Living in Germany, I loved exploring antique stores and flea markets to discover unique items. One of my favorite finds was a handmade photo album from April 1907, documenting a group of Germans on a trip to Italy.

One of the best aspects of buying old books and photos from antique stores is researching and uncovering their stories. I researched this photo album and contacted a historian in Germany. He informed me that George and Ida Heckel, featured in the album, lived just an hour away from where I lived, and their family still resides on the same property. I plan to return the original album to the Heckel family when I visit Germany in 2025.