Ceylon, Straits, Java - Netherlands Line

✓ Original - not a reprint!
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✓ 100 days right of return

Rare and very evocative ship poster lithographically printed on stone circa 1935. The poster shows a ship off Hong Kong harbour.

The ship is MS Marnix van Sint Aldegonde. A luxury passenger and cargo ship belonging to the Netherland Line, built in 1930 for the route between Amsterdam and Jakarta. From 21 February 1940 she operated out of Surabaya and was requisitioned as a troopship in Singapore in May 1941. Her mission involved transporting Australian troops from Melbourne to various locations in Asia and Africa, as well as ferrying 1,000 Italian prisoners of war from Egypt to Mumbai. In 1942 she left the Indian Ocean and later participated in the transport of Allied forces for Operation Torch, Operation Husky and Operation Avalanche. The ship's captain, HW Hettema, received the Distinguished Service Cross in January 1943 for successfully destroying two attacking bombers off the coast of North Africa on 9 November 1942.

Loss
On 27 October 1943 she was attacked by German torpedo bombers after entering the Mediterranean; and on the evening of 6 November 1943 she was hit by a torpedo which flooded the engine room. All personnel were rescued by other ships and Marnix van Sint Aldegonde was taken in tow.

The Grace Liner Santa Elena had similarly been disabled by another torpedo in the same attack; and was also taken in tow. The two ships collided while in tow and both sank the next evening.

Designed by Frank Mason.

Condition

8/10 - Tear at the top of the right side, which can be repaired, and some edge tears, but otherwise in perfect condition.

Framing

If you want a frame for the poster, you can choose from all our frames with special dimensions. The poster's 63.5x102 cm is a relatively unique measurement, and the poster a very unique copy that you should protect with museum glass. In addition to being UV protective, it is also the most invisible glass.