A Wonderful Singapore Rarity - With Interesting American Provenance.
An extremely flag chart for Singapore, recorded in no other examples, illustrating flags on vessels coming through Singapore during the 1870s.
The chart lists many national and maritime-related flags, including some very interesting examples (Sarawak, Sultan of Selangore, Maharajah of Johore, Straits Settlements, etc.)
The chart was owned by Richard Arthur, an American missionary to Bangkok in the early 1870s.
Rarity
No examples located in OCLC, RBH, nor in general internet searches.
Provenance
Richard Arthur (1845-1921), was born near Chestnut Level, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Lafayette College and Allegheny Seminary, becoming a missionary to Siam in the early 1870s. He lived near Bangkok and Ayuthia from 1871-73, returning to the United States because of his wife's ill health. He went to preach in Kansas in 1883, retiring around 1913. He died in Salt Lake City in 1921.
Flags Shown
The following national flags are illustrated:
- Sarawak
- Sultan of Selangore
- Maharajah of Johore
- Straits Settlements
- Siam
- China
- Japan
- Buenos Ayres
- Chili
- Peru
- Greece
- Brazil
- Mexico
- Sweden
- Denmark
- Turkey
- Italy
- Portuguese
- Norway
- Netherlands
- Vatican City
- Spain
- N. Germany
- Austria
- Belgium
- France
- United States
- Russia
- English Man of War
- English Mercantile Flag
- English Pilot Signal
Seven pennants are illustrated:
- Rabbit & Coney
- New Harbor
- Passed Sultan Shoal
- Man of War
- English Mail
- French from China
- P & O. Pennant
The Following "House Flags of Steamers" are illustrated:
- Patterson Simons & Co.
- Oriental Coal Coy.
- Fair Singapore
- Bangkok
- Peiho
- Rainbow
- P. & O.
- Jardine Matheson
- Royalist
- Apcar
- Boustead
- Japan
- Messageries Imperiales
- Ocean Line
- Telegraph
- Chow Phya
- Sir Bartle Frere
- Netherlands India Str.
- Burmah Line
- Whampoa & Co.
- Diamond Line
- Far East