2 Antique 1899 1901 Hamburg America Line SS Pennsylvania Postcards Posted For Sale

Wonderful pair of antique Hamburg-Amerika Linie / Hamburg-America Line postcards featuring the twin-screw steamship SS Pennsylvania, both dating from the turn of the 20th century.These are especially appealing because they aren’t merely ship postcards—they are genuine pieces of transatlantic travel correspondence, written during the era when an ocean crossing aboard a great steamship was an event in itself.Both cards depict the Pennsylvania, identified in German as the Doppelschrauben-Postdampfer “Pennsylvania” (twin-screw mail steamer), with the Hamburg-Amerika Linie insignia. One view shows the Pennsylvania underway at sea; the other adds a wonderfully detailed pilot schooner (“Lootsenschoner”) in the foreground.The earlier card is dated 1899. It retains a beautiful 10-pfennig German Reichspost stamp and multiple postal markings, including a particularly attractive Cherbourg transit mark. The sender writes directly on the illustrated face of the card to “Dear Miriam,” making this a lovely little survivor of an actual Atlantic journey.The second card was written May 26, 1901, apparently while aboard the Pennsylvania. The message begins:“My dear Miriam — I thank you very much for your nice steamer letter…”The writer then says they are near “The Lizard” that morning—almost certainly referring to The Lizard peninsula in Cornwall, a famous navigational landmark for ships approaching or leaving the English Channel—and comments that the passage has been “delightful.” It is a marvelous little firsthand glimpse of transatlantic travel more than 125 years ago.The reverse bears period postal cancellations. Contemporary Hamburg shipping notices confirm the Pennsylvania was operating Hamburg–Plymouth–New York transatlantic service in 1901, carrying passengers and mail. (Img Sub University Hamburg)Condition:
Both cards are postally used with handwriting, postal markings and expected age-related wear. Please examine photos carefully.IMPORTANT: One postcard has been cut/slit from the upper edge downward, clearly visible in the photographs, with an additional angled cut/tear in that area. There is also corner/edge wear, creasing and age toning consistent with cards of this age. The other card shows general handling and age wear.Despite the damage to one card, this is a fascinating matched pair with unusually strong historical interest: Hamburg-America Line maritime history, SS Pennsylvania, early transatlantic passenger travel, German postal history, Cherbourg postal history, and Galena, Illinois genealogy/local history all in one small group.Sold as a lot of 2 original antique postcards, exactly as shown.A small thank-you for shopping with a real person and choosing reuse over replacement. I hope this piece gets to continue its story with you.♻️ Vintage is always a good idea.