 1912 to 1987. She was a prominent film star of the 1910s and 1920s, particularly associated with the films of director D.W. Griffith, including her leading role in Griffith’s seminal Birth of a Nation (1915). Her sound-era film appearances were sporadic, but included a memorable role in the 1955 cult thriller Night of the Hunter.

Lillian Gish. One of the greatest film stars of all time.

Not only was Lillian Gish born in the right era, but she was also born with the ethereal beauty and grace to make her a star in the silent film industry. If Mary Pickford was the silent cinema’s greatest personality, Lillian was its greatest actress.

A consummate actress, Lillian seemed to take delight in suffering for the art form that became her obsession. In order to experiment, Lillian worked in extreme conditions such as starvation, intense heat and bitter cold. Soon, she became the quintessential silent screen heroine, lovely and open to suffering.

The world of collecting antique photos can sometimes be confusing. There are several types of antique photos. We will try to help clarify the types here for you.

Tintype

CASED IMAGES - This category generally represents the earliest types of photography. These include:

Daguerreotypes, Ambrotypes, and Tintypes. These photos date from 1839 - 1869

Daguerreotypes - Photo produced on a copper plate coated with silver.

Ambrotype - A negative image produced on a glass plate and viewed as a positive with the

addition of a black paper backing.

Tintype - A negative image on a thin iron plate with a black varnish to create a positive

image.

All three types of these images were normally inserted into individual cases for protection. Among the most highly sought after photos from this era are real Civil War scenes, men in uniform and early village scenes.

Carte de Visite

CARTE DE VISTE - (carte de visite) - Visiting Card. A photographic print generally measuring 2 1/2 x 3 1/2

inches and mounted on a card 2 1/2″ x 4″. These photos date from 1854 - 1905. As with

any photos, the collectors value will be determined by the subject matter. Popular collector

types include men in military uniforms, hunting scenes, people working at their trades eg.

candle maker, cook, glass blower etc. , political luminaries, railroads, villages and American Indians. Queen Victoria was an avid collector.

Cabinet Photo H.M.S. Pinafore

CABINET CARDS - A photographic print attached to a cardboard mount. These came in many sizes and

were popular from 1863 - 1920s. Most of the cabinet cards that you will find will have

only a family sentimental value. Again, the subject matter will determine the value of

these photos. War scenes are alway highly collected. Personalities of note, town and city

scenes, outlaws, storm damage, train wrecks etc. The normal photo of “mom and dad” has

little if any value.

Stereograph - 1906 Duck Hunting

STEREOGRAPHS - Two identical photographs mounted on a cardboard backing for use in a view to create a

3-D scene. These date from 1851 - 1930s. There are many surviving stereographs . The

popular scenes are of military actions, Spanish American War, Boer War, WWI . There are

many sets and series including around the world scenes in a set of over 300 photos.

Some of the rarest and most sought after scenes are from the old West, Indians etc. and

can bring values in the hundreds and thousands of dollars. Again - subject matter is the

key.

Feel free to email us with any questions or comments. We hope this has been of some help.

Fancy Daguerreotype case