Lot 8929

Description

Handwritten in ink, mostly on small folded sheets of letter paper. Exceptionally articulate accounts of life on board, daily routines, leisure activities, shore leave (including a visit to the Turkish governor in Egypt), and political opinions (e.g., “[...] that the English are the only nation with whom we can align ourselves”). Each signed “Carl”. “Mediterranean, south of Crete, 20 Nov. 1910,” 14 pages: “I am taking photographs and writing articles about the voyage that are suitable for the press.” “Suez, 25 Nov. 1910,” photo postcard (Hanover Old Town); “Count B. recently found this card in Malaga.” “Colombo, 7 December 1910,” 12 pages (Note: Colombo near Cairo). “C. 11 Dec. 1910,” one page: “Reception last night hosted by Their Imperial and Royal Highnesses at the 'German Club'.” (Crown Prince Wilhelm and his wife). “Bombay, 18 Dec. 1910,” 21 pages with additions dated 23 and 31 Dec. “Jaigarh 11 Jan.” and “Colombo 28 Jan. 1911,” two postcards (Note: Colombo, Sri Lanka). “Off the Hooghly Estuary, 2 Feb. 1911,” 15 pages, continued in “Calcutta, 7 Feb.” “A radio message has just arrived from the *Leipzig* [...] stating that the German Consul Freudenberg has died in Colombo. [...] His Majesty has ordered the Crown Prince's journey to be cut short.” “Diamond Harbour, 13 Feb. 1911,” four pages to his sister. “Tomorrow the Crown Prince is coming to say goodbye.” “Eastern Channel, Hooghly Estuary, 17 Feb. 1911” and “Singapore, 26 Feb. 1911”—two postcards. “Hong Kong, 5 March 1911”—three pages. “Tsingtao, 26 March 1911”—11 pages. “Since our arrival here on 14 March, we have been very busy conducting our [...] artillery and torpedo firing exercises.” “Yokohama, 17 April 1911”—23 pages containing enthusiastic descriptions of Tokyo and Kobe. “Japanese Inland Sea near Kobe, 21 May 1911”—16 pages. “Tsuruga Hotel, Tsuruga (Japan), 13 July 1911”—8 pages. “Dressed only in a genuine kimono and straw sandals, it is quite bearable.” “Tsingtao, 25 July 1911”—four pages. “You are worrying unnecessarily about the war again! First of all, there is no war [...] Secondly [...] if there were a war: out here, it isn't dangerous.” “Tsingtao, 13 August 1911”—10 pages. “I am already preparing to start my journey home on the steamer 'Gneisenau' on 28 September.” “Tsingtao, 17 September 1911”—seven pages. “One of the first thoughts I had when I learned of my submarine command was your distress! [...] There is nothing more dangerous about submarine service than service on torpedo boats—just think, I could have become an aviator!” “Tsingtao, 26 Sept. 1911”—postcard. “Last evening on the Gneisenau!!” “Shanghai, 28 Sept. 1911” and “off Hong Kong, 2 Oct. 1911”—two letters on “Norddeutscher Lloyd, Bremen – Steamship 'Gneisenau'” stationery, totaling 5 pages. “[...] before putting into port, the telegram regarding the war between Italy and Turkey.” “Indian Ocean, 18 Oct. 1911”—10 pages, with continuations dated “Aden, 22 Oct. 1911,” “Red Sea, 24 Oct.,” and “Aden, 26 Oct. 1911.” “Our repatriation as officers was widely viewed by foreigners here as a sign of the imminent outbreak of war.” “Indian Ocean” and “c. 6 Dec.”—postcard from Egypt. Housed in a damaged envelope, inscribed by Karlgeorg Schuster: “Letters from me to my mother from the East Asia voyage [...]” Highly interesting documents concerning the East Asia Squadron and, in particular, the voyage of the heavy cruiser “Gneisenau.” Transcripts of the letters are included.

Condition: II - III Questions about the lot?