Leather checkbook issued by North German Lloyd for travellers' checks. N.d., ca. 1906 to 1914.
Entry/Object ID
2013.005.0211
Description
Leather checkbook issued by North German Lloyd for travellers' checks. No date, circa 1906 to 1914.
Hoboken was the American home port at this time for NGL.
Black leather portfolio (item could also be called a wallet) with North German Lloyd Steamship Co. insignia stamped on cover, 4" wide x 6-1/4" high; interior tan leather and cloth with two pockets; imprinted on lefthand panel as below in English only:
North German Lloyd
Travelers' Checks
In case of loss notify at once
North German Lloyd, Bremen.
Oelrichs & Co., 5 Broadway, New York.
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Early date of issue is based on full-page article in the August 1906 issue of the North German Lloyd Bulletin, page 5 (Volume XXII, No. 2) which discusses the checks in detail and shows a picture of one. This may have been the beginning of this service for its passengers and other who were travelling. Promotional ads appear in later issues, but it has not been seen in earlier ones.
In the 1906 example shown, they were issued in U.S. Dollar amounts and the check showed the equivalent value in the currency of several other countries (although it was not stated as exchange rates.) See reference image of the page with the check.
Late date is the beginning of World War I in Europe. References have been seen that indicated the checks were heavily discounted because of uncertainties about them being honored during the war.
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traveler / travellers / ticket
Acquisition
Accession
2013.005
Source or Donor
Lukacs, Claire
Acquisition Method
Gift
Credit Line
Museum Collections. Gift of a Friend of the Museum.
Made/Created
Date made
1906 - 1914
Notes
Date: 1906-1914
General Notes
Note
Notes: PDF on file of North German Lloyd Bulletin 1905-1907
Title: North German Lloyd Bulletin, Volumes 19-22
Contributor: North German Lloyd Steamship Line
Publisher: Gustav H. Schwab, 1905
Original from the New York Public Library
Digitized: Aug 26, 2010 Google
URL: http://books.google.com/books/about/North_German_Lloyd_Bulletin.html?id=A3hQAAAAYAAJ
Status: OK
Status By: dw
Status Date: 2013-09-13
