FAMED BRITISH MARITIME AUTHOR & RESEARCHER

FRANK CHARLES BOWEN

(1894-1957)

& British Politician

CHARLES W. KEY

(1883-1964)

Rare 1929 card signed by both.
 
Frank Bowen devoted his life to maritime research and writing. His interest in ships began as a young boy. He was raised in the port of Ramsgate, where he had ample opportunity to indulge his interest in the sea. As a young man he was employed as a machine valuer, but continued to collect information on ships in his spare time. At the outbreak of war in 1914 he joined the Royal Naval Brigade and fought in the Dardanelles. From 1916 to the end of the war he worked in Naval Intelligence. Although he could not speak German, his depth of nautical knowledge was considered to be vital for the war effort. After the war he became a full time maritime journalist and writer. He lived for a time in London before moving to Gravesend, where he secured rooms at the Customs House. He was a well-known figure on the quayside where he would watch the ships on the River Thames. In the course of his work he acquired a large maritime library and an even larger collection of press cuttings, which soon took over a number of rooms at the Customs House, bound in approximately 1,000 volumes with card indexes. Bowen’s literary output was largely based on this ever-expanding collection. He published over 20 books on ships and shipping including classics like The Flags of the Southern Cross, The King’s Navy, Men of the Wooden Walls, Ships We See, Sailing Ships and the London River, and The Sea, Its History and Romance. He was also a regular contributor to Sea Breezes magazine. In 1954, owing to ill health, he sold his collection to the owners of the Sea Breezes magazine. Subsequently the press cuttings became separate from the indexes. In 1994-95 the cuttings and indexes were re-united at Southampton Reference Library with the wish that the collections be made available to the general public. The collection has since been microfilmed and is available for use within the Maritine Library as the “Frank Bowen Collection”.

Frank Bowen died in January 1957 at the Gravesend and North Kent Hospital, aged 63.


Charles William Key, PC was a British schoolmaster and Labour Party politician. Coming from a very working-class background, the generosity of a family friend made it possible for him to get a start in life and train as a teacher; he entered politics through Poplar Borough Council, and was elected to Parliament to replace George Lansbury. Serving in junior posts during the Attlee government, he remained in Parliament until the age of 81.


 Visit My eBay Store: A BAZAAR WORLD


  Be sure to check out my other items!


Before you bid:3
Read the item description carefully. Make sure that it is what you indeed want.  
Read the condition description. We will try to be as specific as we can.
Read our return policy.  
If you have any questions or require additional information or photos, please contact us through CONTACT SELLER.

After you receive your item:
Open the package and make sure that it is indeed the item that you ordered.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us immediately.

Feedback:
We leave feedback, and if you are happy with your items, we always appreciate positive feedback.  
If you are not happy for any reason, contact us before you file a claim with E-Bay or post negative or neutral feedback.
We will do what we can to make sure that you are satisfied with your purchase.  Let us try to make it right.
If we fail at that, then you can still contact E-bay, give us a chance first!

Returns:
We are happy to accept the return of unopened merchandise within 14 days of delivery. 
When requesting a return please us the following guidelines:
 
A Return Merchandise Authorization Number is required for all returns. (Returns without a RMA are subject to delay or refusal) 
Contact us via email to request a return.
Return shipping charges and arrangements are the buyer's responsibility.
A re-stocking fee may apply under certain circumstances.
Merchandise must be in its original unopened packaging with all parts and accessories. Opened and/or used items are not returnable for a refund. 
Additional charges may apply for missing or damaged parts, accessories, manuals, etc.
Any personal items purchased are not returnable for hygienic reasons if opened.
All returns are professionally inspected before a refund will be issued. 
A credit will be issued to your PayPal account within 5-7 days of the delivery of your return.

Shipping:
We usually ship within 24 hours of your order with exceptions of weekends or Federal holidays. 
(we will ship the following Monday).  The shipping estimates provided by eBay are ONLY an estimate, 
they are not guaranteed times of delivery.  
We are not responsible for USPS or UPS shipping times.  If you need your item by a specific time, 
please contact us for a shipping quote. We will be happy to accommodate you if we can. 

**Global Shipping/International Purchases**
International Purchases are subject to custom fees, taxes, and duties upon receipt.  
These charges vary from country to country and are based on overall cost of the item.
The calculation and payment of these charges are the responsibility of the customer.  
These charges are calculated by eBay and the Global Shipping Program and are out of our hands.

International buyers please note: 
All electronic appliances we sell are manufactured for North American voltage unless otherwise specified, 
and may require modification (voltage converter, plug, etc.) for use outside North America.