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ARTHUR GORDON : 1928 - 1929 UNIQUE AND FASCINATING TRAVEL SCRAPBOOK AND JOURNAL OF A YOUNG MAN WITH A KEEN ARTISTIC EYE AS HE TRAVELS AROUND THE WORLD PHOTOGRAPHING HIS TRAVELS AND COLLECTING ENGROSSING POSTCARDS AND COMPELLING EPHEMERA

Folio - over 12" - 15" tall. On offer is an exceptional, thoroughly fascinating and definitely unique scrapbook by a long time seaman, navy officer, and author by the name of Arthur Gordon. It cannot be understated how interesting this document of travel in the late 1920s is. It is in such excellent condition, and absolutely filled with interesting photographs, postcards from numerous contents, and ephemera that lend a tremendous amount of meaning and significance to the documents around it. The scrapbook dates from 1928-1929 right after he graduated from college at NYU. There are probably close to 200 photographs and postcards in this book. Gordon and a friend traveled around the globe for six months via steamship seeking out adventure and this book is the grand culmination of their globe trotting. Many of the photographs, post cards, and ephemera have captions that explain them and often describe the spots visited along with short paragraphs about the journey. The ephemera in the book are also rare and very interesting. Alongside the photos and post cards, Gordon added numerous hotel stickers, luggage tags from ports visited, identification cards from the ship, and even a “Certificate of Vaccination” that “certifies that Mr. Arthur Gordon was vaccinated against Smallpox on Nov. 25, 1928” and signed by the Doctor. However, the two most interesting items of ephemera are probably 1) an original handout from Dollar Steamship line mentioning “100 tins of Opium still hidden on board this ship” and offering a reward of “5 dollars a tin” to those with information, and 2) a very well preserved broadside that warns the passengers to be on the lookout “As there is an organization at this port for the purpose of placing Russian Stowaways on board...”The cover page of the book reads: “Round the World. November, December, January, February, March and April, 1928-1929. Hawaii. Japan. China. Singapore. Ceylon. Egypt. Genoa. Capri. Naples. Venice. Rio de Janeiro. Santos. Montevideo. Buenos Aires.” On the next page, there is a paragraph that sets up the book: “After our return from the Amazon, Howie went to Harvard Business School, Dick began asking himself what was best to do with a year ‘off’, I returned to my writing. On the night of November 12th, 1928, Dick called from Boston to ask if I could leave for Singapore at four o’clock the next afternoon. At four o’clock the next afternoon we left for Singapore, the first stage of the journey being by way of the Overland Express to ‘Frisco. We already had passports and could get what visas we needed in San Francisco. Also I could buy what clothes I needed and suitcases to carry them in.” A little later he writes, “My status was purely social: I was to help Duke enjoy himself until the ways split, then was to continue on my own, which would be nothing new.” All photos and post cards are in fantastic condition and can be removed with no damage. In addition there are five loose photos in the album of Arthur Gordon who apparently posed as a nude model at some point in his life. These photos are quite intriguing, because along with the photos is a photo of a sculpture created by Armenian-American artist Haig Patigian, a very well known personality in the art world at the time. He was an active member of Bohemian Club , serving two terms as club president. He designed the Owl Shrine, a 40-foot high hollow concrete and steel structure which was built in the 1920s to have the appearance of a natural rock outcropping which happened to resemble an owl. Patigian has signed this photo to Arthur, and it seems like the two might have been friends. I also discovered two of the nude photos of Arthur posing for a fairly well know German photographers studio by the name of Bruno Wiehr of, Dresden. I was quite surprised to find this information, but I suppose it makes sense considering Arthur Gordon was also an aspiring author. He most likely spent considerable time in artist circles throughout his life and this is how he ended up modeling. Needless to say the photos have some value on their own. This is a truly exceptional travel scrapbook, in excellent condition and immensely interesting. The ‘wow’ factor is exceptional. (Background: Arthur Gordon had a long career at sea. He joined the Navy in WW I and was a recruiter during the war. He would later serve aboard the USS Oceanographer for four years on the US Coast Survey. During WW II he would write the book "The Years of Peril". Besides serving in WWI and WWII he traveled extensively as a Merchant Marine Officer, and was employed in the tourist industry. After WWI Gordon made two trips around the world and into the Amazon. Gordon also attended Bard College, and NYU finally earning a Master's degree. In 1949 he was teaching classes in writing fiction. He was listed as a Navy Commander in the reserves in 1949 as well. At that time his full time employment was as a Freelance Writer. He published short stories in Argosy and Maclean's Magazine sometimes using the pen name "Arthur Shirt".)NOTE: WE LIST HIS EARLIER 1919 JOURNAL SEPERATELY. SELLER ID OOO2557.. Manuscript. Book Condition: Good

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