Oblong Quarto album (ca. 18x29,3 cm). 32 card stock leaves. With 64 mounted original gelatin silver photographs ca. 13,5x7,8 cm (5 ¼ x 3 in). Ink captions on paper labels in English and Lithuanian. Period cloth album, fastened with a string; with generic gilt-tooled title “Photographs” on the front board; paper label of “F. H. Gilson Company, Boston” mounted on the verso of the rear board. Small tears on the spine, photos with mild silvering, but overall a very good album with strong, interesting photos.

Historically interesting collection of lively vernacular photos, illustrating an early trip to Kaunas, the second largest city in Lithuania, during the interwar period. At the time, Kaunas served as the temporary capital of the country (1920-1940) and was celebrated for its rich cultural life, fashion, construction of countless Art Deco and Lithuanian National Revival architectural-style buildings as well as a widespread café culture. Kaunas faced heavy damage during World War II after being annexed by the U.S.S.R. in 1940, with many landmarks destroyed.

According to the photographs, the compiler was an American tourist who likely traveled to Lithuania in the early 1930s. After capturing the major monuments in the Old and New Towns of Kaunas, he/she continued north towards the Lithuanian border, visiting the villages of Meskuciai and Joniskis.

The collection features sixty-four vibrant views of Lithuania, with ca. fifty-seven excellent photographs showing Kaunas during its economic boom. About twenty-five close-up photos depict local landmarks in their original pre-war state, including Historical Presidential Palace, Church of St. Michael, War Museum, Town Hall, Kaunas Castle, Lithuanian Air Force Headquarters, Holy Cross Church, Art Museum & School Palace, Pazaislis Church, and Maironis Lithuanian Literature Museum. Five candid urban scenes vividly portray Lithuanian merchants hauling stacks of hay in horse-drawn carts, and locals in headscarves and hats busily shopping at a crowded market (in the current Steigiamojo Seimo square). There are also about twenty lively panoramic views of Laisves Aleja and nearby streets (Daukantas, Luksio, Mickeviciaus, Carmelitu, Kestucio, Misko) showing ongoing constructions, thatched-roof houses, pavements, residential buildings (including in art-deco style), numerous shops with Lithuanian signs (“Vesbutis Hotel,” “S. Kacenelbogenas,” “Manufaktūros,” “Automatas,” “Restoranas,” etc.), locals in suits and dresses, horse carts, buses, and cars with license plates. The rest of the photos show the original Petras Veleisis Bridge (destroyed in 1944 and rebuilt in 1948), a horse changing station, Valley of A. Mickevich (today part of the local zoo), the confluence of Nemunas and Neris rivers, and the aerial views of the city.

Seven photos document the compiler’s trip to the north, showing Meskuciai (train depot and houses) and Joniskis (train depot, mill, etc.) villages.

Overall, historically interesting album documenting an early trip to Kaunas during its economic and architectural boom.