1896 - Advertising packet for Frank C. Clark's Vacation Excursion to Europe, 1897

This advertising packet consists of three items: a form letter inviting Miss Emma Weatherbee to reserve her booking of the 1897 excursion, a four-page brochure providing information about the excursion, and the advertising envelope that was used to mail the items to Miss Weatherbee. All in nice shape with mailing folds as expected.

A one-cent, blue U.S. stamped envelope (Scott Type U69) was used to mail these items. It features an image of the S. S. "City of Rome", the Anchor Line Steamer to be used for the "Excursion to Europe, 1897" with the return address for Helen M. Tarr, the 'signer' of the form invitation. The envelope is canceled with an undated, double-oval postmark from Gloversville, New York.

The form letter suggesting that Helen Tarr was personally inviting Miss Weatherbee to join her "Select Private Party" on the excursion.

The four-page brochure is illustrated with an image of the S.S. City of Rome and provides the excursion's route, sailing dates and itineraries for the different tour options: A - the voyage plus England, Scotland, and Brussels, B - an add-on trip along the Rhine and through Switzerland, and C - an additional add-on trip through Italy. It also includes several testimonials from travelers on the 1896 iteration of the excursion, and a map showing the route of the various options including on not listed: D - an excursion to Berlin and Munich.

The cost of the 45-day basic trip, Option A, was $260. The cost of 7-day add-on B was $70, and the cost of the 14 day add-on was $100. So the total cost for the entire trip 66 day "vacation party" including voyage and all option was $430. Sounds like a pretty good dale, however in todays money that equates to $15,400.

I could find no online reference to any Fred C. Clark Vacation Excursions.