Face To Face With Kaiserism by James W. Gerard (1918 First Edition) - World War I Propaganda 🚨🇩🇪⚔️

This volume is an authenticated First Edition, First Printing of Face To Face With Kaiserism, the explosive 1918 memoir by former U.S. Ambassador to Germany, James W. Gerard. Published by George H. Doran Company, this book is not merely a diplomatic history; it is a vital piece of American World War I propaganda, strategically released at the height of the conflict.

The volume's intellectual value is high, as it serves as the hostile reassessment of the Kaiser's character and the inner workings of the militaristic German state. The book is a core asset for any collector of Americana or World War I history, especially those who value the unique historical documentation contained within its pages.

2. About the Artwork/Book/Object 📖✍️✨

Face To Face With Kaiserism is a powerful follow-up to Gerard's earlier, highly successful memoir, My Four Years in Germany. This book details the ambassador's experiences after his departure from Berlin, focusing heavily on Germany's expansionist aims and military tactics that led to America's entry into the Great War.

The narrative is designed to be a clear warning to the American public, emphasizing that the country was at war because "Germany invaded the United States" through "insidious" plots that began before hostilities. The chapter titles are highly inflammatory and direct, including "WHO SANK THE 'LUSITANIA'?", "GERMANY'S PLAN TO ATTACK AMERICA", and "GERMANY'S EARLY PLOTS IN MEXICO". The book features numerous photographs and facsimiles. The visual frontispiece features a photo of "THE KAISER AND VON TREUTLER" in a Norwegian town in 1910.

3. About the Artist/Author/Maker ✍️🏛️

James Watson Gerard (1867–1951) was a lawyer and politician who served as the U.S. Ambassador to the German Imperial Court from 1913 to 1917. Although he was initially nominated by President Woodrow Wilson, Gerard's early perceptions of the Kaiser and German officials were flattering. However, the sinking of the Cunard liner Lusitania in May 1915, which resulted in the loss of 124 American lives, caused Gerard to adopt an extremely hostile view of German militarism.

Upon his return to the U.S. in early 1917, Gerard used his political capital and his status as a diplomatic insider to become a fierce public voice against the Kaiser. This book and its 1917 predecessor cemented Gerard's image as a leading figure warning America about "Kaiserism" and the "brutal autocracy" of Germany. His work was directly influential in shaping American public opinion, positioning him as a commanding figure in the home-front propaganda effort.

4. Historical/Political Era Context 🌍🕰️📜

The book was published in 1918, the climactic final year of World War I, during which the United States was fully mobilized and committed to the fight against the Central Powers. The Introductory Note is dated April First, 1918, just a few months before the German Spring Offensive stalled and the tide fully turned against Germany.

The political climate in America was one of intense patriotism and deep suspicion of all things German. Gerard's memoir was released to galvanize public support for the war effort, arguing that America's participation was essential for the "sanctity of American freedom and of the American home". The book is a historical time capsule of this moment, vividly documenting the period's pervasive anti-German sentiment and the American determination to end what the U.S. government termed a war against "darkness and light, barbarism and civilization".

5. The Ideal Collector 💡🧐🏛️

This volume is tailored for a Curator of World War I Americana and a Scholar of Political Propaganda. The Ideal Collector is someone who appreciates firsthand accounts that were instrumental in shaping major historical events, particularly those with a focus on diplomatic and espionage history.

The book belongs in a collection that values primary source material over generalized narratives. The presence of the reproduced German war-era documents transforms the book into an invaluable documentary artifact. It is an essential acquisition for those interested in the political dynamics between the U.S. and Imperial Germany.

6. Value & Rarity 💎✨🏛️

This book is an authenticated First Edition, First Printing from 1918 and is 107 years old. While popular upon release, its age and documented First Edition status provide a solid base value. The book has survived over a century, chronicling one of the most tumultuous periods in world history.

The rarity is defined by its documentary content—the full, unmarred collection of facsimiles of the Kaiser's card, prison money, and orders. This non-replicable material adds a content scarcity premium to the valuation. Although the lack of the original dust jacket incurs a mandatory deduction, the book's status as a historical First Edition propaganda piece with unique facsimiles makes it a strong investment in a documented cultural asset.

7. Condition 🔎📚✨

This is an authenticated First Edition hardcover lacking the original dust jacket. The binding is a red cloth with gilt stamping on the spine and front board.

• Positive Qualities:

  • The binding is square and tight, providing good structural integrity.

  • The gilt lettering on the front board remains mostly bright and legible.

  • All facsimiles, illustrations, and photographic plates are present and intact.

• Imperfections:

  • The red cloth shows general shelf wear and rubbing, typical for a book of this age.

  • The gilt on the spine is moderately faded and shows some wear, particularly at the ends.

  • The pages are uniformly age-toned and yellowed, consistent with the paper quality of the World War I era.

  • The absence of the original dust jacket triggers a mandatory deduction from the aspirational collector price.

8. Fun Facts & Unique Features 🤓📜🤩

• The book was so popular and culturally influential that Warner Brothers made a silent film adaptation in 1918 with Gerard's participation, using the film as a piece of successful wartime propaganda.

• The title page verso features a fascinating array of wartime facsimiles, including a reproduction of Emperor Wilhelm II’s visiting card and an exact facsimile of a page from the German magazine Die Zukunft (The Future).

• The contents include copies of German prison camp money and postage stamps issued at the Ruhleben prison camp, transforming the book into an archival source of rare historical ephemera.

• Gerard's memoirs were part of a coordinated effort; he once famously warned a German minister that for every German reservist plotting against the U.S., "we had five hundred thousand and one lamp posts in this country, and that that was where the reservists would be hanging".

9. Supporting Information 🏷️📦💰

• Title: Face To Face With Kaiserism

• Author: James W. Gerard (Late Ambassador To The German Imperial Court)

• Year of Publication: 1918 (Copyright Date and Published Date)

• Publisher: George H. Doran Company

• Place of Origin: New York, Printed in USA

• Format/Binding: Hardcover, Red Cloth Boards

• Edition: First Edition, First Printing (Based on 1918 Publication Date)

• Rarity: Common Edition, High Rarity of Content (Facsimiles)

• Verbatim Transcription of Inscription/Marking: None.