The Circus Ship

COBHAM, A. J. Portrait of Sir Alan John Cobham when he visited his air circus at Boskenso, near Falmouth, with Miss Margaret Jerome from Leicester and her winner dog "Sasha of Baynton".

London, Topical Press, 1935. Original photograph, silver print, 18,7 x 24,1 cm. - Small repaired tear at upper border. Sir Alan John Cobham, KBE, AFC (6 May 1894 - 21 October 1973) was an English aviation pioneer. - A member of the Royal Flying Corps in World War I, Alan Cobham became famous as a pioneer of long distance aviation. After the war he became a test pilot for the de Havilland aircraft company, and was the first pilot for the newly formed de Havilland Aeroplane Hire Service. In 1921 he made a 5,000 mile air tour of Europe, visiting 17 cities in 3 weeks. In 1928 he flew a Short Singapore flying boat around the continent of Africa landing only in British territory. In August 1926, he flew from England to Australia where 60,000 people swarmed across the grassy fields of Essendon Airport, Melbourne when he landed his DH.50 float plane (it had been converted to a wheeled undercarriage earlier, at Darwin). He was knighted the same year. On 25 November 1926, Cobham attempted but failed to be the first person to deliver mail to New York City by air from the east, planning to fly mail from the White Star ocean liner RMS Homeric in a de Havilland DH.60 Moth floatplane when the ship was about 12 hours from New York harbour on a westbound crossing from Southampton. After the Moth was lowered from the ship, however, Cobham was unable to take off owing to rough water and had to be towed into port by the ship. - In 1932 he started the National Aviation Day displays - a combination of barnstorming and joyriding. This consisted of a team of up to fourteen aircraft, ranging from single-seaters to modern airliners, and many skilled pilots. It toured the country, calling at hundreds of sites, some of them regular airfields and some just fields cleared for the occasion. Generally known as "Cobham's Flying Circus", it was hugely popular, giving thousands of people their first experience of flying, and bringing "air-mindedness" to the population. These continued until the end of the 1935 season. - Cobham was also one of the founding directors of Airspeed Limited, the aircraft manufacturing company started by Nevil Shute Norway (perhaps better known as the famous novelist, Nevil Shute). - Norway, together with the designer Hessell Tiltman, having been discharged by the Airship Guarantee Company (a subsidiary of Vickers), after the R101 disaster also junked the more successful R100, decided to found their own small aircraft business: Cobham was an early and enthusiastic recruit: indeed, it was thanks to Sir Alan - who placed early orders for two "Off Plan" aircraft (the three-engined ten seater Ferry) for his National Aviation Day Limited company - that Airspeed managed to commence manufacturing at all. - Cobham's early experiments with in-flight refuelling were based on a specially adapted Airspeed Courier. This craft was eventually modified by Airspeed to Cobham's specification, for a non-stop flight from London to India, using in-flight refuelling to extend the plane's flight duration. - In 1935 he founded a small airline that flew from London Croydon Airport to the Channel Islands. Months later, after a crash that killed one of his pilots, he sold it to Olley Air Service Ltd and turned to the development of inflight refueling. Trials stopped at the outbreak of World War II until interest was successfully revived by the RAF and US Army Air Force in the last year of the war. - He once remarked: "It's a full time job being Alan Cobham!" He retired to the British Virgin Islands, but returned to England where he died in 1973. - The company he formed is still active in the aviation industry as Cobham plc. - As a child he attended Wilson's School, then in Camberwell, London. The School relocated to the former site of Croydon Airport in 1975. KEYWORDS:De Haviland/Airspeed

Details

MILLER, I.L.. THE CHINESE GIRL..
SUPERB PHOTOS OF CHINESE SING-SONG GIRLS, DANCERS & ACTORS This great work is devoted to the Chinese girl; the various types are explained by the author. He had much experience with "sing-song" dancers, "entertainers" & others most whom were disguised prostitutes. This work basically is a photographic essay with accompanying text. Each girl "type" is discussed, showing her photograph, with her traits and attributes. This book covers the intricate phase of Chinese social life, hitherto not set down into writing, customs, habits, the live of "sing-song" girls, how they are in North China, Tientsin, Peking, Shanghai, Hong Kong, descriptions correct in every detail based on the author's personal private and very personal primary observation. * These girls found work in cabarets, some were called "dancers, actress, entertainers, circus performers, dramatic artists, popular ballet & dancing girls" as well as movie starlets, high & low class prostitutes and were "companions" to foreigners. * Considered social outcasts, they were banned from respect- able Chinese society. Due to overwhelming Western influences and changes taking place in Chine in addition to the profuse number of very willing foreign men, the swelling ranks of "professional" women flourished during the hay day of night life in 1920-30's China. * Many of these women were stunningly beautiful and charming. They were fashionable and wore marvelous clothes and jewelry most of which were gifts from their appreciative clients. The were were knock outs and they were in great demand ! * A most fascinating and very RARE primary study of the "pleasure girls" of China. The title page shows [Mr. Grin] editor of the Russian Daily "Nasha Zaria" next to the auth- or's name, a play on words, a pun. This obscure and R A R E work was copyright by and printed for the author, and was not distributed by the usual sources due to the "discreet" nature of the subject. The book was rather and more likely simply given out to the author ' s cronies and partners in crime. This obscure gem is truly seldom found for sale on the market and is a RARITY ! * Color scans an be sent by email. Images displayed may not be the actual copy in stock for sale at any given time; if you want to see the exact image of the book or edition in stock, please request this by email and an image will be returned to you by attachment. * * * BUY WITH * * * * SHIPPING: WE SHIP WORLD WIDE * * * * * The shipping costs displayed for our books on ZVAB are ONLY AN ESTIMATE !!! * ACTUAL costs are based book weight, destination and value. * We will inform you of shipping costs and options once you select the book. **FOREIGN: We usually ship by registered/insured airmail to customers abroad. **DOMESTIC: We ship to USA customers by UPS/FEDEX or U.S. MAIL, appropriate insurance/registry and signature required will appply. ***** Please inquire if you have any questions regarding shipping or payments .

Tientsin 1932. Red cloth, very good, 108p. English text many b.w. collotype photos of Chinese girls, translated from the the Russian by E.De Laberbis, 18 x 24.5 cm., minor detent to title page.FIRST & ONLY EDITION EXCEPTIONALLY RARE & OBSCURE

Details

CARL, Katherine A.. WITH THE EMPRESS DOWAGER..
The author was invited to arrange for a painting of the Emp- ress Dowager. She was therefore on intimate terms with her. This is the primary account of the Empress, palace, Peking, ladies of the court, and festivities. Also covering his Maj- esty the Emperor, his birthday, Peking Sea Palace, characte- eristics of Her Majesty, palace eunuchs, literatry taste, garen party, European circus, palace customs, religious rites, Chinese New Year, her portrait for St. Louis Fair. * A color scan of the cover can be sent by email. Images displayed may not be the actual copy in stock for sale at any given time; if you want to see the exact image of the book or edition in stock, please request this by email and an image will be returned to you by attachment. * * * BUY WITH * * * * SHIPPING: WE SHIP WORLD WIDE * * * * * The shipping costs displayed for our books on ZVAB are ONLY AN ESTIMATE !!! * ACTUAL costs are based book weight, destination and value. * We will inform you of shipping costs and options once you select the book. **FOREIGN: We usually ship by registered/insured airmail to customers abroad. **DOMESTIC: We ship to USA customers by UPS/FEDEX or U.S. MAIL, appropriate insurance/registry and signature required will appply. ***** Please inquire if you have any questions regarding shipping or payments .

New York 1905, Century. Yellow cloth, very good, 306p., 22 b.w. photos.

Details

E. Alvord: 1871 HANDWRITTEN DIARY: S.S. GERMANIA Travel Diary of an Outspoken Opinionated Young Man, Springfield, Minnesota MN S.S.GERMANIA 1871 ; fester Einband / hard cover
Good+

On offer is a wonderful early travel/steamship diary for 1871. The diary was handwritten by, we believe, E. Alvord of Springfield, Minn., a young, very outspoken man to record his trip to Europe while traveling on board the steamship, "Germania'. The first part of the diary, 16 pp, are handwritten miscellaneous notes. One rather interesting note: "Nov. 23, Milton Hull in 188 Deen St. Cooks Vanderbilt House." The voyage starts May 23rd when he begins recording his trip, from leaving the harbor, on board the ship, in Europe and on his way back home aboard the ship, "China" until September 12th, 1871. In total there are 93 days worth of handwritten adventures. The diarist did not hold back; he didn't seem to like the places he visited or the people too much and at one point he seems to have a problem with some Jewish folks. Here are some snippets; "Left Hoboken 15 minutes to three. Sent out hats overboard amid the shouts of the crowd. At 4:40 discharged pilot, awful hungry .Out of sight of land, fair wind making 12 ½ knots, hungry. Fear we have got beat as we haven't got in a 2nd cabin. The captain is a gentleman, polite and kind. Dutch babies are thick!....The weather is beautiful. Company pleasant for one sailing out on the boundless ocean. So vast, reminds me of the summer of Dr. Taylor on "loneliness.".Heavy fog on the banks, a dull stupid day, wish I was home. No service on board which I don't like! Have been up on the bridge with the ladies .A very slow steamer which together with the German style of cooking makes it quite tedious Arrived at Plymouth at 9 pm. I feasted 1st time since leaving home. Had quite a nice piece of roast beef and some ale which I relished highly. Awful English, funny people, so concluded, yet kind to us .Visited St. Paul church. Climbed to the top of it, 424 feet high. Saw the tomb of Wellington and Nelson. Also attended a funeral there of a daughter of one of the Arch Deacons. Leave London for Belgium tomorrow, glad to get away .Oh, Germany is the most lovely place to live. Music seems to be a passion and the people are so civil. Thus cannot help liking them, but with all this pleasure, I think of home, yes, yes .Good Bye old Vienna. Beautiful city and lovely music. Arrived at Lulgough and went to the circus with Gen Spinner of U. S. Treasury and Mrs. Three ladies got terribly wet, jolly time ..Sailed from Liverpool today at 4 O'clock. A full compliment of passengers and all seem delirious to get to good old America once more. Some Chinese on board bound for China. Wonderful isn't it, going to China by the way of N.Y ..We are getting on nicely, passed a steamer of the Union Line which sailed two days before and now we are coming on a ship going the same way as we ." Mysteriously he stops writing before he gets home, curious given he was very faithful with his writing before this. The diary is a black leather diary with a beautiful deep blue lining that also has wonderful scalloped pockets. It measure about 3" x 6" closed and is in good shape. Full-Leather 64mo - up to 3" tall Manuscript

[SW: Handwritten, hand written, autograph, autographs, signed, letters, document, documents, manuscript, manuscripts, writers, writer, author, holograph, personal, Americana, Travel, Steamer, Steamships, Sea Travel, Voyages, Cruise, antiquite, contrat, velin, document, manuscrit, papier Antike, Brief, Pergament, Dokument, Manuskript, Papier oggetto d'antiquariato, atto, velina, documento, manoscritto, carta antigüedad, hecho, vitela, documento, manuscrito, Papel, MINNESOTA, MNBooks and Manuscripts General Overview 19th Century Manuscript]

Details