We could buy an old phone book
Simply a dream came true when we some days ago could buy this old telephone book torn by Felix Count von Luckner. This became possible only by a generous donation made by our member Heinrich Arens from Erfurt, prior to that Papenburg. Thank you very, very much for donating the money we could use to purchase the book. Thank too to the vendor, Ms. Andrea L., for reducing the price especially for us. We most appreciated both.
The official telephone directory of the city of Hamburg from 1955 was torn by von Luckner the same year, which affirms a decication and signature made by the Count himself. We are very happy about that acquisition!
 Phone book, torn by von Luckner / von Luckner zerrissenes Telephonbuch |
 Affirmation of originality by the Count himself / Echtheitsbestätigung von Luckner persönlich |
 “Bound by the Oberpostdirektion Hamburg, torn by me, v. Luckner, Sea Devil” |
Renovation of “von Luckner Vault” goes on
The work to get our “von Luckner Vault” finished is proceeding. Outside Lutz Breternitz and Egon Finke did an important job, because in the past we had the problem that during severe rains water came in. Now they tried to protect us from such damages in the future and at the moment I am waiting for the next rain to test the result of their work.
 Lutz Breternitz and Egon Finke helped / halfen. |
 What they had to do / Was zu tun war |
 Result of their work / Ergebnis der Arbeit |
Inside our treasurer Hans-Jürgen Krasselt worked with Peter Andre and put in a new carpeted floor and alone he revised the furniture which in the past our member Wilfried Hohl had donated and which we now can use. Now you can almost live in the rooms. In one picture you can see the beam, Hans-Jürgen has designed and the perfect plaster, we got done by a craftsmen mediated by Peter Andre, the plaster done like in an old castle!
 We will get the furnitures in / Die Möbel werden nun eingebaut |
 Small exhibition for the upcoming meeting / Kleine Ausstellung für das Herbstfest |
 The beam designed by H.-J. Krasselt / Der von H.-J. Krasselt gestaltete Balken |
We are so happy about the progress, thanks to all who are helping.
Donation of an autographed book “Seeteufel”
Mr. Rüdiger Lücke from Garbsen donated the book “Seeteufel”, edition 1926. Von Luckner autographed it. Furthermore, there is a seal inside from his “Good Will Mission” with the ship “Vaterland” in the late 20ies. An autographed picture postcard was in the book too. Thank you very much. We most appreciate your donation.
 Mr. Lücke donated this old book / Herr Lücke spendete dieses alte Buch. |
 Book and card are autographed / Buch und Karte mit Autogramm |
von Luckner with the Vanderbilt’s
In his book “Aus 70 Lebensjahren” von Luckner informs to be a gardener with the Vanderbilt’s in New York City during his youth.
Von Luckner even mentiones details. He met George who watched him boxing, and learned his aunt and uncle, the Vanderbilt’s. Von Luckner mentiones the home of that family at 5th Avenue near 58th Street. And for some time von Luckner had worked as a gardener in their home getting 150 $ afterwards.
We did researches!
And we even found pictures of the home of the Vanderbilt’s exactly at the place where von Luckner talked about. More information about “The little Chateau” you will find here…
Thanks to Tom Miller to share his knowlegde with us and to give advices how to use and credit the pictures.
 Home of the Vanderbilt’s in Manhattan 58th Street / Das Haus der Vanderbilt’s in Manhattan an der 58. Straße (photo NYPL Collection) |
 Le petit Chateau (photo NYPL Collection) |
Almost nothing has left. The “Petit Chateau” of the Vanderbilt’s went almost without leaving any trace in 1926. For us of interest is one of the gates. This is now to be found at “Conservatory Garden” at Central Park. This will be one of the places in our intended “Count von Luckner Trail” which will be organised worldwide and include points of interest which can be brought into connection with the Count. Probably Felix went through this door. Of course that door has to be “in”.
The gate to Vanderbilt’s home remained at Central Park / Das Tor zum Anwesen der Vanderbilts blieb erhalten und steht heute im Central Park (photo centralparknyc.org)
Visit of Lenore Bahns-Meyer
Within the home of the President
Sunday June 24, Lenore Bahns-Meyer and her husband came visiting us. They just dropped off her plane in Berlin and went on a train just to be a few hours in the city, that was a home for Felix Count von Luckner and was saved by him in 1945 from being destroyed. Of course, the visitors from overseas wanted to see the von Lucker Museum, that means parts of the collection, at the moment safely stored at the von Luckner Room at the President’s home.
Lenore. who together with John Fasulo, founded the “American Contingent” of our society, was very happy that Peter Rüdiger and the President Matthias J. Maurer, showed some treasures and told stories. The guests alsmost had to be thrown out to have some time to give them any impression of the von Luckner City Halle.
Awesome our guests stood in front of von Luckner’s home in Halle, on the Campus of our University, the place in front of the Halle Cathedral, Haendels birthplace and, of course, in front of the von Luckner Plaque on Market Place which had been unveiled just some months ago. This plaque is a sign of appreciation to the savors of the town.
Lenore and Henry left Halle in rain, but happy and promised to come again.
Thank you very much for your visit, we appreciate this very much, and this how we understand our international society. We got a lot of ideas and we well get them done!
Unknown canvas – S.M.S. Seeadler – Sea Eagle
Canvas of the Sea Eagle by Wilhelm Busse / Gemälde der Seeadler von Wilhelm Busse
Already in 2009 we got a message that there is an unknown picture of von Luckner’s legendary ship “Seeadler” (Sea Eagle).
The owner, Mr. Hilbert P., contacted us asking for help concering a restoration of that canvas, painted by Wilhelm Busse in 1923.
In the end we could not be of help in that issue, but now we got the information that the owner himself could get the restoration done, we were happy about that.
It is of certain interest, that Count von Luckner signed the picture on the front. On the back von Luckner once more confirmed to have signed the canvas personally, this in 1928 in his hometown Halle. Unfortunately, we do not know anything about the artist Wilhelm Busse.
The painting is a little bit similar to that of Christopher Rave, the most famous one of the “Seeadler”. The ship is tending to the right side and is in full speed.
Perhaps someone can help with further information about Wilhelm Busse or the canvas, we are happy on every information.
Please contact us under info@luckner-society.com.
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 Back of the canvas / Rückseite des Gemäldes |
 Von Luckner's authentication / Luckners Bestätigung |
