Beschreibung:

TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY] An album of photographs hand-titled "Alva - Cruise through the South Seas 1931." Album containing several hundred original mounted photographs documenting the cruise of the Alva to the South Seas between July and September 1931. Original limp blue morocco. Album sheets 13 1/2 x 10 3.4 inches (35 x 27 cm); the images ranging size from largest 7 3/4 x 6 inches (20 x 15.5) to smallest 3 1/2 x 2 1/2 inches (95 x 65 cm). At front is a manuscript list of the photographs and numerous descriptions in ink throughout presumably in the hand of Consuelo Vanderbilt Earl. A few short tears or creases, binding lightly worn, very good overall. Purchased the year of this voyage, William K. Vanderbilt's yacht Alva was one of the most impressive private ships of its day (see n in this section for a lot depicting the ship's well outfitted interiors). An intimate look-in on life on board with numerous shots of Vanderbilt and his wife Rosa, his daughter Consuelo and her husband, and others fishing, swimming, touring, etc. The opening photographs depict the ship passing through the Panama Canal. In Panama, and other locations visited such as the Galapagos and Marquesas Islands, there are plentiful images the natives encountered, feasts upon arrival, ruins, etc. Within the photographs of French Polynesia are several large format professional quality vintage images of nudes and landscapes in the style of Gauguin. The journey continues with passage through the Cook Islands, Bora Bora, Pago Pago, etc. The cruise ends with a stopover in Honolulu and includes surfing images. The final photographs in the volume are from a 1933 cruise to Java on the "Augustus" and include several pictures of Mexico and Haiti. A remarkable photo-journal of the Alva's first tour with numerous scenes of the Vanderbilts enjoying life. C Estate of Consuelo Vanderbilt Earl