The Last Afternoon At Sea

Over the last couple of months I have been slowly scanning my way through a 1925 photograph album I bought on a second hand stall. Entitled "Cruise To The Northern Capitals of Europe on the SS City of Nagpur, July-August 1925", the album contains over 50 sepia photographs our unknown photographer took on a cruise … Continue reading The Last Afternoon At Sea

Who Is Crossing The North Sea?

One of the most difficult challenges with old photograph albums is identifying the albums creator, as - by definition in those pre-smart phone days - the photographer rarely features in the photographs themselves. In the 1925 Northern Capitals album, there is an intriguing series of photographs taken whilst the cruise ship was "crossing the North … Continue reading Who Is Crossing The North Sea?

Northern Capitals 16 : Arrival In Oslo

  The caption under this photograph states "Oslo and the SS City Of Nagpur from the mountains". The camera lens clearly was not up to the challenge: either that or the ship has sunk beneath the sepia waves. This time the caption says "Carl Johans Gate, Oslo - with the Grand Hotel". I instantly recognised … Continue reading Northern Capitals 16 : Arrival In Oslo

Northern Capitals 15 : Veranda Gong

These days on the cruise ships, passengers assemble outside the restaurant doors like expectant gulls following a herring boat, waiting for the doors to be opened. Back in 1925 on our tour of the Northern capitals, things were much more stately: a smiling restaurant steward would bang a gong to summon the guests into the … Continue reading Northern Capitals 15 : Veranda Gong

Northern Capitals 14 : The Look-Out

So here we are, sailing across the Skagerrak in 1925 on the SS City Of Nagpur and here is our look-out. I can't attest as to how good a watchman he was, but he made an excellent subject for a photograph. The look on his face is up there with the Mona Lisa in the … Continue reading Northern Capitals 14 : The Look-Out

Northern Capitals 13 : Flora, Matilda And Reg

We are a third of the way through the 1925 photo album of a voyage around the Northern Capitals and by now I feel as if I am getting to know some of the passengers quite well. I give them names - that's Flora on the right and Matilda on the left. The ship's officer … Continue reading Northern Capitals 13 : Flora, Matilda And Reg

Northern Capitals 12 : Now You See Her

Page 12 and at last we have a clue. The photographs on page 11 and 12 are the same except for the exchange of the ship's officer with the bow tie for the young girl in a chequered dress. The album is unlikely to belong to the ship's officer, but could our mysterious photographer be … Continue reading Northern Capitals 12 : Now You See Her