Speidel Julius, rare photographic album of 105 silver-prints of varying sizes (mainly 10x12cm) with full explanatory legends, almost all linked with the life and travels of the famous German topographic engineer and geologist J. Speidel, in Greece and Turkey. Includes rare views of Thassos (Oάσος) and Kavala (Καβάλα) (1908/1914), Western Anatolia and Constantinople (1914 and 1916), Thassos and Athens area (1927). The first section (August/December 1916) covers many places in Western Anatolia with 33 photos, including extremely rare, photos of the Amele Taburları operations (Othoman labor battalions / Τάγμαtα Εργασίας), as Speidel was appointed as supervisor officer engineer of the amele taburları operations. Also 3 nice photos of Constantinople. The Second section covers Thassos island and Greece, focusing of Speidel's house and family life in Thassos, island villages and everyday life, including very rare a set of photos linked with the liberation of the island in 1912. The Speidel family took the concession of Thassos minerals deposits from the Ottoman government and started mining explorations in 1903. By 1908 they have built their mansion (Schloss) in Limenaria, (still standing and named Palataki) and Julius started to live permanently in Thassos island. In late October 1912, the Greek fleet liberated the island. Speidel remained, but at the beginning of the WWI left the island as the French troops occupied the island, confiscating Speidel's house & mining facilities. The German government sent him, in early 1916, as officer in Turkey front. As a skilled geologist and topographic engineer, Julius was appointed to plan and supervise the construction of Western Asia Minor roads network, mainly constructed by Labour Battalions (amele taburlari), with Christians working there in very bad conditions. After the war, Speidel returned in Germany, as the mines had been finally confiscated by the Greek government as enemy property. Speidel will make a last unsuccessful attempt to regain their mines and properties in Thassos in 1927, but the mines were finally taken by a Belgian company and Speidel family never returned after. Fine condition, a unique personal photo album of 105 silver prints, depicting historical events and every day life in Thassos and Anatolia of 1910s. List of photos legends: Section 1 West Asia Minor 1916 1. Constantinople July 1916,view of Seraglio from Scutari 2. Gemlik August 1916,German camp and the city of Gemlik (Kios) at the background 3. Gemlik August 1916,German camo and the city at the background (from other point) 4. Brussa, old city view 5. Ruins of Hierapolis, plain view 6. Ruins of Hierapolis, byzantine ruins 7. Missing (Hierapolis ruins initially) replaced with a photo of Limenaria, Thasos 8. Missing (Troy ruins initially) 9. Ruins of Troy 1916 10. Biga ,Ruins at Kara Biga, Marmara area, probably a ruined Byzantine castle. 11. Isparta,Anatolia, 15 December 1916,a typical Turkish village 12. Amele Taburu,Construction of road in Anatolia,11/12/16,Turkish officers supervise. 13. Camel Karavan In Dardanelles area,11 October 1916 14. Moudania 28 August 1916,obviously a German camp in the olive grove 15. Armutlu, Marmara Sea area,1 September 1916,Thermal facilities 16. Biga area, 1 Octomber 1916,roads construction. 17. Memeli Hamam,Armutlu,1 September 1916 18. Kaban , Dikmen dag,near Biga,Mountain village view,24 October 1916 19. Brussa,in the outskirts of the city 20. Marmara area,27 .10.16,a German officer (Speidel?) during blasting of rocks. 21. Shipwreck at Moudania,28 August 1916 22. Ship charge at Moudania 23. Balikesir, July 1916,street view 24. Balikesir,street view 25. Turkish mahalle at Tchar Bazar Koy, Biga 26. Ephesos,10 December 1916 27. Ruins of Ephesos,10 December 1916 28. Armutlu,Turkish soldiers with German officer. 29. West Asia Minor, August 1916,German officers with Turkish officials and people 30. Hotel In Brussa,27 August 1916,a German officer (probably Speidel) 31. Armutlu area,Caravan,1 September 1916 32. Towards Smyrna ,road scene 33. Tschiftlik Troya area ,a convoy preparation,1916 34. Armutlu area,31.8.16,Turkish villagers with kids 35. Bakadjik Biga,7 October 1916,local people 36. Dikmen Dag Koy,4 October 1916,Turkish villagers Section 2 Thassos/Macedonia c.1908-1914 and 1927 37. Thassos, Hamidie ( Limenaria), view of the village still Ottoman (before 1912) 38. Kavala, view of the city from the west 39. Thassos, Sotiros 40. Thassos, Hamidie ( Limenaria),view from the sea, before 1912 41. Thassos, the Speidel house (now Palataki), May 1912 42. Thassos, July 1913,obviously Friedrich Speidel (the uncle and owner) 43. Kavala ,people on a small motorboat leaving the port (towards Thassos obviously) 44. Family Photo of the Speidel 45. Athos from Thasos 46. Constantinople , the two ladies Speidel ( obviously) with the kids in a street 47. Thassos?, two mens in a small port. 48. Bartul ?, 1927,a kid with a dog 49. Thassos , Limenaria, before 1912 50. Thassos, the Greek Torpedo Boat Thiella (Oύελλα) in Limenaria , 1 November 1912 51. Thassos, Schloss Speidel 52. Thassos,13 August 1913,Limenas,the Greek King visit the island, official welcome 53. Limenaria 1914, feeding domestic animals. 54. Thassos 1914,horse riding of the lady with Limenaria in the background 55. Sotiros Thassos,the sevant keep the horse. 56. Hunting Thassos 57. Forest view,probably Thassos 58. Thassos 1927, a small motorboat below the Speidel house (already confiscated) 59. 1914 Thassos, the lady in the garden 60. 1914,Thassos,in the garden of Speidel house 61. Limenaria Thassos, playing piano, obviously before 1914 in the Speidel house 62. 1914 Thassos, horse riding of a couple (probably the Speidel). 63. Monastery in Thassos 64. House Speidel 65. Thassos, a view from a mountain village towards the sea 66. Thassos, the Mines facilities of Speidel 67. Thassos,14/8/ 1911, a party in the mountain 68. No Title, but Thassos, 3 horse riders (obviously the two Speidel) before 1914 69. The Bureau (Offices) At Sotiros, Thassos 70. Limenaria Thassos, view from the sea 71. Charging Minerals Facilities, Thassos 72. No Title, but a snow covered peak of mountain in Thassos 73. German passenger boat in Thassos ,before 1914 74. Thassos, view from Speidel house 75. Merchant Ship offroad Thassos 76. Thassos, a classical landscape 77. Our dinning Room ( Speidel House),15 October 1912,Turkish flag (just 3 days before Greek landing at the island ),signed: Julius. 78. Monastery of Panagia T hassos (faded) 79. Korinthos isthmus, view from the sea 80. Sea pier for charging minerals, Thassos 81. Sea pier, Thassos 82. Sea pier (duplicate) 83. Seaside at the charging facilities 84. Seaside 85. The channel between Thassos and Macedonia 86. Ruins at Philippi, Macedonia 87. Limenaria, Thassos 88. Thassos, Osmanie (?) ,before 1910 89. Athens Akropoli 90. Athens Akropoli 91. Athens ,Central avenue,c.1927 92. Parthenon view 93. Parthenon view 94. Akropolis Athens,postcard 95. Akropolis Athens,postcard 96. Not identified ancient ruins 97. Not identified ancient buildings 98. .Thassos Speidel House, view from the seacoast (probably 1927) 99. Thassos Speidel house (1927?) 100. Thassos,seaview (1927?) 101. Offshor Aigina (6 people), probably in 1927 102. Thassos 1927,wooden house with ladies and kids. 103. Speidel family (kid in a donkey) and villagers in the backgroung (Thassos ?,1927) 104. 1927, lady with a kid 105. Constantinople 1914, wοmen wash clothes in the river, part of the city in background, 20x15cm