H.S.P. (DATES UNKNOWN) INTERNATIONAL NAVAL RENDEZVOUS. 1893. 29 1/2x41 3/4 inches, 106x75 cm. Sam W. Bowman Lith., Norfolk. Condition B+: repaired tears, restored losses and restoration in margins, image and in corners; restoration along vertical and horizontal folds. The International Naval Rendezvous at Hampton Roads, Virginia, in 1893, was the prelude to two much larger events. In 1890 Congress passed an act stating, "the President is hereby empowered and directed to hold a naval review in New York harbor in April 1893, and to extend to foreign nations an invitation to send ships of war to join the U.S. Navy in rendezvous at Hampton Roads and proceed thence to said review." This unprecedented event would become "the largest gathering of foreign warships ever seen at one time in American waters" (New York Times, March 26, 1893) and it was put together to herald the opening of the Columbian Exposition (World's Fair) in Chicago. "At least 20 nations were invited. Some such as China, Turkey and Uruguay declined as no vessels were available. Haiti was forced to refuse by the fact that it had no navy. For those countries that did accept, the selection of which warships to send became a delicate diplomatic juggling act. When Russia announced it would send five vessels, England promptly added HMS Australia from the Mediterranean station to bring its representation to the same number" (The Norfolk Historical Society, Fall 2006 Courier). This extraordinary poster provides a bird's-eye view of the vast flotilla along with geographical highlights of the area.
