THE PETER HIGH COLLECTION OF NAVAL & WARTIME HOSPI World War One USA
Sale No: 52
Lot No: 204
Symbol:
USA. 1917-19 Covers and cards comprising U.S.S "Comfort" stampless covers (2, one with letter) both with "PASSED / CENSOR", and a Photo of the ship; U.S.S "General R.M O'Reilly" printed Red Cross envelopes from New York (2, one with letter); U.S.S "Madawaska" stampless 1919 cover with violet "CANCELLED / OVERSEAS MAIL / U.S NAVY", postcard of the ship and letter describing the sick and wounded on board; U.S.S "Mercy", stampless postcard and registered cover franked 13c with "U.S.S MERCY / PASSED CENSOR" and U.S.S Vestal datestamps, also a card of the ship; U.S.S "Siboney" Y.M.C.A Ocean Transport Service postcard, also a letter from the ship; U.S.S "Solace" covers (2) and a card franked 1c, 2c or 3c all with "U.S.S / SOLACE" datestamps and dated "PASSED BY CENSOR", stampless cover and two cards of the ship, also a card of an unnamed ship. (19).
Opening GBP 300.00
Sold...GBP 260.00
Closed..Apr-19-2023, 23:59:00 EST
Sold For 260
Sale No: 52
Lot No: 205
Symbol:
Cat No: Collection
S.S "Red Cross". 1914 (Sep/Oct) Picture postcards of the U.S Hospital Ship "Red Cross" (two taken at Falmouth, Cornwall), two cards posted by crew from Falmouth (Sep 28/29) to the USA franked 1d, the third card sent by "Yates, Boat Dealer, Falmouth" (publisher of the card?) from Falmouth (Oct 5) to "Emil Kovarik, Chief Master at Arms, U.S.S Red Cross, c/o 4 Trafalgar Square, London". Also a postcard showing the ship and patients being brought on board, and various reproduction photos and research notes. In August 1914 the American Red Cross decided that the neutral USA would send a hospital ship to Europe to offer medical assistance, without favouritism to each of the belligerent countries, and the interned German HAPAG liner "Hamburg" was chartered and renamed the S.S "Red Cross". The ship made one voyage to Falmouth and Pauillac in France; during the voyage three German and Austrian stowaways were found and arrested, and several fights and mutinies occurred amongst the crew which were quelled, largely with the help of the Scandinavian Emil Kovarik. After this one eventful voyage the ship was returned to HAPAG and interned at New York until seized in 1917. An interesting and scarce group. (4+).
