WWI German Navy Postcard Collection

This is the catalog page for a collection of 380 the German Imperial Navy (Kaiserliche Marine) postcard that have been scanned, transcribed, translated, and cataloged. The images on the postcards, which are mostly of ships, range in date from the mid 1850’s to the 1910’s. Most were written by Ernst Franke between 1914 and 1917, and send to Charlotte Fink (“Lotte”), whom Ernst later married.

The German Imperial Navy (Kaiserliche Marine) Postcard Collection Browser is also available for searching, filtering, browsing, and sorting postcards. However, it may not always contain the most recent additions.

There are about 250 different ships, and about 50 postcards that can be categorized as “miscellaneous navy life.” Ernst kept the following list of ships in the collection:

Additionally, there are scans of some of Ernst’s original pencil sketches, as well as some of his other souvenirs.

Set 1: 7 ships, 1 art S.M.S. Deutschland, Linienschiff; Torpedoboot V. 187; Torpedoboot G. 169; Torpedoboot V. 188; S.M.S. Kronprinz; S.M.S. Komet; (art); Unterseeboot U 29, U 9 (submarines)
Set 2: 6 ships, 1 art, 1 other S.M.S. Moltke; Unsere Marine – Geschutsexerzieren der Fahnriche; Hamburg II; (art) Einer von der Bau-ch-Division; S.M.S. Kondor; Am Vulkan Stettin; S.M.S. Seydlitz, Panzerkreuzer; S.M.S. Hela
Set 3: 4 people, 4 ships (1 duplicate) Fregattenkapitain von Muller; Kapitanleutnant von Mücke; Kapitanleutnant Otto Weddigen; Kapitanleutnant Weddigen; S.M.S. Seeadler; S.M.S. Scorpion, Panzerkanonenboot; S.M.S. Schwalbe (twice)
Set 4: 8 ships S.M.S. Sophie, Segel-Fregatte; Depeschenboot Sleipner; S.M.S. Sperber; S.M.S. Stein; S.M.S. Thetis; S.M.S. Stosch; S.M.S. Straßburg; S.M.S. Stralsund
Set 5: 2 ships, 4 submarines, 2 others S.M.S. Thuringen, Linienschiff; S.M.S. Thuringen, Vordere Steuerbordseite, schwere Artillerie; Unsere Marine – Im Ruderkutter; Torpedoboots – Manover; Unterseeboot unter wasser (underwater submarine); Unterseeboot beim Austauchen in voller Fahrt; Unterseeboot unter wasser; Unterseeboot beim Untertauchen wahrend der Fahrt
Set 6: 8 ships S.M.S. Wurttemburg; S.M.S. Wolf; S.M. Linienschiff Worth; S.M. Linienschiff Wittelsbach; S.M.S. Vineta – Grosser geschutzter Kreuzer; S.M.S. Vineta (1863); S.M.S. Vorwarts, Flusskanonenboot; S.M.S. Vulkan
Set 7: 8 ships S.M.S. Falke, Radaviso; S.M.S. Konig Wilhelm, Panserfregatte; S.M.S. Taku, Torpedoboot; S.M.S. Thetis, Segelfregatte; S.M.S. Kurfurst Friedrich Wilhelm; S.M.S. Kaiser Wilhelm II; S.M.S. Wettin; S.M.S. von der Tann
Set 8: 4 ships, 4 submarines S.M.S. Prinzess Wilhelm, Kreuzer-Korvette; S.M.S. Konig Wilhelm; S.M. Linienschiff Kaiser WIlhelm der Grosse; S.M.S. Wacht, Aviso; Unterseeboot klar zum tauchen; Unterseeboot U 1; Unterseeboot U 8; Unterseeboot U 9
Set 9: 8 ships S.M.S. Augusta, Korvette; S.M.S. Arcona, Fregatte; S.M.S. Amazone, Korvette; S.M.S. Cyclop, Kanonenboot; S.M.S. Carmen; S.M.S. Carola; S.M.S. Friedrich Carl; S.M.S. Bussard
Set 10: 8 ships S.M.S. Brummer; S.M.S. Breslau; S.M.S. Blucher; S.M.S. Brandenburg; S.M. Grosser Kreuzer Furst Bismarck; S.M.S. Beowulf; S.M.S. Bayern; S.M.S. Kaiser Barbarossa
Set 11: 8 ships S.M.S. Baden; S.M.S. Kaiserin Augusta; S.M.Kl. Kreuzer Arkona; S.M.S. Ariadne, Korvette; S.M.S. Ariadne am 18. Aug. 1914 im Seegefecht bei Helgoland gesunken; S.M. Panzerkreuzer Prinz Adalbert; S.M.S. Adler, Kanonenboot; S.M.S. Aegir
Set 12: 8 ships S.M.S. Albatross; S.M.S. Alexandrine; S.M.S. Drache;
S.M.S. Delphin; S.M.S. Cormoran, Kl. Kreuzer; S.M. Kleiner Kreuzer Coln; S.M.S. Freya, Korvette; S.M.S. Freya
Set 13: 8 ships S.M.S. Frauenlob; S.M.S. Falke; S.M. Kleiner Kreuzer Geier; S.M.S. Gefion; S.M. Kleiner Kreuzer Gazelle; S.M.S. Fuchs; S.M.S. Frithjof; S.M.S. Friedrich der Grosse
Set 14: 8 ships S.M.S. Friedrich der Grosse Turbinenlinienschiff 25000 tons; S.M.S. Grille (yacht); S.M.S. Grille; S.M.S. Greif; S.M.S. Blitz; S.M.S. Amazone; S.M.Kl. gesch. Kreuzer Danzig; S.M. Linienschiff Kaiser Friedrich III
Set 15: 8 ships S.M.S. Berlin; S.M.S. Dresden; S.M.S. Elsass; S.M.S. Goeben; S.M.S. Bremen; S.M.S. Braunschweig; S.M.S. Augsburg; S.M.S. Emden
Set 16: 8 ships S.M.S. Friedrich Carl, Panzerkreuzer; S.M.S. Blucher, Panzerkreuzer; S.M.S. Konig Albert Linienschiff; S.M.S. Friedrich der Grosse, Flottenflaggschiff; S.M.S. Gneisenau; S.M.S. Musquito, Schiffsjungen-Brigg; S.M.S. Niobe, Kadetten-Schulschiff; S.M. Schulschiff Nixe
Set 17: 8 ships S.M.S. Rower; S.M.S. Charlotte; S.M.S. Zieten; S.M. Vermessungsschiff Mowe; S.M.S. Schneewittchen; S.M.S. Natter; S.M.S. Mucke; Art.-Schulschiff Mars
Set 18: 8 ships S.M.S. Marie; S.M.S. Habicht, Kanonenboot; S.M.S. Hay, Tender; S.M.S. Hay; S.M.S. Hansa, Panzerfregatte; S.M.S. Jagd; S.M.S. Tsingtau; S.M.S. Nautilus
Set 19: 8 ships S.M.S. Planet; S.M. Minenschiff Pelikan; S.M.S. Otter; S.M.S. Meteor; S.M. Kl. Kreuzer Medusa; S.M. Kanonenboot Iltis; S.M.S. Pfeil; S.M.S. Siegfried
Set 20: 8 ships S.M. Kanonenboot Eber; S.M. Linienschiff Schwaben; S.M.S. Kaiseradler; S.M. Linienschiff Kaiser Karl der Grosse; S.M.S. Moltke; S.M.S. Luchs; S.M.S. Hagen; S.M.S. Hildebrand
Set 21: 8 ships S.M.S. Prinz Heinrich; S.M.S. Heimdall; S.M.S. Irene; S.M. Kanonenboot Jaguar; S.M.S. Kaiser; S.M.S. Nautilus; S.M.S. Niobe; S.M. Kleiner Kreuzer Nymphe
Set 22: 8 ships S.M.S. Oldenburg; S.M.S. Odin; S.M.S. Olga; S.M. Kanonenboot Panther; S.M. Kl. gesch. Kreuzer Mainz; S.M. Kl. gesch. Kreuzer Nürnberg; S.M.S. Karlsruhe; S.M. Panzerkreuzer Roon
Set 23: 8 ships S.M.S. Undine, Schiffsjungen-Brigg; S.M.S. Hela, Schiffsjungen-Brigg; S.M.S. Renown, Art.-Schulschiff; S.M.S. Hertha, Fregatte; S.M.S. Elisabeth, Fregatte; S.M.S. Gefion, Segelfregatte; S.M.S. Gazelle, Korvette; S.M.S. Loreley, Stationsyacht
Set 24: 7 ships, 1 scene Torpedoboot “Scharf”; S.M.S. Vaterland, Flusskanonenboot; S.M.S. Leipzig, Kreuzer-Frigatte; S.M.S. Pommerania, Radaviso; Schlachtflotte in Kieler Hafen; Königliches Schloß mit S.M.S. Carmen; Kriegsflotte; S.M.S. Prinz Adalbert, Kreuzer-Fregatte
Set 25: 8 ships S.M.S. Westfalen; S.M.S. Mecklenburg; S.M.S. Posen; S.M.S. Stuttgart; S.M.S. Stettin; S.M.S. Königsberg; S.M.S. Hamburg; S.M.S. Hannover
Set 26: 4 ships, 4 navy life S.M.S. Nürnberg; S.M.S. Lothringen; S.M.S. Helgoland; S.M.S. Lübeck; Unsere Marine: Salon des Kommandanten (Commander’s Salon); In der Küche (In the kitchen); Im Heizraum (In the boiler room); Schlachtfest an Bord (Slaughter on board)
Set 27: 8 navy life Unsere Marine: Seekadettenmesse (Midshipman’s mess); Tauspleissen (??); Im Schiffslazarett (Ship’s infirmary); Geschützexerzieren (Artillery drill); Gewehrreinigen an Bord (Rifle cleaning on board); Beim Segelaufrollen (At ??); Der Barbier an Bord (The barber on board); S. Majestät der Kaiser an Bord (His Majesty the Emperor on board)
Set 28: 8 navy life Unsere Marine: Freizeit (Free time); Musikkapelle an Bord (Band on board); Bei Tanz und Spiel (In dance and play); Kohlenübernahme (Kohl acquisition); Löhnung an Bord (Play on board); Signaldienst (Signal service); Besuch an Bord (Visitors on board); Landung der Sonntagsurlauber (Landing for Sunday Holiday)
Set 29: 5 submarines, 3 other Die Unterseeboote U 16, U 17, U 18 und 19 in der Schlense; Unterseeboot U 21 versente am 5.9.1914 den englischen Kreuzer “Pathfinder”; Unterseeboot U 26 vernichtete am 11.10.1914 den russischen Panzer-Kreuzer “Pallada”; Unterseeboot U. 25; Abschuß eines Torpedos; Mit einem solchen Torpedoschuß wurden dei drei englischen Panzerkreuzer “Aboukir”, “Hogue” und “Cressy” in den Grund geschossen.; Torpedoboot S. 148 in der Nordsee bei Windstärke 12 (Orkan); Torpedoboot S. 146 in Sturm; Unterseeboot U. 23
Set 30: 4 submarines, 4 yachts Unterseeboot “U 12” auf hoher See, am 11. März 1915 gesunken; Unterseeboot U. 15 am 5.9.1914 gesunken; Unterseeboot: “U.9.” brachte am 22.9.14. nordwestlich von “Hoek van Holland” die 3 engl. Panzerkreuzer “Aboukir,” “Hogue” und “Cressey” zum Sinken; Blick in den Motorenraum eines Unterseebootes.; Orion; I.M. Yacht Iduna.; S.M. Yacht Meteor.; Die Neue Kaiseryacht “Meteor”
Set 31: 7 ships, 1 yacht Margherita.; S.M.S. Hyäne. Vermessungsschiff.; S.M.S. Moltke, schwere Heckgeschütze; S.M.S. Nassau.; S.M.S. Friedrich der Grosse, Backbordseite.; S.M.S. Prinzregent Luitpold. Schwere Heckgeschütze; S.M.S. Goeben Bugansicht; S.M.S. Prinzregent Luitpold. Schwere Heckgeschütze (duplicate)
Set 32: 8 ships S.M.S. Nassau.; S.M.S. Victoria Luise. Grosser geschützter Kreuzer.; S.M.S. Kaiser, Linienschiff; S.M.S. Hertha. Grosser geschützter Kreuzer.; S.M. Yacht Hohenzollern,; S.M.S. Hansa. Grosser geschützter Kreuzer.; S.M.S. Prinzregent Luitpold. Linienschiff.; S.M.S. “Markgraf”
Set 33: 8 ships S.M.S. “König”; S.M.S. Kaiserin. Linienschiff.; S.M.S. “Grosser Kurfürst”; Russisches Kanonenboot “Chiwinetz”.; S.M.S. Rheinland, Heckansicht; S.M.S. Hessen, Heckansicht,; Vorderschiff S.M.S. Lothringen.; S.M.S. Goeben Steuerbordseite Schwere Heckgeschütze.
Set 34: 8 ships S.M.S. Rheinland, Steuerbordseite.; S.M.S. Helgoland, Bugansicht.; S.M.S. Dresden, Bugansicht.; S.M.S. Ostfriesland, Bugansicht; S.M.S. Ostfriesland; S.M.S. Preussen. Linienschiff.; S.M.S. Pommern. Linienschiff.; S.M.S. Oldenburg.
Set 35: 8 ships Das I. Geschwader geht in See.; S.M.S. München. Kl. gesch. Kreuzer.; S.M.S. Kolberg under der Grünthaler Hochbrücke; S.M.S. “Leipzig”; S.M.S. Schlesien under der Rendsburger Hochbrücke; S.M.S. Schleswig Holstein. Linienschiff.; S.M.S. Yorck. Panserkreuzer.; S.M.S. Seydlitz. Schwere Artillerie.
Set 36: 4 ships, 4 scenes S.M.S. Kaiser. Schwere 30.5 cm Buggeschütze, Kommandobrücke, Torpedofangnetze.; S.M.S. Elsass. Auf Deck, Backbordseite. 15 cm Geschütze.; S.M.S. Preußen, Mittlere Artillerie.; Nach dem Angriff auf die Dardanellen. Ein beschädigter feindlicher Kreuzer zur Reparatur in Malta.; Kiel. Kriegshafen.; Die Küstenpanzer in See gehend; Die am 6. und 17. Oktober 1914 in der Nordsee gesunkenen Torpedoboote S. 115, S. 116, S. 117, S. 118 and 119.; Das englische Linienschiff “FORMIDABLE” wurde an 1. Januar 1915 durch ein deutsches Unterseeboot zum Sinken gebracht
Set 37: 8 scenes Der deutsche Seekrieg 1914: Die deutschen Kreuzer “Stralsund” und “Straßburg” vernichten ein englisches Unterseeboot; Der deutsche Seekrieg 1914: Beschießung des russischen Kriegshafens Liebau durch S.M.S. “Augsburg” Gefecht mit einem russischen Kreuzer; Der deutsche Seekrieg 1914: S.M.S. “Goeben” und “Breslau” beschießen algerische Hafenplätze; Der deutsche Seekrieg 1914: Die Todesfahrt “Königin Luise”. Untergang des englischen Kreuzers “Amphion”; Der deutsche Seekrieg 1914: S.M.S. “Königsberg” in Kampfe mit dem englischen Kreuzer “Pegasus” vor Sansibar.; Der deutsche Seekrieg 1914: Das Deutsche Mittelmeergeschwader S.M.S. “Goeben” und “Breslau” durchbrechen das vor dem Hafen von Messsina auf der Lauer liegende englische und französische Geschwader; Landungsmanöver der Helgoland-Besatzung.; 1 und 2 Geschwader und kleine Kreuzer im Keiler Hafen.
Set 38: 5 ships, 3 submarines Salut S.M.S. Hertha u. Wittelsbach vor Vangenaes in Norwegen Zur Einweihung des Frithjof-Denkmals.; S.M. Unterseeboot 22.; S.M. Unterseeboot 20.; S.M. “Unterseeboot 24” vernichtete am 1. Januar 1915 das englische Linienschiff “Formitable” vor Plymouth.; S.M.S. Scharnhorst; S.M.S. Schlesien; S.M.S. Rheinland; S.M.S. Undine
Set 39: 8 ships S.M.S. Hessen; S.M.S. Moltke; S.M.S. Kolberg; S.M.S. Königsberg; S.M.S. Rostock.; S.M.S. Magdeburg.; S.M.S. Gneisenau; S.M.S. Zaehringen
Set 40: 5 people, 3 drawings Kapitanleutnant von Berckheim; Graf Haeseler der älteste General der deutschen Armee.; ?? Tirpitz (?); ?? Zeppelin (?); ??? (Portrait of Prinz Heinrich von Preussen); Vas bischt? — Artillrischt! Was machscht? — Kartusch bum bum!; Auf dem Schleifstein; Kick, door kommt min Soon, wenn ik blood bie dei Ehrenbetügung nich rinnfall’n dou!
Set 41: 8 cartoons Das Päckchen!; “Blauen Heinrich!”; “Erbsen mit Speck.”; Der Walfisch. Kleine Augen, grosse Fresse und immer in Tran; Der Englishman. Das Suchen nach deutschen Unterseebooten macht mich viel Wasser saufen.; Ich jeh nach Flandern zu die andern!; Alarm! — und wo ist meine Mütze?; Das Marinefluchzeug
Set 42: 4 ships, 2 cartoons, 2 drawings Das Schälen bekannter Südfrüchte; Windstärke 10; Der Decksbauer, Der Smutt, Die Nummer 1; Das Unterseeboot, uns’rer Feinde Schrecken, Ist für das schärfste Rohr kaum zu entdecken. Doch wird ihm selbst als helles Spiegelbild In weitem Umkreis jedes Schiff enthüllt; S.M. Panzerkreuzer Gneisenau; S.M.S. Tiger; S.M.S. Sachsen; S.M.S. Deutschland
Set 43: 6 paintings, 2 drawings Kiel. Kriegshafen mit dem I. u. II. Geschwader; (art); (art); (art); Küstenwacht; Küstenwacht; Getauchtes Unterseeboot in englischen Gewässern.; “Kiautschou mit der Außenreede und dem Hafen – Kapitän z. See Meyer-Waldeck, Gouverneur von Kiautschou-Tsingtau. – “Einstehe für Pflichterfüllung bis aufs Äußerste”
Set 44: 5 ships, 3 scenes Kiel. S.M.S. Victoria Louise under der Hochbrücke bei Levensau; Kiel – Kriegshafen; Die ehemalige schleswig-holsteinsche Flottille in Kieler Hafen; S.M. Minenschulschiff Rhein; S.M.S. Neptun.; S.M.S. Preußen, Panzerfregatte; (Schulschiff “Ulan” 1876); S.M.S. Bayern, Panzer
Set 45: 4 ships, 4 other Hochseetorpedoboot; S.M.S. Weißenburg in forcierter Fahrt; Torpedoboot G 110 nach der Havarie.; S.M.S. Schleswig-Holstein Bugansicht; Unsere Marine – Auf der Dampfpinasse; Unsere Marine – Auf Posten; Unsere Marine – Beim Baden; Die Benagelte des wehrmals backbordseite in Kiel.
Set 46: 7 art, 1 scene Seemine explodierend.; Der letzte Mann.; Deutscher Schulverein 1880 – Wer nicht liebt und Gesang; der bleibt ein Narr sein Lebelang; Deutscher Schulverein 1880 – Noch ist die blühende, goldene Zeit.; Deutscher Schulverein 1880 – Das schwarz-braune Bier; Am Brunnen vor dem Tore; Muß i denn, muß i denn zum Stadtele (?); Was hab ich denn meinem Feinsliebchen getan?
Set 47: 8 art Deutscher Sommer. (Haystacks in field.); Deutscher Sommer. (Couple moving hay.); Deutscher Sommer. (Haystacks and windmill.); Deutscher Sommer. (Family moving hay.); Deutscher Sommer. (Cutting hay.); Deutscher Sommer. (Kids swimming.); Deutscher Sommer. (Pond an house.); Deutscher Sommer. (Pasture.)
Set 48: 4 art Deutscher Sommer. (Fields.); Deutscher Sommer. (Family moving hay #2.); Deutscher Sommer. (Man cutting hay.); Deutscher Sommer. (Haystacks in field.)

Note: Many special thanks to Axel (“Big A”) and Urs over at Forum Marinearchiv (a German-language forum) for all his transcription and translation efforts. Your work is very much appreciated!!

Technical Information

Files are resized with imagemagick, using: convert *.JPG[1000x1000] -interlace line -quality 85 -gravity SouthEast -font Arial -pointsize 14 -fill black -annotate +2+2 "(c)2010 theFrankes.com" -fill white -annotate +3+3 "(c)2010 theFrankes.com" KaiserlicheMarineZ%03d.jpg

14 comments

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astraltrader [Terry] on October 20, 2009 at 10:50 pm

Alexe – I think your cards are really interesting and the layout is both appealing and professional.
However I honestly feel there is one major flaw which does ruin it for me.
I do not understand why you appear to have chosen to show your postcards at such a small resolution/size.
I am a long time collector of naval warship postcards. I have around 3000.
Many of these I have uploaded to the internet at the World Naval Ships forum where I am a moderator.
I have uploaded them at 300 dpi which is about right for serious historians and model makers to appreciate historical detail.
I would very much have liked to have seen your excellent cards at the same resolution.
If for any reason there is a facility to view these postcards at a larger size that I have somehow missed then I do apologise – but I could not find one.
Best of luck with your project however.
All together they represent a fascinating slice of history.

Reply
1. admin on October 21, 2009 at 4:17 pm
  
  Thanks for the feedback. I’m glad you like the collection!
  
  Currently these scans are about 1/3 the size you’re accustomed to. I chose this resolution because I felt it was a good balance of file size and legibility, and more importantly because I felt that the lower quality would more likely underscore my intent for “fair use” of the potentially copyrighted images in this context — for the historical value.
  
  I’ve never scanned postcards before, so I don’t know what’s fair and what’s not from a copyright perspective — or even if the images are still protected. If I can clarify the rules a bit, I’m happy to consider including larger scans. If you can shed any light on this issue, I’m all ears! …or eyes, as the case may be 🙂
  
  Reply
  1. astraltrader [Terry] on October 21, 2009 at 10:00 pm
    
    Thanks Alexe. Given the age of your excellent postcards then I assure you that copyright will have expired!
    
    Personally speaking I strongly recommend 300 dpi as ideal.
    
    Reply
  2. Michael Wuttke on January 5, 2010 at 2:07 am
    
    hi alex,
    this is a great site!
    i own a reservists jug (sorry, my english is as good as your german) from my great grandpa from 08/11. he served as a boilerman on sms undine. now i’m searching for everything about the ship and the life in the kaiserliche marine before ww1. your cards helped me to learn about life in the navy at that time. personal dates about my “uropa” i hope to find in family books and by the german institution “wast” (whatever it is). “opa jaehn”, as we kids named him, had a hugh tattoo, a sailing ship, on his breast and other tattoos all over his body. his wife was ashamed of this tattoos and so the poor man had to wear long clothes in the hottest summer…
    regards
    michael (herne/germany)
    
    Reply
    1. admin on January 5, 2010 at 10:08 pm
      
      Thanks for your comments, Michael, and I’m glad you like the site. I still have about 60 more postcards to scan and post, and more translations and commentary are coming, too.
      
      You will likely be very interested in another project of mine — scanning a photo album from my Opa’s 1910 cruise to the Far East on Gneisenau. It will take some time to scan it all, but the photos are very interesting!
      
      By the way, I moved your comment to this thread from its original location because it is clearly about the Kaiserliche Marine posts. I think this is probably where you meant to post it in the first place… 🙂
      
      Reply
    2. Dave Sullivan on March 25, 2010 at 1:24 pm
      
      I was very impressed by your collection of Imperial German warships and ask if you are amenable to using several of them in Warship International, the journal of the International Naval Research Organization. If you are agreeable, the images you will hopefully provide will used in our “Captain’s Scrapbook” column, possibly cover art, and for a future article that I am considering on the German Navy, tentatively titled, “The German Navy: From Ironclads to Dreadnaughts.”
      
      I will be happy to send you sample copies of our journal if you will provide me with your street address. I can asure you that the article will be written by experts in the field of German Naval history — the Groener Circle of Berlin, Germany, and you will be prominently mentioned.
      
      Thank you for your consideration.
      
      David M. Sillivan
      INRO
      
      Reply
      1. admin on March 26, 2010 at 7:04 pm
        
        Thanks for the note — I’ll send you an email.
        
        Reply
      2. Michael Bendon on August 21, 2010 at 1:49 pm
        
        Not a comment but rather a question if I may. I read with interest the work done here on this site and understand that the copyright regarding the front of a WWI postcard would have long ago expired but what of the correspondance as this never really was published as such and thus never reached public domain? I ask as I have some postcards I wuld like to do some research on and writing about. Thanks to all and a great site. Michael
        
        Reply
        
        admin on August 22, 2010 at 11:08 pm
        
        Hi Michael — thanks for commenting. I’m no attorney, but my understanding is that the copyright of previously unpublished works lasts for 70 years after the death of the author. Also, the rights pass down to heirs just like other property would. I also understand that there’s a distinction between copyright and property rights: You might, for example, own a public domain letter and post a portion of it online, but you’d be under no obligation to give access to the entire letter or its content.
        
        To be safe, I’d try to figure out who the copyright holder is. If not, look into the “fair use” doctrine, which allows limited use of copyrighted material without permission in certain cases (e.g. some cases of commentary, reporting, teaching, academic, research, etc.).
        
        I hope this helps!
        
        Reply
        
        Michael Bendon on August 24, 2010 at 8:14 pm
        
        Thank you so much for the reply and should I come across anything that may be of interest in this area I will post it to the forum. Thanks again Michael
        
        Reply
        
        Rich Erdmann on December 5, 2010 at 9:11 pm
        
        Very Nice!! I have enjoyed them very much. I hope to build some models of the ships some time in the future (ten year plan, ha ha). keep it up
        
        Reply
        
        Terry Murphy on July 23, 2011 at 9:13 pm
        
        A great collection that I have just come across. I wish you great success with this project.
        
        From my own perspective, I am currently interested in obtaining good photographs for my own collection of the following:
        
        SMS MÖWE Kanonenboot (1879);
        SMS CONDOR (1892); &
        SMS KÖNIGSBERG (1907).
        
        Could you please let me know if you can help.
        
        Yours faithfully
        
        (Dr) Terry Murphy
        
        Reply
        
        admin on July 23, 2011 at 11:20 pm
        
        Thank you for your nice comments. I believe those ships are in this collection — are you looking for higher resolution scans or actual photos?
        
        Reply
        
        Nick Jellicoe on January 31, 2013 at 10:45 am
        
        This is a beautiful collection and really nicely put together. I am writing a history of Jutland in quite some depth and would like to ask you if you could contact me personally. I have really enjoyed looking through these wonderful cards. Thank you. Nick
        
        Reply