Collection of 14 Real Photo Postcards of a Equatorial Line-Crossing Ceremony, Showing Crew Members in Costume as King Neptune and His Retinue, Ceremony Rituals ("Equatorial Baptism," Being Sprayed in the Face), and Officers and Sailors in Uniform. Ca. 1920s.

Seller: Globus Rare Books & Archives, San Francisco, CA, U.S.A.Globus Rare Books & Archives

5-star seller

AbeBooks seller since February 8, 2023

Association member: ABAAILAB

View this seller's items

Condition: Used

£ 647.74

£ 2.22 shipping 
Ships within U.S.A.

Quantity: 1 available

Add to basket
Free 30-day returns

Item description from seller

14 loose real photo postcards, each ca. 13 x 8 cm (5 ¼ x 3 ¼ in). One image with period pencil caption on verso. Photos mildly faded faded, but overall a good collection of interesting photos. An interesting and lively collection of real photo postcards showing a line-crossing ceremony aboard a US Navy ship, possibly USS Wisconsin, in the 1920s. Line-crossing ceremonies, commemorating one's first crossing of the equator, date back to at least the 18th century. "Perhaps one of the best known and longest enduring traditions is the initiation ceremony of ‘Crossing the line' or ‘Sea Baptism', which takes place when a ship crosses the equator. The first recorded descriptions are from around 400 years ago and its origins remain hazy. There are some suggestions that it formed an important test to ensure the men you were sailing with, and thus dependent upon, were able seafarers. A different interpretation is much more steeped in superstition – appeasing Neptune the god of the sea before ‘crossing the line'. As with any long-standing tradition, there are a wide variety of interpretations; however, some fundamentals stay the same. The sailors who have not yet crossed the equator before must be tried before the court of Neptune, Roman god of the sea, and be shown to be worthy seafarers." ( Royal Museums Greenwich ). The postcards show crew members in costumes (King Neptune, the leader of the ceremony, and his retinue; some men hold kits or signs reading "Painful Parker," "Neptune Barber Shop," etc.), those being initiated sitting on a wooden gangway above a makeshift pool (made from a sail) and being sprayed in the face, and those being initiated falling into the pool (likely the "equatorial baptism"). Some postcards also show officers and sailors in uniform, attending as the audience. Overall, a very interesting collection of photographs showing a US Navy line-crossing ceremony in the 1920s.

Seller Inventory # PE96

Bibliographic details

Title
Collection of 14 Real Photo Postcards of a Equatorial Line-Crossing Ceremony, Showing Crew Members in Costume as King Neptune and His Retinue, Ceremony Rituals ("Equatorial Baptism," Being Sprayed in the Face), and Officers and Sailors in Uniform. Ca. 1920s.
Author
US NAVY - EQUATORIAL LINE CROSSING
Publication year
1920
Condition
None
Binding
None

Globus Rare Books & Archives

San Francisco, CA, U.S.A.

5-star seller

AbeBooks seller since February 8, 2023

Association member:

Shipping rates within U.S.A.

Item5 to 14 business days3 to 6 business days
First item£ 2.22£ 4.07
Delivery times are set by sellers and vary by carrier and location. Orders passing through Customs may face delays and buyers are responsible for any associated duties or fees. Sellers may contact you regarding additional charges to cover any increased costs to ship your items.

Payment methods

  • Visa
  • Mastercard
  • American Express
  • Apple Pay
  • Google Pay

Store description

Globus Books is an independent San Francisco-based bookshop and a member of the American Booksellers’ Association and the Antiquarian Booksellers’ Association of America and has been in business since 1971. It was opened originally by Vladimir Azar as a shop for the Russian emigre public of the Bay Area. A small press operated there in the 1970s under the same name in the same building. Now, 50+ years in business, the shop still occupies the same premises with continued success. Globus Rare Books and Archives is the department within Globus Books that specializes in rare travel and exploration related items from around the world with an emphasis on the Americas, the Pacific and Russian explorers and travellers. Our goal is to seek out and offer rare and unique antiquarian items, including rare books, photographs, photo-albums, watercolors, drawings, manuscripts, archives, maps and prints. Our team has many decades of experience helping to build many institutional and private collections across the USA and the world and we have seen and handled many important antiquarian items and collections. We issue monthly catalogues with the newest acquisitions available for our subscribers. We participate in many US and International antiquarian book fairs. Follow us on social media to receive the latest news and offers. You can browse our collections in person during the shop’s opening hours by appointment : Tuesday to Sunday, 11 to 5.

Association member

  • Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of America
  • International League of Antiquarian Booksellers
Members of these associations are committed to maintaining the highest standards. They vouch for the authenticity of all items offered for sale. They provide expert and detailed descriptions, disclose all significant defects and/or restorations, provide clear and accurate pricing, and operate with fairness and honesty during the purchase experience.

Seller's business information

Globus Books LLC

332 Balboa St.
San Francisco, CA U.S.A. 94118