A virtual collection of historical documents and objects, related to the registration of ships.
This article compares two Dutch Certificates of Registry (Zeebrief). The first was issued on 24 October 1983 to the cargo ship GLOBE of Groningen: a green linen booklet, filled in by hand. The second is the certificate the Netherlands issues today: three A4 pages, on paper or as a PDF. Both do the same job,…
I recently purchased the Tonnage Certificate of the steamship XXIV MAGGIO at an auction for just over €30. When the envelope arrived from Italy, the document inside had been folded to roughly the size of a postcard. It was slightly stained, torn on the creases, and bore traces of old adhesive tape. To the untrained…
Picture a busy port in post-war Bordeaux. The smell of diesel and salt water hangs in the air. The war is over, but the rebuilding has barely begun. And somewhere in a customs office, a civil servant sits at a desk, uncaps a fountain pen, and begins to write. What follows is a remarkable document,…
Some weeks ago, I purchased a 19th-century lithograph through an auction house. As a specialist in vessel registration and a lover of maritime history, I simply could not resist. The item in question is a magnificent chart titled Pavillons et cocardes des principales puissances du globe (Flags and cockades of the principal powers of the…
As a matter of habit, I am always on the lookout for historical documents related to vessels. When I consult the catalogue of an auction house or a specialised antiquarian dealer, I simply cannot hold myself back from searching for maritime-related documents, whether they are printed or in manuscript form. It is a second nature…
Unpacking the Story of a Vintage Pleasure Craft Document Sometimes, the most unassuming objects tell the most fascinating stories. A prime example is a French Certificate of Registry, or carte de circulation, from 31 March 1976. This single sheet of thick, blue paper, no larger than a pocket notebook, was a passport to the sea…
When you hold a historical vessel certificate in your hands, you’re touching more than just old paperwork. These documents tell stories of maritime regulation, administrative systems, and the everyday boaters who navigated waters under very different rules than we know today. Historical certificates of registry serve as fascinating windows into past maritime worlds. They reveal…
Imagine a dining table, decorated with a unique table runner rich in history and culture. This isn’t just silk fabric—it’s a collection of stories and legacy. In this blog, we’ll dive into the history of a silk table runner made from cigarette silk inserts from the early 20th century, featuring flags from around the world….
If you’re a yacht or pleasure craft owner, you know that every document onboard tells a story—about its history, its purpose, and its legal standing on the high seas. Recently, we were captivated by a unique piece of history from 1970—a Russian-language certificate of registry for a sport vessel. Beyond its vintage charm, this document…
Some time ago, Lorrendraaier purchased two tin canisters, which detail the name of the vessel, the captain, and the firm that issued them. However, it appears that not much is known about the company that distributed these tins online. At least, unless we take a deeper look! by Caitlin Greyling On the canister on the left,…