The German Raid on Whitby and Scarborough, first editions 1914

ANONYMOUS. The German Raid on Whitby and Scarborough. December 16th, 1914. 
 
Two contemporary photographic souvenir booklets recording the German naval bombardment of the Yorkshire coast on 16 December 1914.
 
Whitby: The Abbey Press, [1914].
Scarborough: E. T. W. Dennis & Sons Ltd., London & Scarborough, [1914].
 
Oblong quarto (each c. 180 × 240 mm). Soft card wrappers with yapped edges, each tied with original cord. Each booklet comprises two pages of letterpress narrative describing the bombardment, including the King’s message of sympathy, followed by twelve pages of tipped-in photographic plates documenting bomb damage to buildings, streets, and interiors.
 
Whitby booklet: very good, with foxing and light surface marking to covers and general handling wear; contents clean and sound, ties intact.
 
Scarborough booklet: near fine, with minimal handling wear; a contemporary ink inscription “A.E.W. 12809” to the front wrapper; contents fresh and well preserved, ties intact.
 
Issued immediately after the same naval action on 16 December 1914, when German warships shelled Whitby and Scarborough, causing civilian casualties and widespread destruction, as well as outrage and condemnation from the British public.