In 1897 Germany leapt at the chance to expand their influence after the murders of two German missionaries in what became known as the Juye Incident. China was forced to agree to the Kiautschou Bay concession granting Germany Chinese territory on a 99-year lease, resulting in among other things the building of the city and port of Tsingtao. Offered in this lot is a beautiful presentation photo album, 14 x 10.25 in., belonging to a German soldier during his service in Tsingtao (or Tsingtau), China. The black lacquered front cover features a noble Chinese woman being pulled in a cart by a worker through an alluring landscape. The first two pages include an attractive hand-painted image depicting a kimono-clad woman and her child walking along a river. The next page bears an inscription in German, reading ‘To commemorate my service in Tsingtau, China 1911-1914’. This album contains 86 b/w photos, each page bearing a caption in German penned in a bold calligraphic hand. Some of the photos also indicate this German soldier spent time in Samoa. Samoa was a protectorate of Germany from 1900-1914 consisting of the islands Manono, Apolima, Savai’I and Upolu. Though Germany had no standing army in Samoa their influence was strong as a result of zealous plantation activity under the watchful eye of Governor Wilhelm Solf. The stunning images include: large groups of German soldiers exploring the sacred mountains of China, posing by the water, under cherry blossom trees, on top of mountains, in front of ancient statues, and with locals; German soldiers competing in games such as tug-of-war; Samoan locals in traditional garb; a Samoan home or ‘fale’ under construction; Samoan women in provocative poses; remnants from the Battle of Port Arthur including deceased soldiers lying among weapons; Chinese soldiers proudly posing before the decapitated bodies of criminals; people being carted away who had succumbed to the plague; a close-up of a Chinese women’s foot after undergoing foot binding; a village on fire and much more. Some of the images are commercial photographs (mainly those regarding Samoa), though, a captivating album nonetheless. Each photo remains firmly in its place. The front cover has detached slightly and bears some light chipping to the edges, else very good.