The cruise collection of Otto Sindelar, a musician onboard the USS Virginia contains one of the finest examples of a silk banner that I have seen.  The banner, shown at right, was kept for the past 98 years in the original paper having never been mounted in a frame or exposed to  light.  The painting shows the 16 battleships of the fleet in Tokyo Harbor with Mt. Fuji in the background.  Otto is pictured in the lifering in the bottom center dressed in his musician's uniform.

The other items in the collection included original photographs of the crew, rough seas, and souvenirs of the return to Hampton Roads.

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Officers of the Virginia

The photograph to the left shows an early cruise photograph of the Officers of the USS Virginia.  At center is Captain Schroeder prior to being promoted to Commander of Second Division in San Francisco.

This group of photographs shows the view of a heavy storm that the fleet went through on October 13th and 14th during their transit to Yokohama, Japan.  The 5th photograph shows the Virginia taking waves over the bow.

As part of second division, the Virginia visited Amoy, China.  The card shown at right, photographed by Walter Stiles, Machinist, Second Class, USS Virginia, shows the championship football game with the pavilion in the background.

The Prudential Life Insurance Company

Arriving in Hampton Roads the Bluejackets were me with a welcome that include advertising.  This booklet from the Prudential Life Insurance Company is one of the early uses showing the Fleet against the backdrop of the Rock-of-Gibraltar.  These booklets were given out to the sailors.  This one was mailed home by Otto on March 5, 1909, canceled onboard the USS Virginia.

This is a great photograph of one of the divisions onboard the USS Virgina.  With the lack of rank or rating on these bluejackets' sleaves, this might be 1st or 2nd Division.  I have looked at it closely thinking that maybe Otto saved this from his early career, but have yet to find him.

Returning to Hampton Roads many sailors took the time to visit a photo studio and create a postcard that they could mail announcing their return from their trip around the world.  

In the case of Otto, he choose to visit the Grandby Art Studio and get a popular card that shows his image in the center and the battleships of the fleet as a wreath.  Acorss the top the words, " Around the World".

To see another example of this card visit the page of this site:  Hampton Roads