"Trophy Taking": Photographic album of US in the Pacific theater, World War II.
1943. Photographic album of commercial photographs produced for World War II troops, with grisly images of Japanese dead in the Pacific theater, examples of the phenomenon known as "trophy taking". This was officially prohibited by the US military, but continued in spite of this throughout the war. In September of 1942, the Commander in Chief of the Pacific Fleet went as far as to order that "No part of the enemy's body may be used as a souvenir", and any American servicemen violating that principle would face "stern disciplinary action".
The first images in the album include semi-erotic photographs of tribal women of New Caledonian and Western Samoa. There are also children and tribal members. This section includes a pamphlet, "All You Want to Know About New Caledonia", by Sidney Reichenbach, laid down (24pp). There are also 3 non combat photos of Fiji.
The photographs then transition to views of island bombings, American soldiers in combat, soldiers building a pontoon bridge, and war dead. The "trophy taking" images include: two skulls on the front hood of a Jeep; a Jeep hood with skull and cross bones; a hand lettered sign, "Merry X Mas Tojo" shows two skulls adorned to appear Santa like; and skull stewing.
There are also pages of canceled Fijian, New Zealand and Egyptian stamps. The last 4 pages of the album with New Zealand wine bottle label, New Zealand beer labels, and 2pp color photographs of US Army and Navy medals, laid down.
A total of 37 non combat photographs at the beginning of the album; followed by 28 war photographs; 3 Fiji non combat photographs; 16 combat photographs. Photographs measure approx. 4x3". Dark green cloth album bound with black cord. The album label, "Rewa Album, Kodak, New Zealand, Ltd" inside back cover. Album measures 11 x 7 1/2" Very good condition. Item #20713
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