Boracay Island Map Postcard

Boracay is a tropical island located approximately 315km (200 miles) south of Manila. The island is approximately seven kilometers long, dog-bone shaped with the narrowest spot being less than one kilometer wide, and has a total land area of 10.32 square kilometers. Boracay's two primary tourism beaches, White Beach and Bulabog Beach, are located on opposite sides of the island's narrow central area. White Beach faces westwards and Bulabog Beach faces eastwards. The island also has several other beaches.

Boracay Map Postcard

The size of the postcard is 5"x6.5" and shown are map legend and the different images of Boracay Island, including the main roads, diving sites and villages.
Images on the postcard are as follows (top left to bottom right): White beach, Ati-atihan Festival-unique cultural event found in nearby Kalibo and Boracay Island, "Paraws"-outrigger sailing boats which where the most commonly used as transportation for centuries in the Philippine archipelago, Aerial view of Boracay Island, Banca in tropical crystal clear waters of Boracay Island, Sunset over Puka Shell Beach, Shell vendors at Punta Bunga Beach.

SOURCE:
Boracay Wikipedia Entry

Island Province of Palawan Map Postcard

Palawan is an island province of the Philippines located in the Southern Tagalog region. The islands of Palawan stretches from Mindoro to Borneo in the southwest. It lies between the South China Sea in the northwest and Sulu Sea in the southeast.
Palawan, the only Philippine island cited, is rated by National Geographic Traveler magazine as the 13th best island in the world having "incredibly beautiful natural seascapes and landscapes". Palawan is considered to be the Philippines' "last frontier". The province boasts of many splendid beaches and has two UNESCO World Heritage Sites - Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park and the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park.

Palawan Map Postcard

The size of the postcard is 5"x6.5" and shown are different images of the famous landmarks that can be found in Palawan, including the main roads, other tourist attractions (diving sites, UNESCO sites) and towns.

Images on the postcard are as follows (top left to bottom right): El Nido, Arreceffi Island in Honda Bay, Sunset over Palawan, Diving in Tubbataha Reefs, Local fishermen on offshore of Busuanga Island, Jeepney-public transportation in Palawan, Coron Island, Underground River, 1667 Spanish fortress in Taytay

SOURCE:
Palawan Wikipedia Entry

Island Provinces of Cebu and Bohol Map Postcard

Cebu Island is a long narrow island stretching 225 km (140 mi) from north to south, surrounded by 167 neighboring smaller islands, that includes Mactan Island, Bantayan, Malapascua, Olango and the Camotes Islands. Cebu lies to the east of Negros Island; to the west of Leyte and to the southeast is Bohol province. Bohol is an island province located in the Central Visayas region. It lies southeast from Cebu across Bohol Strait and southwest from Leyte, separated by the Camotes Sea and Canigao Channel.

Cebu-Bohol Map Postcard

The size of the postcard is 5"x6.5" and shown are five images of the famous landmarks that can be found in Cebu and Bohol, including the main roads, other tourist attractions (diving sites) and towns.

Images on the left side are as follows (top to bottom): Baclayon Church in Bohol and Kawasan Falls in Cebu

Images on the right side are as follows (top to bottom): Chocolate Hills, Tarsier (world's smallest primate) and Alona Beach in Panglao, all in Bohol

Cebu is the paradise for adventure seekers and nature lovers. It has some of the finest diving spots in the world. The UK-based Condenast Travellers Magazine named Cebu the 7th best island destination in the Indian Ocean-Asia region in 2007. Bohol is a popular tourist destination with its beaches and resorts. The Chocolate Hills, numerous mounds of limestone formation, is the most popular attraction. The island of Panglao is home to some of the finest beaches in the country. The Philippine Tarsier, considered by some to be the smallest primate, is indigenous to the island. The Loboc River is famous for its River Cruise going up to its water source.

SOURCES:
Cebu Wikipedia Entry
Bohol

City of Manila Map Postcard

This is the only map card of Manila (different from Metro Manila) in my collection. I believe this another reproduction of an art work, with the signature of a certain Grobe at the bottom left corner of the card. Unfortunately I couldn't find on the net any information who Grobe is. The map postcard shows schools, monuments, a train station and port, major roads (in English and Spanish), and other landmarks in Manila. It also shows the famous Pasig River and Manila Bay,

Manila Map Postcard

Manila lies at the mouth of the Pasig River on the eastern shores of Manila Bay, which is on the western side of Luzon. The river bisects the city in the middle. The layout of the city was haphazardly planned during Spanish Era as a set of communities surrounding the original Spanish Era walled city of Manila, called Intramuros. During the American Period, some semblance of city planning using the architectural designs and master plans by Daniel Burnham was done on the portions of the city south of the Pasig River.
Manila is bordered by several municipalities and cities in Metro Manila: Navotas and Caloocan City to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong City to the east, Makati City to the southeast, and Pasay City to the south.

SOURCE:
Lungsod ng Maynila

Metro Manila Map Postcard

Metropolitan Manila (Filipino: Kalakhang Maynila) or the National Capital Region (NCR) is the greater metropolitan area of the city of Manila. Manila Bay lies to the west and Laguna de Bay to the southeast. It is bordered by the provinces of Bulacan to the north, Rizal to the east, Cavite to the southwest and Laguna to the south.

Land Area: Approx. 636.00 sq. kms.Population: 9,932,560 (2000 Census)Population Density: 15,617 persons/sq. kms.

Metro Manila Map Postcard

The size of the postcard is 5"x6.5". Shown in the postcard are images of different landmarks that can be found in Luzon, including the tourist attractions. The images around the map are (from left topmost moving clockwise): Makati -- Black Nazarene Procession, Quiapo -- Intramuros -- Rizal Shrines -- Manila City Hall -- Fort Santiago, Intramuros-- Philippine Brahma with gypsies woven handicraft carriage, Diliman -- San Agustin Church, Intramuros -- Ortigas Center -- Manila Bay sunset -- Roxas Boulevard -- Rizal Monument on Luneta Park -- Manila Cathedral, Intramuros -- MRT in Ortigas Center -- Spanish-inspired horse-driven calesa, Intramuros

Local government units: Caloocan, Las Piñas, Makati, Malabon, Mandaluyong, Manila, Marikina,
Muntinlupa, Navotas, Parañaque, Pasay, Pasig, Pateros, Quezon City, San Juan, Taguig, Valenzuela

SOURCES:
Metro Manila Wikipedia Entry

Sagada-Banaue Map Postcard

Sagada is one of the ten towns of Mountain Province in the Cordillera Region of Northern Philippines, and located 275-km north of Manila (100-km from Baguio) near the provincial capital of Bontoc. Sagada has 19 barangays and is nestled in the middle of a valley, 1,500 meters above sea level.
The municipality of Banaue is one of the eleven (11) towns of Ifugao. It has a land area of 21,807 hectares comprising of 19 barangays with 358 sitios distributed in the vast mountain hinterland. It is situated 1,000 meters above sea level amidst the Cordillera Mountain Ranges and is 348 km north of Metro Manila by bus and about 333 km from Baguio City. Travel time from these two cities to Banaue takes about 8 – 9 hours.

Sagada-Banaue Map Postcard

The size of the postcard is 5"x6.5" and shown in the postcard are images of different landmarks that can be found in Sagada and Banaue, including the main roads, other tourist attractions, towns and villages.

Images on the upper right are as follows: Imposing landscape of rice terraces seen from Banaue View Point -- Tapplya Waterfalls surrounded by tropical vegetation of Cordillera
Images on the bottom left are as follows: Picturesque Batad Village surrounded by centuries-old rice terraces -- Overcrowded public bus passing through ricefields of Banaue and Sagada countryside

Popular as a destination of foreign adventurers, Sagada features subterrenean caves (used as burial grounds by the natives) that can be explored, an interesting hike along an underground river, a waterfall and pool to cool off in after a day of exploring, and a quiet serenity only found off the beaten path.

The name “Banaue” was derived from the term “Bannawor” which is the primitive call for a now endangered medium-sized swift flying bird. Banaue is famous for the Banaue Rice Terraces (Tagalog: Hagdan-hagdang Palayan ng Banaue), 2000-year old terraces that were carved into the mountains of Ifugao by ancestors of the Batad indigenous people.

Mindanao Group of Islands, Philippines Map Postcard

Situated in the southernmost section of the Philippine archipelago, Mindanao is the second largest island in the Philippines. With a land area of 102,043 square kilometers, it occupies one-third of the Philippines' total land area. The island is mountainous, and is home to Mount Apo, the highest mountain in the country. Mindanao is surrounded by seas: the Sulu Sea to the west, the Philippine Sea to the east, and the Celebes Sea to the south. The island group of Mindanao encompasses Mindanao island itself and the Sulu Archipelago to the southwest.

Mindanao Map Postcard

The size of the postcard is 5"x6.5" and shown in the postcard are images of different landmarks that can be found in Mindanao, including the capital and major cities, main roads, other tourist attractions, diving and surfing sites, and airports.
Images on the left side are as follows (top to bottom): Tiboli Tribe, Southern Cotabato -- Tinago Falls in Iligan -- Philippine Eagle, Malagos

Images on the right side are as follows (top to bottom): Camiguin Island -- Guyam, small paradise island nearby Siargao -- Colorful Muslim vintas, Zamboanga

Luzon Group of Islands, Philippines Map Postcard

Luzon refers to the largest and most economically and politically important island in the Philippines and one of the three island groups in the country, with Visayas and Mindanao being the other two.

Luzon Map Postcard

The size of the postcard is 5"x6.5". Shown in the postcard are images of different landmarks that can be found in Luzon, including the capital and major cities, main roads, other tourist attractions, diving and surfing sites, and airports.
Images on the left side are as follows (top to bottom): Paoay Church, Ilocos Norte -- White sand beach and azur blue waters of Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte -- Vigan, a Spanish heritage city -- Hundred Islands National Park, Pangasinan

Images on the right side are as follows (top to bottom): Century old Banaue Rice Terraces -- Crater of Mt. Pinatubo, Pampanga -- Taoist Ma-cho Chinese Temple in San Fernando, La Union -- Mayon Volcano, Albay

Republic of the Philippines Map Postcards

After showing the international map postcards in my collection, this time I will be showing my local map postcards. First, of course, is the map of the Philippines, and I have two in my collection, postcard#1 with a size of 5"x6.5" and postcard #2 with a size of 4"x6".

Just a little background about my country, the Philippines (Filipino: Pilipinas) is an archipelago of 7,107 islands located in Southeast Asia. The total land area is almost 300,000 square kilometers. Only approximately 1,000 of its islands are populated, and fewer than one-half of these are larger than 2.5 square kilometers. Luzon and Mindanao, together with the cluster of the Visayan Islands that separate them, represent the three principal regions of the archipelago that are identified by the three stars on the Philippine flag. Topographically, the Philippines is broken up by the sea, which gives it one of the longest coastlines of any nation in the world.

Philippine Map Postcard #1

The map shows three shaded island groups of the country: Luzon in green, Visayas in yellow, Mindanao in blue, Palawan in orange is still part of Southern Luzon. The images around the map are (from left topmost moving clockwise): Idyllic Coco-Loco Island in Palawan -- Ati-atihan Festival, Aklan -- Perfectly-coned Mayon Volcano, Legaspi -- Chocolate Hills of Bohol -- Makati, the business district of Manila -- Beautiful lagoon of El Nido, Palawan -- Horse-driven calesa found in Intramuros, Manila -- Pagsanjan Falls in Laguna -- Monument of Leyte Landing of Douglas McArthur -- Magellan's Cross in Cebu, cradle of Philippine Catholic religion -- Taal Volcano and Lake, Tagaytay -- Muslim vinta in Zamboanga -- White Beach of Boracay Island -- Banaue Rice Terraces, North Luzon -- Rich aquatic life of the Philippine Seas -- Wild local and African animals in Calauit Island, Northern Palawan

Philippine Map Postcard #2

I actually don't have any information on where they copied the printed map on the postcard, so I don't know if its a reproduction of a painting or something else. The back of the postcard has no information at all! But good thing is that it shows some of the famous landmarks in the country, from the famous Banaue Rice Terraces to Mayon Volcano! I just wish I could find online the original source and at least a little bit information about it.

SOURCE:
Geography of the Philippines WikiPilipinas Entry

State of Utah Map Postcard

The fifth map postcard I have is that of Utah.

Utah Map Postcard
(PH Wish from Judy Andreason)

The state symbols of Utah:

* State animal - Rocky Mountain Elk
* State bird - California Seagull
* State cooking pot - Dutch Oven
* State emblem - Beehive
* State fish - Bonneville Cutthroat Trout
* State flower - Sego Lily
* State folk dance - Square Dance
* State fossil - Allosaurus
* State fruit - Cherry
* State gem - Topaz
* State grass - Indian Rice Grass
* State insect - Honey Bee
* State mineral - Copper
* State motto - "Industry"
* State rock - Coal
* State song - "Utah, This Is The Place"
* State hymn - "Utah We Love Thee"
* State star - Dubhe
* State tree - Blue Spruce
* State vegetable - Spanish Sweet Onion
* State historic vegetable - Sugar Beet

We also have a US States fact cards with fun facts that Utah is the site of the first department store in the US and of the first transcontinental railway system (1869).

SOURCE:
Utah State Symbols

State of Missouri Map Postcard

The fourth map postcard I have is that of Missouri.

Missouri Map Postcard
(PH Wish from Judy Andreason)

The state symbols of Missouri:

* State American folk dance: Square dance
* State animal: Missouri mule
* State bird: Bluebird
* State floral emblem: White hawthorn
* State fossil: Crinoid
* State insect: Honeybee
* State mineral: Galena
* State musical instrument: Fiddle
* State rock: Mozarkite
* State tree: Flowering Dogwood, Cornus Florida L.
* State tree nut: Eastern black walnut
* State aquatic animal: Paddlefish
* State fish: Channel catfish
* State song: "Missouri Waltz"
* State horse: Missouri fox trotting horse
* State grape: Norton/Cynthiana grape, Vitis Aestivalis
* State dinosaur: Hypsibema missouriense
* State amphibian: American Bullfrog, Rana catesbeiana

We also have a US States fact cards with fun facts that Missouri was the starting point for the Pony Express and for the Lewis and Clark expedition (1804), and the first slave state to free slaves (1865).

SOURCE:
State Symbols of Missouri

State of Iowa Map Postcard

The third map postcard I have is that of Iowa.

Iowa Map Postcard
(PH Wish from Laura Guhse)

The state symbols of Iowa::

* State bird: Eastern Goldfinch
* State fish: Channel catfish
* State flower: Wild Rose
* State fossil: Crinoid (proposed)
* State grass: Bluebunch wheatgrass
* State song: "The Song of Iowa"
* State tree: Oak
* State colors :Red, white, and blue (in state flag)
* State rock: Geode

We also have a US States fact cards with fun facts that Iowa is the only state that starts with two vowels and the only state bordered on both east and west by water (the Mississippi River on the east, the Missouri River on the west)

SOURCES:
Iowa State Symbols
Iowa Wikipedia Entry

State of Connecticut Map Postcard

The second map postcard I have is that of Connecticut.

Connecticut Map Postcard
(PH Wish from Denise Gertz)

The state symbols of Connecticut:

* State bird: Robin
* State shellfish: Eastern Oyster
* State flower: Mountain Laurel
* State fossil: Eubrontes Giganteus
* State mineral: Garnet
* State insect: Praying Mantis, Mantis Religiosa
* State animal: the Sperm Whale, Physeter Catodon
* State song: "Yankee Doodle"
* State tree: White Oak
* State ship: USS Nautilus
* State hero: Nathan Hale
* State composer: Charles Edward Ives
* State heroine: Prudence Crandall

We also have a US States fact cards with fun facts that Connecticut is the birthplace of mass production manufacturing (1808), and home of the oldest public library in the US, Scoville Memorial Library (1771) and the oldest newspaper, Hartford Courant (first printed in 1764).

SOURCE:
About Connecticut

State of Alaska Map Postcard

Time for my map cards of some US states, all cards courtesy of my co-members from Postcard Heaven. First in my collection is that of Alaska.

Alaska Map Postcard
(PH Wish from Sarah Konichek)

The state symbols of Alaska::

* State bird: Willow Ptarmigan
* State fish: King Salmon
* State flower: wild/native Forget-Me-Not
* State fossil: Woolly Mammoth
* State gem: Jade
* State insect: Four-spot skimmer dragonfly
* State land mammal: Moose
* State marine mammal: Bowhead Whale
* State mineral: Gold
* State song: "Alaska's Flag"
* State sport: Dog Mushing
* State tree: Sitka Spruce

We also have a US States fact cards with a fun fact that Alaska, 49th state, was called "Seward's Folly" because many people thought Secretary of State William Seward wasted money purchasing it (he gave Russia $7.2 million in 1867).

SOURCE:
Alaska Office of Economic Development

Der Rhein Map Postcard

Another German map postcard bought in an antique shop - Der Rhein, Von Koblenz Bis Koln (The Rhine, From Koblenz Until Cologne). It shows the River Rhein with names of cities along its banks.

The Rhine Map Postcard

The Rhine (German: Rhein) is one of the longest and most important rivers in Europe at 1,320 kilometres (820 mi). The Rhine is the longest river in Germany. Koblenz is a city situated on both banks of the Rhine. Cologne (German: Köln) is Germany's fourth-largest city after Berlin, Hamburg and Munich, and lies on the Rhine.

Places/Cities included on the map:
-Koln (Cologne)
-Rheinpartie am Drachenfels (Rhine View at Drachenfels)
-Bonn
-Konigswinter, Burgruine Drachenfels
-Bad Godesberg
-Linz
-Remagen
-Neuwied
-Koblenz, Deutsches ECK
-Festung Ehrenbreitstein

SOURCES:
Rhine Wikipedia Entry
Koblenz Wikipedia Entry
Cologne Wikipedia Entry

Ostfriesland (East Frisia) Map Postcard

Ostfriesland Map Postcard

I found this postcard in an antique shop. Immediately on would recognize that the map is that of Germany. The postcard shows names of places in East Frisia with places of interests, from beaches to architecture.

East Frisia or Eastern Friesland (German Ostfriesland) is a coastal region in the northwest of the German federal state of Lower Saxony. Ostfriesland consists of the districts of Aurich, Leer, Wittmund as well as of the city of Emden. The historical district of Norden is today part of the district of Aurich.
There is a chain of islands in front of the coast, called the East Frisian Islands (Ostfriesische Inseln). These islands are (from west to east) Borkum, Juist, Norderney, Baltrum, Langeoog, Spiekeroog and Wangerooge.

SOURCE:East Frisia Wikipedia Entry

Dorset, England Map Postcard

Here is another Dorset map postcard, with images of famous architecture that can be found in the county.

Dorset Map Postcard

Dorset is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester, situated in the south of the county. Dorset borders Devon to the west, Somerset to the north-west, Wiltshire to the north-east, and Hampshire to the east. Dorset's motto is 'Who's Afear'd'.
Dorset is famous for its coastline, the Jurassic Coast, which features landforms such as Lulworth Cove, the Isle of Portland, Chesil Beach and Durdle Door, as well as the holiday resorts of Bournemouth, Poole, Weymouth, Swanage, and Lyme Regis.

SOURCE:
Dorset Wikipedia Entry

Thomas Hardy Landscape of Dorset Map Postcard

After my ship postcards, it is time to show and discuss my map postcards. First is my "Thomas Hardy Landscape of Dorset" map postcard. Dorset is very special to me. Blandford Forum became my second home for a month when I visited a friend and I have visited most of the places on the postcard.

Thomas Hardy Landscape of Dorset Map Postcardby David Hobbs

David Hobbs Illustration gives this information about the artist.

David Hobbs specialises in drawing illustrated maps principally for magazine and book publishers. His work is hand-drawn and he uses traditional line and water-colour wash and supplies original artwork. His depictions of walks, train journeys, cycle rides, towns and counties, etc. have been used extensively in magazines, books, leaflets and publicity material over the last 15 years.

Dorset is the setting of the novels of Thomas Hardy, who was born at Higher Bockhampton, a hamlet in the parish of Stinsford to the east of Dorchester in Dorset.

SOURCE:David Hobbs Illustration

USNS Barrett (T-AP-196) Postcard

My first naval ship postcard is the USNS Barrett (T-AP-196). The back of the postcard gave this information: "Named in honor of Major Gen. Charles D. Barrett, USMC. The Barrett is the newest and most modern troop ship in the M.S.T.S. fleet. 534 feet long, 73 feet wide, and can do 20-1/2 knots. Used for carrying troops and dependents."

USNS Barrett Postcard

Here is a more extensive information about USNS Barrett:
Barrett Class Transport was laid down on 1 June 1949 as SS President Jackson, a Maritime Commission type (P2-S1-DN3) hull, under Maritime Commission contract, (MC Hull 2914) at New York Shipbuilding Co., Camden, N.J. USNS was launched on 27 June 1950 and acquired by the US Navy and placed in service on 21 March 1952 by the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) as USNS Barrett (T-AP-196).
It was placed out of service in 1973 and struck from the Naval Register on 1 June 1973. It was then delivered by the Maritime Commission, for conversion to a training ship for the State University of New York Maritime College, at Fort Schuyler, N.Y. and renamed T.S. Empire State V.
It was returned to the Maritime Administration in 1990 for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River, Fort Eustis, VA. Final Disposition: Scrapping contract was awarded to Bay Bridge Enterprises, Chesapeake, VA on 13 June 2007 for $851,194.

Specifications:Displacement 11,255 t.(lt)Length 533' 9"Beam 73' 3"Draft 27' 1"Speed 19 kts.Complement 219Troop Accommodations 2,000Armament nonePropulsion steam turbine, single shaft, 13,750hp
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons:Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation - National Defense Service Medal (2-stars)Korean Service Medal (1) - Vietnam Service Medal (3) - Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation (11)United Nations Service Medal - Vietnam Campaign Medal - Republic of Korea War Service Medal (retroactive)

SOURCE:
USNS Barrett

Fred Olsen Braemar Postcard

This card was given to me by an acquaintance who works in the ship. The ship is still in business so it was not that hard to gather information.

Fred Olsen Braemar Postcard

The Braemar, a cruise ship currently operating with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, was constructed in 1993 for Crown Cruise Line, operating under the name Crown Dynasty. Between 1993 and 1997, the vessel was also charted by Cunard Line, who would name the ship Cunard Crown Dynasty while under their flag.

In 1997, the vessel was transferred to Majesty Cruise Line, who renamed her Crown Majesty. This only lasted until the end of 1997, when the vessel was transferred again; this time to Norwegian Cruise Line, who renamed the vessel Norwegian Dynasty. The vessel returned to her original fleet and name in 1999, but was sold to Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines in 2001, where the vessel currently operates under the name Braemar.

Ship Statistics:
Tonnage: 19,089 grt
Length: 163.81 m
Beam (width): 22.5 m
Speed: 21 Knots
Launched: 01/07/1993
Refitted: 2001
Cabins: 368 cabins, 254 of which have ocean views with 4 cabins accessible to disabled passengers
Passengers: 727 Standard Occupancy (maximum: 819)
Total Crew: 320

SOURCE:
Braemar Wikipedia Entry

Dollar Line SS President Hoover Postcard

The back of the card are two names, SS President Hoover and SS President Coolidge, so I was confused which of the two is really the ship on the postcard. Luckily I came across to a similar postcard with a note that the name of the ship is actually SS President Hoover!

Dollar Line SS President Hoover Postcard

I also found a very comprehensive history about the ship from the Takao Club site. Here's a summarized history of the ship, from its beginning to its wreck:

Dollar Line built two identical liners to service the trans-Pacific sector of the passenger market. Their names were to be the SS President Coolidge and the SS President Hoover. On 26 October 1929 the Dollar Steamship Line had placed an order with the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company in Virginia. The first to be delivered was to be the SS President Hoover. The SS President Hoover, designed by Carl Petersen, was launched on 9 December 1930 by Mrs Herbert Hoover. The SS President Hoover was 654 feet 3 inches long, 81 feet wide, 34 feet deep, and with a gross tonnage of 21,936 tons. The Hoover was the largest passenger ship to be constructed in the United States.

The SS President Hoover was primarily designed as a luxury passenger liner. She was designed to carry 324 crew and a maximum of 990 passengers, with 380 in a Steerage Class and between 214 to 307 in First Class, depending on the configuration. The First Class passengers were sumptuously provided for. The plush accommodations and Art Deco furnishings on the upper decks of the SS President Hoover rivalled that of the best hotels of the era. The Hoover's First Class Lounge was decorated with murals by the New York artist Frank Bergman. There were Otis electric elevators for convenience; a swimming pool and air-conditioning for the hot days; and heaters in every room for the colder nights.

The SS President Hoover was at anchor in the Yangtze River, waiting for clearance to move into the Woosung River and up to Shanghai. Suddenly she was under attack by Nationalist Chinese warplanes, and, by the time the bombing had finished one crewman was dead, and another six wounded together with two of the passengers.

After her repairs, the SS President Hoover had set off again in late November 1937 the Pacific bound for Kobe and Manila. Setting out from Kobe with 503 passengers and 330 crew, the SS President Hoover followed an unfamiliar course to Manila. The Dollar Line was now avoiding the port of Shanghai and was proceeding at night down the unfamiliar and unlit eastern coast of the Japanese colony of Formosa (Taiwan). Just after midnight, the SS President Hoover runs aground on a reef off the NE coast of the Formosan island of Hoishoto (also known as Samasana Island, Kasho-to, now Green Island). Strong winds and waves from a NE monsoon drive Hoover further onto the shores of Green Island and she begins to list badly. At low tide, Captain Yardley orders the evacuation of his 503 passengers to the island.

SS President Hoover at Manila

On December 14, 1937, once Dollar Lines had completed their salvage work, it was clear that the SS President Hoover was indeed a total loss. As a result the hull was sold to the Kitagawa Ship Salvage Company for $500,000. The SS President Hoover cost nearly 8 million US dollars to build.

SOURCES:
SS President Hoover (text and image)

Norddeutscher Lloyd's SS Columbus Postcard

The third ship in my collection is the Norddeutscher Lloyd, Dampfer (Steamer) Columbus. This time it was easy to gather information since the postcard gave the name of the ship.

Norddeutscher Lloyd's SS Columbus Postcardlater known as White Star Line RMS Homeric

Here are some of the important facts about SS Columbus/RMS Homeric:

Laid down in 1912, the Columbus was the first of two of vessels ordered by Norddeutscher Lloyd (North German Lloyd) for their premiere run, Bremerhaven to New York. At 35,000 tons, she was the largest ship in Norddeutscher Lloyd’s fleet with the focus on luxury rather than speed. It was launched at the F. Schihau yard in Danzig in December 17, 1913.
However, work was halted entirely in August 1914 as the drama of World War I played out. Rusting and neglected, the unfinished Columbus was ceded to the British as reparation for the ships they had lost in the war, and then acquired by White Star Line in 1920. In 1920 construction was resumed under the watchful eye of officials sent down from Harland & Wolff. Following in the White Star tradition of names ending in -ic, the Columbus was renamed Homeric. Finally completed in late 1921, the Homeric was handed over.

The freshly completed Homeric arrived in Southampton January 21, 1922. Just one month later, on February 21, 1922, Homeric departed Southampton on her maiden voyage to New York. Built with the steerage trade in mind, Homeric had a huge portion of her accommodations devoted to immigrants, and when the United States curtailed the flow of foreign settlers in the mid 1920’s the Homeric was particularly hard hit. Her transatlantic crossings began to lose money as early at 1926, and the ship was sent on cruises around the Mediterranean and Caribbean. When the Georgic entered service, Homeric became surplus on the Atlantic and she was sent cruising full time. On June 1, 1932, she departed New York on her final transatlantic crossing.
Cruising from British ports to the Mediterranean, the Homeric was one of the first liners to be used exclusively as a cruise ship. In 1934, White Star and Cunard merged, and the Homeric was declared surplus again, slated to be sold to the breakers upon completion of the merger. In late 1936, she was sold to Thomas Ward & Sons for scrap. By 1938, the Homeric was gone.
Tonnage: 35,000Length: 774 ft (236.0 m)Beam: 82.3 ft (25.1 m)Propulsion: Twin screwSpeed: 18 knotsPassenger Capacity: 2,145 passengers: 750 First Class, 545 Second Class, 850 Third ClassLaid down: 1912Launched: 1913Christened: January, 1922Maiden voyage: February 15, 1922Fate: Served for 13 years from 1922 to 1935. Scrapped.

SOURCE:
RMS Homeric

Lloyd Triestino's M/S Conte Rosso Postcard

Next is the Conte Rosso. Although the postcard, as seen below, gives 2 ship names, Conte Rosso and Conte Verde, the name of the ship at the bow (on the postcard) can clearly be read "Conte Rosso."

Conte Rosso Lloyd Triestino Postcard

Conte Rosso (Italian for "Red") was a Lloyd Sabaudo Line / Italian Line ocean liner active in the early 20th century. Prior to World War II, she provided transatlantic passenger transport between Italy and New York City before later being transferred to service between Trieste and Shanghai. During World War II, she was used as a troop ship by the Italian Government until May 1941, when she was torpedoed and sunk by HMS Upholder. Her sister ship was SS Conte Verde.
Since the Wikipedia entry does not provide relevant information, I tried to gather other information about the ship itself. Then I came across this New York Times article published in 1922. Here is an excerpt from the article, showing how luxurious the ship was back then.

Italy's Newest Liner: A Model of Luxury
The New York Times, February 19, 1922

The Conte Rosso, the first of two new vessels with which Italy will make her bid for the great transatlantic travel. She is the largest vessel that has ever sailed under the Italian flag and is said to be the finest passenger steamer built since the war in any country. She is owned by the Lloyd Sabaudo Line, for which she was constructed in the yards of William Beardmore, at Dalmuir, Scotland.

On her trial trips the new ship averaged more than twenty knots an hour, which means that the running time between New York and Genoa, her home port, will be reduced by almost two days.
But the striking features of the Conte Rosso are her luxurious passenger accommodations, on decorations of which more than $400,000 was spent. The decorative scheme was carried out by Mariano Coppedi and his brother, and Luigi Cavalieri, the famous Florentine painter. No less than 15,553 square feet of space are reserved for saloon passengers, and 11,733 for second cabin. She has a length of 590 feet, a beam of 74 feet and a gross tonnage of 18,500 tons. Her passenger capacity is 500 cabin and 1,500 steerage, and her cargo space will allow her to carry 1,500 tons dead weight.

SOURCES:
SS Conte Rosso Wikipedia EntryItaly's Newest Liner: A Model of Luxury, The New York Times

Lloyd Triestino's M/S Victoria Postcard

Today I decided to start showing and discussing the postcards in my ship collection (passenger, cruise and naval).

Lloyd Triestino's M/S Victoria Postcard

First on the list is the passenger ship M/S Victoria of the Lloyd Triestino. I had hard time, at first, gathering information. It's because the back of the card only states "Grande Espresso Europa-India (Via Genova) Motorschiff - Victoria."
But after translating Motorschiff to English, I finally found the name of the ship and a little about its history. Here is the story of M/S Victoria:
The August 1931 issue of Motor Ship listed the new Victoria as the fastest motorship in the world, capable of 23 knots. Built in the San Marco yard by Cantieri Riuniti dell Adriatico, the Victoria was ordered by Lloyd Triestino. Designed to be spacious as well as luxurious, Victoria was one of the first ships to incorporate air-conditioning with the use a Carrier refrigerating plant. Victoria carried passengers and cargo between Trieste, Venice, Brindisi in Italy and Alexandria, Egypt.

Later Victoria was transferred to service on the Far East run. Leaving from Genoa, her ports of call were Naples, Port Said, Bombay, Hong Kong and Shanghai. Her accommodations and appointments were luxurious compared to steamers on the Europe to Asia route. Quite often passengers traveling on British P & O Line to India or China, would transfer to the Victoria if the opportunity presented itself.
When Italy entered into World War II, Victoria was pressed into service as a troop transport. She was often part of fast convoys (14 to 18 knots) on runs to North Africa and in her capacity of transporting troops, normally had a heavy warship escort. On January 22, 1942 she left on her last journey. Embarked aboard her were 132 officers and 588 soldiers of the 12th Bersaglieri Regiment, 405 German soldiers and 441 tons of cargo. On January 23rd the convoy came under air attack despite the presence of an aerial escort of 12 Ju 88s. Victoria was torpedoed at 6:45 PM and started to list. She lasted until 3:00 AM on January 24th. Of the 1400 embarked, passengers and crew, 1046 were rescued.

SOURCE:
Victoria Italian Troop Transport

More Greeting Postcards

Here are some other "greeting cards" I have in my collection, which I all bought in 1997. Other than Postcard 7 which is by Easter Morning Postcard, all cards are by Hallmark.

Postcard 1: "Are you a chocoholic?"

The bottom part is not a tear, that's how the postcard really looks like. At the back of the card:

ANSWERS: If you answered "yes" to ANY of these questions, you are, indeed, a chocoholic, and should immediately turn over your entire chocolate stash to the sender of this card, who has only your best interests at heart.

Postcard 2: "I'll loan my body to anyone who will exercise it for me."

Postcard 3: "I think I need a hug....

Postcard 4: "Please Don't Write!"

Postcard 5: "Now that I have you attention"

Postcard 6: "No Special Occasion..."

Postcard 7: "Why me?"


Postcard 8: "Question: Why do my toes wiggle every time I think of you?"

More Greeting Postcards - Postcards With Sayings

These are the only Hallmark greeting cards with sayings in my collection.

"Today means boundless and inexhaustible eternity. Months and years and all periods of time are concepts of men, who gauge everything by number; but the true name of eternity is Today."

- Philo

"For great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD"

- Psalm 117:1-2 NIV

"The Love which moves the sun and the other stars."
(L'amor che muove il sole e l'altre stelle.)
Canto XXXIII, line 145 (last line)

- Dante Alighieri

I couldn't find to whom I can quote the sayings on these cards.

Postcard 4: "Imagination creates a dream. Faith turns it into a reality."

Postcard 5: "Every day in the Lord is a day of new beginnings."

Modern Greeting Postcards - Andrew Brownsword Postcard Collection

These were also among my first postcards. It was easier for me to research who Andrew Brownsword is and about the collection. However, I found no description about the bears nor the Forever Friends.

Born Andrew Douglas Brownsword, he started the Andrew Brownsword Collection, a publishing business founded in Bath in 1971. Brownsword started by selling greeting cards, before developing the Forever Friends teddy bear genre with artist Deborah Jones in Reading, Berkshire in the early 1980s:

"I wanted to develop a teddy bear that appealed to adults as well as children. I based Forever Friends specifically on the teddy bear that Sebastian Flyte carried around in Brideshead Revisited. It became the bear found in the attic."

The first Forever Friends bears were available in the shops in February 1987. The Andrew Brownsword Collection were later acquired by Hallmark Cards in 1994.

Forever Friends Postcard 1

Forever Friends Postcard 2

SOURCES:
Andrew Brownsword Wikipedia Entry
Forever Friends Homepage

Modern Greeting Postcards - Freechese Company

My first postcards were actually these greetings cards, which I bought in 1997. Unfortunately I haven't seen other cards being sold nor stores that still sell them this past few years.

At the back of the postcard was the "supposedly" name of the manufacturer of the postcard, Freecheese and Company. I had hard time gathering information about the said company because Google search does not give relevant results.

Free Cheese & Company Logo

Then I decided to check who Alex (signature on the postcards) is. And at last I found the name of the company that produced the postcards and about the characters on the postcards.

The Alex Company (Biembi's greeting cards) trio was born in 1985, from the pencil of Alex Rinesch, when Free, all big ears and large feet mouse, falls onto Earth from his Cheese Planet. Alone, penniless and seeking for a flat to share, the rebel mouse Free soon meets the sleepy cat Sugar and elephant Little Bo. They are the main characters of a wacky but harmonious universe. The trio plays, studies, works, travels, socializes, falls in love, gets angry…in a word it experiences true emotions.

Surpise! from Free

Happy Birthday! From Free

Embosed Greeting Postcards

Postcards can be grouped in two very broad categories: view cards and greeting cards. Greeting cards would include holiday postcards (Christmas, Easter, New Year), birthday cards, portraits of persons, comedy cards, cards with sayings, etc. However, some greetings such as the "Labor Day" cards, are considered scarce.

Early greeting cards are some of the most beautiful cards every printed. Publishers competing for sales, printed cards using intricate embossing techniques, high caliber art work, superior inks, expensive lithographic processes and even novelty additions such as glitter, ribbons, silk and feathers.

Used Birthday Greetings Card
dated January 17, 1914

in Kapampangan (Filipino Language)

Used Greetings Card (linen)
dated December 15, 1914

in Spanish
GA Novelty Art Series no. 1256

G. A. Novelty Co. (1908-1910)
New York, NY
A publisher of simple greeting and unique novelty postcards. They were manufactured in Germany.

Used Greetings Card
dated January 17, 1914
in Spanish