ephemera

J.P. Morgan's Corsair Yatch Captain's Diary 1889

A remarkable 180-page diary of A.S. Haskel, Captain of the Yacht Corsair--describing trips with J. P. Morgan and his mistresses--is up for bid on eBay.

The Corsair was owned by J.P. Morgan. The diary describes the Captain's day-to-day activities in keeping the yacht up, along with all the trips that Morgan took, including many times talking about several of his mistresses that he makes overnight stays with, according to the listing.

"Some of them are well known," says the seller, "and others I couldn't find much about, but an incredible piece of history related to one of America's greatest businessmen. It is all handwritten and is in very good condition."

To read excerpts from the diary, click the link above.

Original TV BJ and The Bear Door from Kenworth Truck

Up for auction on eBay is the original BJ and The Bear passenger side door that was removed from the #1 Kenworth K100 Aerodyne used in the hit 70's TV series.

According to the seller, the door was removed during the restoration of this truck.  The door is well used and would really only be good for hanging on your shop wall as a display piece.  The door shell has no glass or internals but is still wearing its original paint and "Billie Joe McKay" decal from the show.  This would be a great addition for any TV prop collector or a Kenworth collector.  This would also look nice hanging up in a Kenworth Dealership or repair shop.  

The seller says, "This item is for a serious collector only.  Stuff like this very rarely comes up for sale.  This is your chance to own a piece of television history.  Again, this auction is for the passenger door shell only and will come with a COA."

I never watched BJ and The Bear, but if you were a fan you'll want to click the link in the first paragraph to learn more.

Arrow Airways Baggage Labels 1938

These Arrow Airways baggage labels, c. 1938, are up for bid on eBay.

The seller says, "...very small and short lived Canadian operation. Arrow Airways was owned by Jack Hone and was formed in 1935 and based in The Pas, Manitoba. Its fleet consisted of a single engine Fokker monoplane and a Waco. They flew trappers in and out of their hunting grounds, flew fur cargos out in the spring, transported mining equipment, supplies, and crews and occasionally delivered mail to isolated communities as well as providing mercy flights. Later, regular passenger service to Flin Flon and Sherridon was added. Arrow Airways was bought out by James Armstrong Richardson in 1938."

To learn more about this auction, click the link in the first paragraph.

Star Railroad Lantern & Headlight Catalog 1915

An original 1915 Catalog of Railroad Lanterns and Railroad Train Head Lamps manufactured by the "Star Head Light & Lantern Co." of Rochester, New York, is up for bid on eBay.

"This wonderful, hard bound, and fully illustrated Catalog is titled on the front cover: Star Head Light & Lantern Co. Rochester, N.Y. Catalogue No. 8," says the seller. "The Catalog is copyright 1915 and was published by the Star Head Light & Lantern Co. at Rochester."

According to the listing, the Catalog contains 136 pages featuring fantastic illustrations of every type of Railroad Lantern and Light. Included are numerous types of Train Engine Headlights (most are oil fueled although a few, early electric Head Lamps are offered along with some acetylene fueled models) offered with or without affixed Numbers; numerous styles of bell bottom and cage bottom, tall globe railroad Lanterns (including Switchman's Lanterns, Conductor's Lanterns, Car Inspector Lanterns, Track Walker's Lanterns, Tubular Guard Lanterns, etc.; Street and station Lamps; Cab and Water Gauge Lanterns; various styles of Switch and Signal Lanterns and Lamps; as well as Lamp Parts including Globes, Chimneys, Burners, etc. Each lantern and lamp is beautifully illustrated and described with specifications and available options and/or modifications.

The seller adds, "The catalog is beautifully bound in a deeply embossed and decorated cloth cover with an image of a Railroad Lantern on the front board and a gold star on the rear board. The illustrations are not paste down labels but the colors are applied directly to the cloth covers and the illustrations and lettering are raised. This is among the earliest and definitely the most beautiful and comprehensive, Railroad Lantern Catalogs we have ever had the pleasure to offer for sale and its pristine condition only adds to its desirability!"

Check out images from this catalog by clicking on the link in the first paragraph.

Providence Rhode Island 1864 Business Directory

The Providence Directory for the Year 1864: Containing a General Directory of the Citizens and Business Directory of the State of Rhode Island, City Record, is up for bid on eBay. [Providence, 1864. Published by Sampson, Davenport & Company.]

The seller says, "This fantastic directory of the City of Providence--contains 280 pages plus 86 additional pages of mostly illustrated advertisements. Included in the Directory are the names, addresses, and occupations of every citizen in Providence, along with information on every aspect of public life in the city. Included is information on the government, fire department, police department, Schools, Churches, Institutions, Society, Temperance Organizations, Cemeteries, Railroads, etc. There is a complete Business Directory of the City and another Business Directory for the State of Rhode Island. Interspersed and at the beginning and end of the volume are approx. 100 pages of beautifully illustrated ads for Business of every type. This volume is published with advertising covers in the style of many City Directories of the period and this is among of the most comprehensive Directories we have ever come across. A rare and fascinating look at the City of Providence, Rhode Island during the Civil War and a fantastic reference volume for the collector or historian!"

Click the link in the first paragraph to investigate further.

Highway Safety Automobile Horror Poster 1920s

Bid on this eBay rarity and get it in time for placement under the Christmas tree. It's an original, rare 1920s highway safety/automotive advertising poster created for the State of New Jersey Highway Safety program in coordination with the good folks at Standard Oil, according to the listing.

"We have come into a collection of these incredibly rare and wonderful art deco advertising posters, which were stored flat and safe from light and wear in the warehouse of the Erie Pennsylvania lithographic company," says the seller. "This is a particularly haunting image featuring a gentleman after an accident with a limp child in his hands with a tag line reads 'What Have I Done'."

1893 New Jersey Central Railroad Schedule Maps

Up for bid on eBay is a nice pair of 1893 dated Time Tables from the Central Railroad of New Jersey "To the Sea Shore" and "All Rail Line from the Foot of Liberty Street N.R. and Sandy Hook Route from Pier 8, N.R.".

According to the listing, one is a time table of June 25, 1893 and the other is of May 28th, 1893. Each folds out to 6 panels, printed on both sides. They cover routes including "Royal Blue Line between New Jersey Coast Resorts and Trenton, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington.

The Central Railroad of New Jersey (reporting mark CNJ), commonly known as the Jersey Central Lines or CNJ, was a Class I railroad with origins in the 1830s, lasting until 1976 when it was absorbed into Conrail with the other bankrupt railroads of the Northeastern United States. Its main line ran from Jersey City west through New Jersey to Phillipsburg and across the Delaware River to Easton and Scranton in Pennsylvania. Branches stretched into southern New Jersey to Delaware Bay.

Boston Maine Railroad 1906 Ticket

Up for bid on eBay, you'll find this 1906 Boston & Maine Railroad ticket.

If you're interested in railroad paper, the seller of this item is specializes in this type of ephemera, and he has an outstanding track record. With the holidays right around the corner, I'm trying to feature items that will connect you with quality dealers in highly specialized areas of ephemera like this one. Even if you don't want to bid on this item, you should check out this seller's inventory now before it is depleted over the holidays. (Click through on the link provided in the first line of this post.)

 

Great Northern Railroad Galveston Bathing Beach Menu

A menu for supper on the I. & G. N. (International – Great Northern Railroad) is up for bid on eBay.

According to the seller, a hand-penned note on inside page reads, "Year 1907 Austin, Texas to St. Louis MO." The cover illustration depicts a stylized door with an inset of an image from a photograph depicting a Bathing Beach at Galveston. Inside pages includes menu with food and dining related food vignettes. Fare includes Spanish Mackerel, Peeled Asparagus on Toast, Luncheon Tongue, Chipped Beef in Cream, Rice Pudding Philadelphia Style, and much more.

I wonder if you could've ordered the "Rice Pudding Philadelphia Style" wit or witout.

Vintage Pan Am Airlines Stewardess Recruiting Brochure

"Give Your Career Wings!" shouts this 1940s-era Pan Am Airlines stewardess pamphlet, which is up for bid on eBay.