Spring Auction 2019 Sale 75
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/30/2019
Fanciful Hamburg-Amerika-Line "baptismal certificate" issued aboard the German steamer M.S.SPREEWALD, 1p. 9 3/4" x 14", Dec. 1, 1930, showing Poseidon and various imaginary sea creatures and "baptizing" a man as "Sea Steer". The original red wax seal remains attached to this comical document. While en route from China to Germany with a cargo of rubber and disguised as a Norwegian steamer ("Elg"), she met en route with the German supply ship KULMERLAND and embarked 86 British prisoners, survivors of ships sunk by the auxiliary cruiser KORMORAN. Escorted by U-575, the SPREELAND was mistakenly sunk west of the Bay of Biscay by U-333. 72 were killed, including 31 prisoners.
Reserve