The Impecunious Collector, Maritime Division: America's Cup

Volunteer trial race, September 16, 1887, blind stamped E.T. Gerry. Volunteer owner General Charles J. Paine of the New York Yacht Club defeated Thistle and the Royal Clyde Yacht Club of Scotland. The stereoview was taken by Elbridge Gerry ("G" as in "gelt"), the commodore of the New York Yacht Club at the time. His grandfather, once governor of Massachusetts, realigned a congressional district to his party's advantage. To some, the district as changed looked on a map like a salamander or a "gerrymander." The word survived because it never ceased to have contemporary relevance. The stereoview was probably taken from Gerry's Electra. Samuel War Stanton said of it: "A handsome steam yacht...for a number of years the flag-ship of the New York Yacht Club. Palatially fitted up and very speedy."

"Enormous sail area of the superb 90-foot racing yacht 'Reliance,'" Works and Studios, Arlington, N.J., and Underwood & Underwood Publishers, New York City. The winner in 1903. Skipper Charles Barr's third cup win.

"Shamrock III. Challenger of 1903. The Pride and Hope of Sir Thomas Lipton and of the British Isles," Universal View Co., Philadelphia, copyright 1903 by William H. Rau, published by Rau, Philadelphia. Rau was among the leading marine photographers of the early 20th century. He is remembered best for his railroad pictures; nonetheless, he published yearly catalogs of his marine pictures.

"The Genesta, Great International Yacht Race," #4031, B.W. Kilburn, copyrighted 1885. Before the mid-1880's, and before the development of dry-plate photography, commemorative media was likely lithographs or paintings. There were photographs, but developing required cumbersome and immediate attention. The cameras and film were slow. No wonder surviving images were of ships at rest, dead in the water. By the time of the Genesta challenge, the technology afforded stop-action and the luxury of later time developing. The photograph could then realistically record motion and the loss by the Royal Yacht Squadron's Genesta to the Puritan.

"Defender Racing," 1895, #215, Alfred S. Campbell, Elizabeth, N. J., copyright 1896. Herreshoff's yacht beating Valkyrie III.

"Shamrocks I. and III. passing the Erin—Trial Races off Sandy Hook, N.Y., U.S.A," October 1903, Works and Studios, Arlington, N.J., and Underwood & Underwood Publishers, New York City. Erin was Sir Thomas Lipton's steam yacht. He is standing in front of the well-dressed woman. Lipton's intrepid story, his unflagging sportsmanship, has been oft told. He lost in 1899 with Shamrock (I), in 1901 with Shamrock II, in 1903 with Shamrock III, in 1920 with Shamrock IV, and, yes, in 1930 with Shamrock V.

Volunteer, September 1887, blind stamped E.T. Gerry. Volunteer approaching the Ambrose lightship turn, presumably September 27 or 30, the days of the actual challenge races with Thistle.

"International Yacht Race—Struggle between the 'Columbia' and 'Shamrock' [I] for the 'America's' Cup. Oct. 1899," #9697, Keystone View Company, Meadville, Pa., copyright 1899 by B.L. Singley. The yachts can be seen in the distance. The uncommonly near-empty steamboat was apparently engaged by the New York Journal—Hearst's so-called "yellow journal." Benneville Lloyd Singley was a photographer and founder of the Keystone company.

"Bay View," #442, E. & H.T. Anthony, American Scenery Co. Taken in New York City, this photograph of an unidentified yacht, dated July 4, 1860, is at one of the regattas held in many American port cities. This regatta was not sponsored by the New York Yacht Club, then only 16 years of age. There was an interregnum between the America's win in 1851 and the first unsuccessful international challenge, in 1870, to the New York Yacht Club's Magic by the Royal Thames Yacht Club's Cambria.

Vigilant, #95, Comic Series, Children's Pictures, Etc. Who knows why "Comic"? In defeating Valkyrie II, Nathaneal Herreshoff claimed the first of his several America's Cup triumphs.