Dirk Posted June 26, 2016 Share #1 Posted June 26, 2016 Just when you think you have seen it all..... For a number of years, I have been aggressively hunting for China Marine Annuals. These annuals, almost like a modern high school year book, were published intermittently during the Marine's stay in Shanghai, Peking and Tientsin before WWII. Each year the Marines stationed in these towns would contract with a local printer to publish a bound book covering the years activities. Many of the photos used were pulled from weekly publications like the Walla Walla or the Legation Guard News. Marines so inclined, could purchase one as a souvenir. Although not common, various years editions do turn up on eBay or through antique book sellers with some frequency. Some years and locations are more common, than other editions. So after 12 years of hunting, I thought I had seen or found them all- until a fellow moderator tipped me off to one I had never seen, nor thought existed- a 1936 Fourth Marine Annual. I had found all of the annuals through 1935, and even the privately produced American Forces annual after 1937....but here was one that was totally new to me. Graphically one of the finest of these as well, format is the same as other annuals: history of the 4th, photos of each Marine, sports wrap and regimental diary....plus local advertising at the back. So for those wondering if there are other annuals past 1935....the answer is apparently yes. Again, a big thanks to the Mod that found this one! So is there a 1939 edition as well still lurking out there, or a Peking guard annual from 1936 onward? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brig Posted June 27, 2016 Share #2 Posted June 27, 2016 Great piece, Dirk. Hopefully some other unknowns turn up but, if they don't, at least this one has come to light and found its way into good hands Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirk Posted June 27, 2016 Author Share #3 Posted June 27, 2016 Thanks Brig! Hopefully we will see a few more discoveries out there Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ViewfinderGyrene Posted June 27, 2016 Share #4 Posted June 27, 2016 Damn that's beautiful sir, congratulations! I've wanted to find one myself no matter the year, Not asking what YOU paid, but what have these gone for in the recent past? Never had the pleasure of seeing one go off at auction. ~VFG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirk Posted June 27, 2016 Author Share #5 Posted June 27, 2016 Prices are all over the place depending on condition or content, but I think 200-300 is a safe average for a common year and usable condition. Once I found one on eBay for $ 7.00, so there are bargains out there. Other times they go for crazy prices regardless of year. The 1934 Peking Annual is a good one to look for content wise because that year the did a lot of history of the legation guard and the other nations guards. The 1935 Shanghai is a nice looking book that turns up more often enough. The 1930 and 31 Peking annuals are very thin on content....while the 33-35' years are much thicker. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobgee Posted June 27, 2016 Share #6 Posted June 27, 2016 Great find, Dirk. Congrats.....Semper Fi.........Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ViewfinderGyrene Posted June 27, 2016 Share #7 Posted June 27, 2016 Prices are all over the place depending on condition or content, but I think 200-300 is a safe average for a common year and usable condition. Once I found one on eBay for $ 7.00, so there are bargains out there. Other times they go for crazy prices regardless of year. The 1934 Peking Annual is a good one to look for content wise because that year the did a lot of history of the legation guard and the other nations guards. The 1935 Shanghai is a nice looking book that turns up more often enough. The 1930 and 31 Peking annuals are very thin on content....while the 33-35' years are much thicker. Well since my uncle was there starting in '35, and on the officers staff for his last year in '37 I'd look for those even if the later one is iimpossible to find To find him pictured in one would be GOLD to me and well worth forking out the money...if you see one and don't want, shoot me a PM! ~VFG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sgtdorango Posted June 27, 2016 Share #8 Posted June 27, 2016 Great photo!...i wonder if the photographer gave each guy an option to look right, left or center?....was it random or each guy just thought it would be cool to do something different??.....mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teufelhunde.ret Posted June 27, 2016 Share #9 Posted June 27, 2016 Congrats! A superb addition to your magnificent collection! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirk Posted June 27, 2016 Author Share #10 Posted June 27, 2016 D thanks as always! Mike interesting observation on the poses. I had not caught that detail! Makes total sense! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChuckyD Posted June 28, 2016 Share #11 Posted June 28, 2016 Great find! I have about 5 of these. Will have to find them and post pics. I got the last one off of EPay for about $200 I think (recently). SFCDS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ViewfinderGyrene Posted June 28, 2016 Share #12 Posted June 28, 2016 Great find! I have about 5 of these. Will have to find them and post pics. I got the last one off of EPay for about $200 I think (recently). SF CDS Hey do you have any from '35-'37 that you'd be willing to PM a scan of the officer's page? ~VFG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirk Posted June 28, 2016 Author Share #13 Posted June 28, 2016 In the Shanghai annuals there is usually not an "officers" page. They appear by staff, company or section. What name are u looking for? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ViewfinderGyrene Posted June 29, 2016 Share #14 Posted June 29, 2016 In the Shanghai annuals there is usually not an "officers" page. They appear by staff, company or section. What name are u looking for? Swindler, Leland. He was on the Staff in '37, not sure of the years before. Captain and Major during his China service. ~VFG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirk Posted June 29, 2016 Author Share #15 Posted June 29, 2016 Here you go.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ViewfinderGyrene Posted June 29, 2016 Share #16 Posted June 29, 2016 Fantastic, thanks very much! What year was that? -VFG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirk Posted June 29, 2016 Author Share #17 Posted June 29, 2016 1936 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kanemono Posted June 30, 2016 Share #18 Posted June 30, 2016 Here he is cleaned up a bit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ViewfinderGyrene Posted June 30, 2016 Share #19 Posted June 30, 2016 Here he is cleaned up a bit. Thanks very much, both of you. This is only the 3rd photo I've ever found of him. He had a huge family, lived to be 100, outlived 3 wives. Sadly he passed 3 years before I was born, so I never met him. Even though he married into my extended family [thus not a blood relative], helluva relative to be able to research. I've found several men living from his command on Iwo, and am working on locating a handful of surviving members from the company he was an officer in for most of his time in the 4th. ~VFG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirk Posted June 30, 2016 Author Share #20 Posted June 30, 2016 I think I might have his name on some paper I have with a grouping. Will have to hunt for it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ViewfinderGyrene Posted June 30, 2016 Share #21 Posted June 30, 2016 I think I might have his name on some paper I have with a grouping. Will have to hunt for it Wow Mr. Haig, that would really be something, look forward to what you turn up! So as not to change the direction of the thread, just PM it to me Thanks again. ~VFG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spathologist Posted July 1, 2016 Share #22 Posted July 1, 2016 Any saber pics? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirk Posted July 1, 2016 Author Share #23 Posted July 1, 2016 Varangian sadly normally not in these except at a distance or as part of a ceremony when they might be seen worn. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aerialbridge Posted July 1, 2016 Share #24 Posted July 1, 2016 Great history that covers all the men that would have been there at that time. Congratulations, Dirk! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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