Oblong Quarto (ca. 28.5 x 18 cm or 11 ¼ x 7 in). 36 black stiff paper leaves. 123 gelatin silver photographs from ca. 12 x 8 cm (4 ¾ x 3 ¼ in) to 7 x 4.5 cm (2 ¾ x 1 ¾ in). 107 images with period ink captions on mounts. Period brown leather album fastened with string, with gilt-tooled “Photographs,” “L. Austin Grey,” and decorative borders on front board; decorative endpapers. Boards rubbed on extremities; mounts with minor tears on extremities; A few photos mildly faded, but overall a very good album of interesting photos.
An interesting collection of photographs showing Berlin and environs shortly after the end of World War II. The compiler was an American GI stationed there with the 309th Field Artillery Battalion, likely around 1946.

Over 50 photographs show military activities and installations in Berlin. They include views of the barracks and mess hall of the 309th Field Artillery Battalion; the 279th Station Hospital; motor pool of the 223rd Ordnance; and the mess hall, barracks, and dispensary of the Berlin District Headquarters (HQ for the American Sector of Berlin). They also include “US [Stockade?] prisoners under guard” at the Berlin District mess hall, a series of photos showing a parade in the Berlin District, and snapshots of the compiler and his friends, some of whom are identified in the captions (“Elmer Small,” “Stevens,” “‘Hawaii,’” etc.). Two photographs of street corners are captioned “Black Market.”

Over 40 photographs show scenes of Berlin after the war. They include views of the ruins of the new Reich Chancellery building (1939-1949), including the exterior of the Führerbunker; the ruins of the Reichstag building; the ruins of the “American Embassy”; rooftop views of the city; and several street scenes showing destroyed buildings and rubble. They also include views of the Soviet war memorial in Tiergarten, the Berlin Olympic Stadium, Titania Palast, the front exterior of Tempelhof Airfield, and the Berlin Zoo. There are also several photographs of rural environs near Berlin.

Additionally, 20 printed reproductions of photographs showing landmarks in pre-war Berlin, including Brandenburg Gate, the Berlin Cathedral, Bode Museum (formerly Kaiser-Fredrich Museum), and the Kaiser Wilhelm National Monument (Nationaldenkmal; 1897-1950).

Overall, a very interesting collection of photographs showing post-war Berlin.