This volume is a self-published travelog chronicling a 1950 voyage taken by the wealthy Pittsburgh couple Sarah and Alan Scaife. The book details a trip that the society couple took though Africa, the Middle East, and Europe. Much of the journey is by ship, but there are some jaunts by plane and across land as well. As scions of some of the wealthiest families in the United States, Sarah and Alan’s trip is conducted in luxury. The places to which they are admitted, the people that they encounter, and the opinions that they express about these things reflect the affluence to which they are accustomed. Black and white photographs appear throughout to help provide extra detail.
Compiled for and distributed amongst their intimates, only 150 copies were made. This particular copy of the Travelog is number 97 of 150. A card held along a perforated edge sits just before the title page. It is a type written message to the recipient hoping that they find some of the stories amusing as well as asking them not to pass the book around, “making certain that this book does not receive any circulation which would permit those whom we have criticized to read our comments.” The recipient’s name and a “Merry Christmas” have been written in by hand. The book is addressed to “Billy.” Both the front and back endpapers feature a specially drawn map depicting the route of the voyage in red. The map is attributed to Ezra C. Stiles, cartographer.
- Title: Travelog: Notes of a trip through Africa, the Middle East, the Mediterranean, and Europe by Sarah and Alan Scaife January-April, 1950
- Author: Alan Magee Scaife and Sarah Mellon Scaife
- Publisher: Alan M. Scaife
- Place: Pittsburgh, PA
- Year: 1950
- Hardcover
- Length: 96pp
- Dimensions: 6” x 9.25”
- Condition: The small, self-published volume is bound in a deep navy-blue imitation leather with a gilt title. The cover shows some wear along the edges and along the spine. The pages are generally clean. The binding is still tight. There are no tears or extraneous marks. A small crease sits at the top corner of p.9 where it was once folded down. The pages have some foxing. It is most noticeable along the edges and around the title page.