Great White Fleet postcard - U.S.S. Connecticut, California

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Allen Fanjoy

c. 1908

Overview

Original souvenir postcard featuring a coloured photograph or painting of the U.S.S. Connecticut, flagship of the 'Great White Fleet'. The vessel is travelling from right to left on a fairly calm sea and a cloudy background. Smoke is billowing from one of three chimneys.
The image is on an angle and is surrounded by sprays of flowers on a grey background in the style of crocodile skin. There are two cream coloured scrolls with black writing on the top left and lower right of the postcard. These read 'Greetings' 'From California'.
The card is postally unused. Publisher and printer details are shown in red writing on a buff background.

Historical information

The Great White Fleet was the name given to the group of United States Navy battleships that completed a journey around the globe from December 16, 1907, to February 22, 1909, by order of President Theodore Roosevelt.
It comprised 16 white-painted battleships divided into two squadrons, along with various small escorts.

In May 1908, the U.S.S. Connecticut, the flagship of the Great White Fleet, visited California as part of the fleet's world cruise. The fleet arrived in San Francisco Bay on May 6th, leading a parade of 42 white warships. The U.S.S. Connecticut was met with great enthusiasm, as over a million spectators watched the fleet's arrival. The U.S.S. Connecticut remained in San Francisco from 6 May to 7 July . It arrived in Sydney on August 20.

The fleet visited three ports in Australia - Sydney, Melbourne and Albany - before departing on the next leg of their journey to Manila.

This card is one in a series "Greetings from California' with the same format - a central ship surrounded by flowers - although the angle of the ship varies from one diagonal to the other, with some being level.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-119-RoW00528

Item type

Themes

Defence > Navy
Social History
Transport

Material

Card