U.S. Naval Display, Hampton Roads, Jamestown, Virginia. [Long panoramic printed postcard]

Philadelphia: W. N. Jennings, 1907 Postcard. Fine. Hardcover. Long panoramic printed postcard. 33x3½ inches. "Undivided Back" postcard. Hand-tinted. Unfolded. Small unobtrusive spot to left portion of image. A wonderful unfolded panoramic postcard showing numerous battleships (the Great White Fleet) surrounded by smaller craft at Hampton Roads, Virginia. The card is titled, "Souvenir, U.S. Battleships, Jamestown, Virginia." Sixteen battle ships are shown and named. The 1907 Jamestown Exposition had just begun. President Theodore Roosevelt endorsed the exposition, attended on opening day, and had the Great White Fleet anchor in Hampton Roads before sailing around the world. The "Great White Fleet" was the popular nickname for the United States Navy battle fleet that completed a circumnavigation of the globe from December, 1907 to February, 1909, by order of U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt. Roosevelt sought to demonstrate growing American military power and blue-water navy capability. The hulls of the ships were painted a stark white with gold trimming. This postcard was intended to be accordion-folded into six panels and mailed with only an address (unless one wanted to scrawl something across the front image). Our original 33-inch long postcard has never been folded. It is a hand-colored halftone of the Great White Fleet anchored at Hampton Roads. The image was taken from a photograph. This postcard is also what is referred to as an "undivided back" card (only the address, nothing else) An impressive image and quite rare, most especially in this condition..