Diaries and maps relating to the S.M.S. Falke

Out of Copyright. Available for research. Not for loan.

0.18 m. (1 box) + 1 folio poster tube. Diary and maps relating to sea voyage of 1897-1899 aboard S.M.S. Falke. The expedition was for colonial purposes as it visited the Bismarck archipelago, which had been conquered in 1884 as well as Samoa, especially Apia, where the German flag was hoisted on March 1, 1900. The collection comprises a handwritten diary and two maps in German. The diary is concerned with German colonialism in the Pacific and comprises seven exercise books, including two Federal Australian exercise books which feature Federation images on the cover, and a bound volume, edited in 1915, which contains a fair copy of the entries from the seven exercise books. Topics covered include life on board the warship; politics and political aspirations of the Germans; the purpose of the expedition; personalities met during the voyage, and a description of the harbours and islands visited. The two maps are entitled: 'Reisen S.M.S. Falke in der Sudsee', which shows the East coast of Australia to the Eastern half of New Guinea to the East Carolines in the North, Samoa Islands in the East and New Zealand in the South and: 'Grosser oder Stiller Ocean oder Sudsee' which features Port Jackson and a view of Sydney, Asia and Australia.