ORIGINAL / AUTHENTIC USS ARIZONA ARTIFACT
Offered here is an incredibly scarce, museum-quality piece of American naval history: an original “Crossing the Line” commemorative booklet from the USS Arizona (BB-39), dated July 1940. This booklet was custom-printed in Honolulu, Hawaii, exclusively for the crew members who survived the grueling equator initiation ceremony to transition from “Pollywogs” to “Trusty Shellbacks.”
This event marked the third and final time the USS Arizona would ever cross the equator. Just 17 months after this booklet was printed and distributed, the ship was tragically destroyed during the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Because the vast majority of the crew’s personal effects and shipboard documents sank with the vessel, pre-war ephemera from the USS Arizona is exceptionally rare.
Condition Details:
This specific copy is in extraordinary, highly collectible condition. It shows only very light age and wear, and the corners remain pristine and sharp. The interior pages are crisp and completely free of any ink, owner names, or signatures—a rare find for a shipboard souvenir. The first inside page shows some minor age spotting (foxing), but the book suffers from no other damage or significant aging.
This specific copy is in extraordinary, highly collectible condition. It shows only very light age and wear, and the corners remain pristine and sharp. The interior pages are crisp and completely free of any ink, owner names, or signatures—a rare find for a shipboard souvenir. The first inside page shows some minor age spotting (foxing), but the book suffers from no other damage or significant aging.
Features:
- Historical Significance: Documents the final equator crossing of America’s most famous battleship.
- Art & Content: Features classic, stylized nautical illustrations of King Neptune’s Royal Court, humorous crew indictments, and historical ship information.
- Crew Roster: Includes the official 1940 roster of the USS Arizona sailors who participated, making it an invaluable genealogical and historical resource.
An absolute holy grail for WWII militaria collectors, naval historians, or descendants of the USS Arizona crew.
