Bidspirit auction | 1945-1946 Our Leave in Switzerland

1945-1946 Our Leave in Switzerland WWII US Army Souvenir Photo Book - A first edition copy of the commemorative souvenir book titled Our Leave in Switzerland, published for American G.I.s visiting Switzerland on rest and recuperation leave between 1945 and 1946. The book features a colorized photographic cover depicting three United States Army soldiers leaning against a stone bridge at the Limmatquai in Zurich. The interior contains 200 high-quality black-and-white and color photographic plates documenting the Swiss landscape, industrial progress, and traditional cultural customs during the immediate post-war era. The title page bears a printed layout reading: OUR LEAVE IN SWITZERLAND / 200 photos / A souvenir of the visit / of American soldiers to Switzerland / in 1945/46. The editorial staff is listed as Arnold Kubler, Gottlieb Duttweiler, and Werner Bischof, with the English version credited to Mary Bancroft. A handwritten inscription in blue ink is visible at the lower left of the title page reading: Eloise Tuttle / 1948-1950. Photographic credits included in the back of the book attribute works to prominent Swiss photographers including Werner Bischof, Gotthard Schuh, and Jakob Tuggener. Subject matter includes G.I.s arriving at the Milan train station, traditional Schlitteda sleigh rides in the Engadin, an Appenzell cheese-maker on the day of the Alpaufzug, and mechanical workers in a Swiss factory. The back cover features a color photograph of the Spannort mountains. The volume includes a blank final page printed with the header FOR YOUR OWN PHOTOS, AUTOGRAPHS, ETC. The book is in fair to good vintage condition. The cover shows significant wear along all edges and corners, with visible rubbing and surface loss to the printed paper (photo 1). The spine shows heavy shelf wear and creasing (photo 3). The back cover exhibits several strips of yellowed adhesive tape residue and associated surface staining (photo 2). Interior pages show light toning and occasional foxing consistent with age, though the photographic plates remain clear and well-defined (photos 5-11). The handwritten inscription on the title page is permanent (photo 4).