Great Perfin Cover

While going through my perfins today, I came across this cover that I bought out of a dealers box for only a couple of bucks.

At first, I couldn't make out the significance of the perfin in relation to the cover, until I looked in to the contents and found the enclosed card.

The perfin has the initials "T.C. / & S." that was used by the Thomas Cook and Sons company. The insert card would appear to be 'personal' usage either by the Cook family or someone with a company offical status to use these perfins (?)

Interesting to say the least.

Chimo

Bujutsu

Thomas Cook & Company was an unparalleled British travel agent for decades, and much more. My guess would be that stamped cards were provided to first-class guests aboard the Vandyck.

That does NOT explain, however, how the card got a New York City cancel on the day the ship supposedly passed through the Panama Canal. Nor could the card have been left in New York (to be mailed) upon departure, as it contains current news of the day, i.e., arrival in Havana. A real puzzler.

Contained at this link is quite a story of the actual cruise and those physicians who were part of it:

http://www.facs.org/fellows_info/bu...bulletin.pdf

A photo of the actual ship arriving in Havana:

Thomas Cook & Sons also had Offices in New York & Chicago so perhaps they came out of the new York office ?

Thanks all for you inputs.

Yes, Thomas Cook & Sons had a number of offices and this cover seems to add more mysteries than answers

Chimo

Bujutsu