{"product_id":"wwii-1945-handmade-paris-photo-album","title":"WWII 1945 Handmade Paris Photo Album - Gift from Signal Corps Soldier to His Wife","description":"\u003cdiv role=\"heading\" class=\"otQkpb\"\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\"\u003eSouvenir photo album purchased by a soldier for his wife and stored in his battalion's photo equipment supply, paired with the soldier's original letter describing that exact recovery. Letter is signed \"Leo,\" addressed to \"Doris\" - no surnames present.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTHE ALBUM\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"[li_\u0026amp;]:mb-0 [li_\u0026amp;]:mt-1 [li_\u0026amp;]:gap-1 [\u0026amp;:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [\u0026amp;:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-disc flex flex-col gap-1 pl-8 mb-3\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eHand-colored pen-and-ink illustration of Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris, on celluloid or early plastic film\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eCelluloid\/film layer hand-laced around the border onto heavy dark flocked backing paper\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eInterior pages blank (soldier intended recipient to add her own photos)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eHandwritten fountain pen inscription, first interior page: \"To Doris from Leo from Paris 1945\" — note the final digit of \"1944\" is traced over to read \"1945,\" matching the letter's dated correction\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eSize: 12 3\/8\" x 11\"\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTHE LETTER\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"[li_\u0026amp;]:mb-0 [li_\u0026amp;]:mt-1 [li_\u0026amp;]:gap-1 [\u0026amp;:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [\u0026amp;:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-disc flex flex-col gap-1 pl-8 mb-3\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eDated January 25, 1945; lined paper, 10 3\/8\" x 8\"\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eAddressed \"My Darling,\" signed \"All my love Leo\"\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eOpens referencing enclosed lace (no longer present): \"Here is the album \u0026amp; lace I said I'd send you so long ago. The lace is a bit dirty but I think you could clean it. Besides, it didn't cost much so it won't matter if you don't use it.\"\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eContinues with direct provenance for the album itself: \"The album I've been carrying around in the battalion photo equipment \u0026amp; forgot about it until last week when we went to the bottom of one of the boxes and lo — there it was! I think it rather pretty \u0026amp; if you put the pictures of France in it well spaced you might fill it nicely - if not perhaps I have some negs I can get some more prints from. Official ones - \"\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eCloses with \"\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eGotta wrap this now - so bye for now - All my love Leo\"\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eCondition: clean, fully intact, legible throughout\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCONTEXT\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eContent indicates the soldier served with a battalion photographic equipment\/darkroom unit, consistent with Signal Corps or Air Force reconnaissance photo processing operations in the European Theatre (unit not confirmed by surviving documentation).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCONDITION\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAuthentic used vintage condition. Small stable crack in celluloid front cover at a lacing hole, consistent with natural celluloid brittleness with age. Also a bit of age or water staining on the front cover.Light edge toning\/wear on blotter paper pages consistent with transport in a battalion equipment box. Letter clean and fully legible. Sold as-is.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c!--TgQPHd||[]--\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThis is a vintage item. It has a history. Please check out the photos carefully and ask questions. We want you to love your romantic, historic find.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"NextStage Vintage","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51953151476029,"sku":"26-8 15x15x4","price":135.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1469\/7848\/files\/paris-scrapbook--13.jpg?v=1786067842","url":"https:\/\/nextstagevintage.com\/products\/wwii-1945-handmade-paris-photo-album","provider":"NextStage Vintage","version":"1.0","type":"link"}