Description
This is a very interesting album that can accommodate a number of photographs or documents. It is massive, measuring 3 1/4″ x 9 ½” x 12 ½.” The album is very ornate, with a leather exterior. The front cover has an intricate design cut into its leather. In the center is a gold starburst featuring a black and silver 1813 Iron Cross. It is a representation of the “Star of the Grand Cross.” In Germany, this historic decoration is known as the “Blücherstern,” since it was awarded after the Battle of Waterloo to Generalfeldmarschall Blücher by König Friedrich Wilhelm III.
[Interestingly, one other “Star of the Grand Cross” was also awarded during WW I. Although Kaiser Wilhelm II had instituted the 1914 Grand Cross of the Iron Cross, he also made ONE award of the “Star” to his most-senior military commander, Generalfeldmarschall von Hindenburg. The only difference was that the 1914 award featured that date on its Iron Cross, whereas the 1813 version displayed a blank obverse].
Returning to our album, we do see some scattered aging to portions of the leather exterior. Inside the album we see a dedication page that reads:
“Autographen-
Sammlung
Herbert Seidel”
Pasted below these three beautifully-written lines is a real leaf that has been preserved in the album. Looking further, we see a total of twenty-five double-sided pages. The pages on the left were intended for the placement of photographs. These photographs have been removed. The opposite right-side pages have sleeves built into them wherein documents, or perhaps autographs, were inserted. This is a simply stunning and elaborate album. Its uses are only limited by your imagination.[It weighs 7 lbs. 9 oz., and will require extra shipping costs]
