Ephemera
Embassy stationary yachts in Constantinople
In Ottoman times ambassadors and their attached diplomatic staff were not immune from arbitrary arrest and imprisonment and such fates befell some unfortunate individuals ranging from Andrea Gritti, Venetian merchant and later Doge of Venice (1499–1502) to François Pouqueville, French diplomat (1799–1801) who spent time in the royal dungeon Yedikule Fortress. When war broke out the diplomats of the warring country would at times escape by sea and the stationary yachts partly fulfilled that purpose, the other being a wine and dining venue for important or local dignitaries. The bay of Therapia (Tarabya) half-way up the Bosphorus was the default anchorage for these yachts and on the shore facing these were / are the summer embassies of various European powers with their own extensive grounds. These stationary yachts ceased to be used by the Germans post WW1 and the British / American ones till around the 1960s.
The British Embassy stationary yacht Imogene was for pleasure and in case of emergencies a bolt-hole. The crew were the winners of the first organised football season 1904-5 by the Constantinople Football Club, dominated by the British Levantines of the city.
The Italian Embassy stationary yacht Galileo.
The French ambassador row-boat (caique) probably a hang-over from earlier eras by the time of this postcard.
