Lot Essay
The present owner states that this artefact has been in the possession of his family since 1913 at which time they were living at 15 Newport Street, Cardiff and where they continued to live until 1953 and where he was born in 1931. He recalls being shown these items by his grandmother at various times in his early childhood. It is to be noted that the two postcards which form part of this lot are both addressed to this same address but the addressee is an Ed Vassall. Edward Vassall was not a member of the owner's family; it is believed that he was a lodger at 15 Newport Street, this property being close to Cardiff Docks.
Both these postcards are signed by Jas Willis who signs himself on the one dated 5th February 1913 as the Master of the S.S. LONGSCAR. The original Agreement and Crew List for the S.S. LONGSCAR covering the period 1912-1913 is held by the Memorial University of Newfoundland, Maritime History Archive, St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada. This lists Jas. Willis as the ship's Master and his signature on this document would appear to be the same as his on the two postcards: E. Vallas is listed as the ship's cook; he gives his address as 15 Newport Street and his nationality as Maltese. The same document records that on 12th August 1912 the S.S. LONGSCAR left Birkenhead for River Plate via Cardiff, arriving Rosario, Argentina, 4th October 1912, and Montevideo, 15th November 1912. On her return voyage she arrived at Madeira early December 1912 from whence she sailed for Denmark thence to South Shields, the voyage terminating there 19th January 1913 where her crew was paid off.
It is not known how this item came into Ed Vassall's possession nor how it came to be connected with the S.S. LONGSCAR. As stated above the Crew List confirms the presence onboard her of James Willis and Edward Vassall; however, the ship's Log Book which might have shed some light on the matter has not been found although efforts made to trace it at the Memorial University of Newfoundland (the most likely source), the Public Record Office, and the National Maritime Museum, have proved unsuccessful. However, although the Mercantile Marine Act of 1850 required Masters to keep an Official Log Book which was to be deposited after each foreign voyage, many have since been destroyed.
The Astor family have expressed reservations about the authenticity of this artefact
(See illustrations)
Both these postcards are signed by Jas Willis who signs himself on the one dated 5th February 1913 as the Master of the S.S. LONGSCAR. The original Agreement and Crew List for the S.S. LONGSCAR covering the period 1912-1913 is held by the Memorial University of Newfoundland, Maritime History Archive, St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada. This lists Jas. Willis as the ship's Master and his signature on this document would appear to be the same as his on the two postcards: E. Vallas is listed as the ship's cook; he gives his address as 15 Newport Street and his nationality as Maltese. The same document records that on 12th August 1912 the S.S. LONGSCAR left Birkenhead for River Plate via Cardiff, arriving Rosario, Argentina, 4th October 1912, and Montevideo, 15th November 1912. On her return voyage she arrived at Madeira early December 1912 from whence she sailed for Denmark thence to South Shields, the voyage terminating there 19th January 1913 where her crew was paid off.
It is not known how this item came into Ed Vassall's possession nor how it came to be connected with the S.S. LONGSCAR. As stated above the Crew List confirms the presence onboard her of James Willis and Edward Vassall; however, the ship's Log Book which might have shed some light on the matter has not been found although efforts made to trace it at the Memorial University of Newfoundland (the most likely source), the Public Record Office, and the National Maritime Museum, have proved unsuccessful. However, although the Mercantile Marine Act of 1850 required Masters to keep an Official Log Book which was to be deposited after each foreign voyage, many have since been destroyed.
The Astor family have expressed reservations about the authenticity of this artefact
(See illustrations)