1930 ORIGINAL INSCRIBED CRUISE LOG BOOK AND JOURNAL OF A TRIP TAKEN TO NORTHERN EUROPE AND THE FORMER USSR ON THE HAMBURG-AMERICAN LINE STEAMER THE ‘S.S. RELIANCE’

Katz Fine Manuscripts Verified independent store

→

On offer is the 1930 Log Book of the S.S. Reliance, of a “Cruise to Northern Wonderlands and Russia” on the Hamburg-American Line. This is a fantastic book, of particular interest to those interested in the history of cruise travel, the Hamburg-American line, or snapshots of Northern Europe in the Interwar period. The cruise journey lasted 36 days, and travelled from New York to Iceland, numerous cities in Norway, Sweden, Estonia, Leningrad in the U.S.S.R., Finland, Denmark, France and finally Germany. The first entry of the book is for July 5th, and begins, “our first stop was ‘Iceland.’ The ___ ride to the island wasn’t more than a minute ride. The hilly climb thru the town of ‘Reykjavik’ was of interest because of the people, the ladies with small black skull caps fitted close to their heads with long blond braids hanging down their backs.” In Reykjavik, the author visits the Einar Jónsson Museum, comments on the uniqueness of the people, the automobiles, and the island geography. A well he goes to the ‘Hot Springs’ “where women from the neighborhood come to wash. We passed many fields where ladies were garbed in yellow and white were packing and salting smelly fish. The next day, the boat goes to the “North Cape” in Norway, the most northerly point of Europe, and the author climbs up to the plateau. “At the top the ‘Midnight Sun’ was an unforgettable night. We looked down on the glistening wall of gold. And were breathless at the wonder and beauty of it all. The next day the author visits the town of ‘Hammerfest’ but writes, “there is practically nothing to write about ‘Hammerfest’ because we didn’t get to see the Meridian Line. We were hot and tired from the night before. From there, the ship travels to Lyngseidet and notes the appearance of the natives and their ‘dirty looking woolen clothes. The boat continues down the Norwegian coast to Trondhjem then to Åndalsnes, Molde, Hellesylt, Merok, Balholm, Gudvangen, Bergen then Oslo. The towns are written about in often short descriptions, and the glaciers and fjords are noted often for their beauty and as “a treat to anyone enjoying scenery...The gorgeous miles of glaciers on all sides was almost too good to be true.” Bergen, the author writes “gave us a particular thrill tho it was not caused by the fish smell; but by the fact that it was the first really civilized place we visited.” A stop in Stockholm brings a drive through the city, visiting the Town Hall, Royal Palace, Riddarholm Church, and the Skansen Museum. “What a beautiful city Stockholm turned out to be; and it appeared quite progressive with its new buildings being erected very clean; and with traffic giving in all directions - ‘mainly in yours!’” Tallinn, Estonia is next, and the author writes of their guide who takes them through the city: “She was from a ___, impoverished family, supporting her children by being a guide and interpreter. She was full of ___fire, and enthusiasm - and a horror of ‘Russia’ - said she had lived in Moscow’ and escaped in time.” The trip goes on to Leningrad, Russia. “So much romance, beauty, and historical significance has been attracted to ‘Leningrad’ and ‘Moscow’ that seeing them now in such a deplorable state seems pathetic. The author comments on seeing the ‘Hermitage’ museum as well as a number of statues and paintings including a life-like Voltaire, a ‘most adorable’ Cupid, and a painting by Caravaggio (probably misheard by the author as the name is spelled ‘Garraraggio’). At this point, the author has run out of room to write in the book, and entries for the last few stops (Helsingfors, Copenhagen, Boulogne and finally Hamburg) are not recorded. The book in which all this is written is one that seems to have been bought by some passengers. The cover page shows that this book is number 127 out of an edition of 144. It was bought for $17, quite a sum in the Great Depression Era. The log book is specific for this trip, stating a detailed itinerary of each city, including “optional shore excursions,” as well as a map of the cruise’s route through North Europe. As well there are a number of pages of more general knowledge including entries for “Bell Time on Shipboard,” an explanation of “Miles and Knots,” “Common Nautical Terms,” “Latitude and Longitude,” “Ocean Depths,” “Foreign Money” conversion, and more. Each main stop on the cruise has an entry in the book explaining a bit of the history of the country in general and specific city of call. Under these entries is where most of the journal is written. There are a number of free pages that as well that just say ‘At Sea’ that are more filled with writing. The second page contains a photograph of the captain of the ship, “Capt. C. Luck.” The final two pages include an autograph page of “Fellow Passengers Met On Board” with a number of signatures and addresses, as well as a number of newspaper clippings, one clipping of photographs of “Snapshots of a Peasant Wedding at Os. (Near Solstrand Hotel)”, one explaining the significance of Elsinore, Denmark as a setting for Shakespeare’s Hamlet, and finally, a clipping of a short history of Bergen, Norway. Included in the back pocket of the book is a 25 page pamphlet that includes a comprehensive “List of Passengers,” the “Cruise Itinerary,” advertisements for other Hamburg-America line cruises, and a number of pages of “Information for Passengers” that cover things such as entertainment on board the ship, laundry, baggage, gymnasium use, wireless telegrams, and a number of other subjects. A loose photograph of a man in a casual sailor garb is included in this pamphlet. The back reads, “With happy wishes and pleasures in Germany.” The name is difficult to make out, but it looks like “Resso Prien.” This name is not found in the list of passengers or crew, so it is unclear if this photograph is of the owner of the log book or not. The log book is 48 pages in length, in which there are about 25 pages or so with writing in them. It has a green cover, showing very minimal wear. The spine does have two small tears. The pages are all in good shape, though some show evidence of age and use. The author’s writing is easily legible in black ink. A few passages are slightly faded, but can still be read easily. This is a super document, well preserved, and very interesting to many different collectors.; Manuscript; 12mo - over 6¾" - 7¾" tall; KEYWORDS: HISTORY OF, S. S. RELIANCE, HAMBURG-AMERICAN LINE, CRUISE TO NORTHERN WONDERLANDS AND RUSSIA, CRUISE SHIP MEMENTO, REYKJAVIK, ICELAND, NORTH CAPE, HAMMERFEST, NORWAY, SWEDEN, SCANDINAVIA, ESTONIA, LENINGRAD, U.S.S.R., SOVIET ERA RUSSIA, INTERWAR PERIOD TRAVEL, GREAT DEPRESSION ERA, TRIPLE SCREW STEAMER, LUXURY 20TH CENTURY TRAVEL, NORTHERN EUROPE IN THE INTERWAR PERIOD, SIGHTSEEING IN EUROPE, CAPTAIN C. LUCK, PASSENGERS LIST, LUXURY CRUISE VACATION, AMERICANA, HANDWRITTEN, MANUSCRIPT, DOCUMENT, LETTER, AUTOGRAPH, WRITER, HAND WRITTEN, DOCUMENTS, SIGNED, LETTERS, MANUSCRIPTS, HISTORICAL, HOLOGRAPH, WRITERS, AUTOGRAPHS, PERSONAL, MEMOIR, MEMORIAL, ANTIQUITÉ, CONTRAT, VÉLIN, DOCUMENT, MANUSCRIT, PAPIER ANTIKE, BRIEF, PERGAMENT, DOKUMENT, MANUSKRIPT, PAPIER OGGETTO D’ANTIQUARIATO, ATTO, VELINA, DOCUMENTO, MANUSCRITTO, CARTA ANTIGÜEDAD, HECHO, VITELA, DOCUMENTO, MANUSCRITO, PAPEL Show more