Note: I am only able to add 24 pictures total. The first picture is the best picture to be able to tell what all is included in the lot.

Original named United States Navy sailor service record group belonging to James Francis Farrell of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This archive documents his naval career from the early 1900s through World War I and later veteran life.

Farrell first enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1902 and served as a Plumber & Fitter / Ship Fitter, an engineering trade responsible for ship piping and mechanical systems. His continuous service record documents assignments aboard several early steel Navy ships including:

• USS Minneapolis

• USS Franklin

• USS Puritan

• USS Castine

• USS Hancock

• USS Maine

Included in the group is an original Honorable Discharge from the USS Maine dated August 19, 1906 at the New York Navy Yard. Farrell later reenlisted during World War I, serving in the United States Naval Reserve Force from August 1, 1917 to December 7, 1918, documented by the included War Service Certificate.

One of the most interesting aspects of this archive is the detailed tattoo descriptions recorded in his naval enlistment documents, including designs such as a dagger and heart, horseshoe, sailor head, star, anchor, clasped hands, and Irish harp along with numerous other tattoo figures noted on both forearms.

Also included are later Veterans Administration documents from the 1950s, including a disability pension award letter and VA hospital appointment form, showing Farrell’s post-service veteran life in Philadelphia.

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Included in this lot

• U.S. Navy Continuous Service Certificate

booklet

• USS Maine Honorable Discharge (1906)/

Early enlistment record (on other side)

with tattoo identification descriptions

• World War I War Service Certificate (1917–

1918)

• Naval Reserve discharge documentation

(1921)

• Naval Reserve discharge documentation

(1925)

• Veterans Administration disability award

letter (1950)

• VA hospital appointment form (1954)

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Historical interest

This group represents over two decades of naval service history, from the early 20th-century U.S. Navy through World War I and later veteran records. Named sailor archives with multiple original documents such as this are increasingly difficult to find intact.

A great addition for collectors of:

• U.S. Navy memorabilia

• World War I militaria

• Sailor tattoo history

• Named military archives

• Genealogical research

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Condition

Documents show expected age wear including folds, edge wear, and toning from storage over many decades. All pieces appear original and are sold as shown in photographs.

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