Imperial German Naval Souvenir Photo Album – East Asia Squadron

Imperial German Naval Souvenir Photo Album – East Asia Squadron, 1904–1906 (China, Japan, Sumatra)

This remarkable and visually striking album represents a rare surviving souvenir of an Imperial German naval officer’s voyages with the East Asia Squadron during the years 1904–1906. Bound in lacquered wood with exquisite mother-of-pearl inlay, the cover depicts a floral and bird motif, a style strongly associated with Japanese export art of the late Meiji era. Despite some wear and losses to the lacquer surface and inlay, the binding retains excellent period character and historic presence.

Interior Contents

• Dedication Page: Hand-lettered in German: “Zur Erinnerung an meine Reisen in China, Japan und Sundainseln in den Jahren 1904–1906.” (“In memory of my travels in China, Japan, and the Sunda Islands in the years 1904–1906.”).

• Photographic Views: Approximately [insert page/photograph count], including both hand-tinted albumen prints and original black-and-white photographs.

  • Japanese scenic views, such as the Inland Sea at Bingo, Hikone Park, and traditional houses with geisha and boats, clearly purchased from Japanese commercial studios specializing in tourist albums.

  • Dramatic landscapes including volcanic craters (“Krater des Aetna während der Ruhezeit”).

  • Chinese scenes: Nanking’s gate (“Toranentor in Nanking”), busy street views in Hong Kong (“Queens Road in Hongkong”), and parade/maneuver images showing German naval landing parties in tropical helmets performing field exercises.

  • Photographs of German naval vessels docking in Tsingtau (Qingdao), the East Asia Squadron’s base in the Kiautschou concession.

Historical Significance
The album provides a vivid snapshot of Imperial Germany’s naval presence in East Asia during a period of both colonial expansion and increasing tension with Japan, Britain, and other powers. Albums of this type were often commissioned by officers or sailors as personal keepsakes, combining locally purchased hand-colored scenic views with private snapshots documenting maneuvers, daily life, and military engagements.

The East Asia Squadron was headquartered in Tsingtau, and officers regularly undertook cruises to Japan, China, and Southeast Asia. This album not only captures the exotic appeal of Meiji-era Japan and Qing-era China through commercial studio photographs but also documents the German presence in Hong Kong and the Kiautschou concession, making it an invaluable artifact of the Kaiserliche Marine’s global reach.

Condition

• Exterior: Lacquered cover shows surface wear, edge chipping, and loss to the floral inlay, typical for age and handling.

• Interior: Photographs generally well-preserved, with some foxing to mounts and occasional fading. Hand-colored prints remain vibrant. German captions throughout are legible and add provenance value.

Collector Value
Imperial German naval albums with original lacquered Japanese bindings are highly sought after. The combination of German East Asia Squadron content, Japanese artistry, and commercial scenic photography makes this piece particularly desirable for collectors of naval history, German colonialism, or Meiji-era travel souvenirs.