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Details of The Nansen Spoon, manufactured by Gorham Mfg.Co. to commemorate Fritjof Nansen's 'Farthest North' expedition :
Gorham Mfg.Co. - Providence, R.I. - 1897
One side is marked with the inscription: 'Christiania, June 24th 1893; return Sept. 9th 1896'
The reverse is inscribed with the names of the other members of the crew: Capt. Svendrup, Scott Hansen, Blessing, Mogstad, Jacobsen, Juell, Amundsen, Johansen, Nordhal, Henriksen, Pettersen, Bentzen.
Examples of two souvenir spoons issued by Edward & Son in 1937 and 1938, commemorating the Empire Exhibition held at Glasgow from May to December 1938:
Souvenir Spoons A Fad in Collecting....The New York World
The idea of carrying away from each foreign city a souvenir spoon is a prevailing custom among Americans travelling abroad. When the European trip is ended happy memories of noted cities are brought pleasantly to mind each time the emblematic little spoons are seen. Now the craze for collecting souvenir spoons has broken out in America, and at present it is at the zenith of its success. A foreigner travelling in America can leave half his wealth behind him if he wishes to have in exchange a collection of souvenir spoons. True to the American enthusiasm, we have gone into the spoon idea most effectually. Starting in as copyists, we have so broadened and improved the original idea that it has become truly Americanized. One of New York's most popular silversmiths has a display of souvenir spoons so interesting and varied that hours may be passed in lingering over their beauties. New York is not satisfied with one souvenir spoon. If it had been it would have resulted undoubtedly in a spoon decorated by a composite photograph. But there are several New York spoons. One of the most popular is an after-dinner coffee, with New York engraved upon the bowl, the handle being formed of a statuette of Peter Stuyvesant. The Knickerbocker spoon has a representation of Diedrich Knickerbocker on the handle. It comes in the orange and tea spoon. The Rip Van Winkle spoon has New York engraved in the bowl, the handle being decorated by old Rip Van Winkle and his dog Wolf. Another souvenir spoon of New York is called the "Anneke Jans." On the handle is the face of "Anneke Jans," copied from an old woodcut. This design is principally on the sherbet spoon, which is something new. It is a trifle larger than an after-dinner coffee, and the bowl comes to a point. A New York spoon which could be used either for bonbons or to go with a tea-caddy is rather large. The bowl is made of a silver half-dollar, while a miniature statue of Liberty forms the handle. Philadelphia thinks itself also too historic to have simply one souvenir spoon; so that the people who wish to remember Philadelphia by adding another spoon to their collection can choose between the spoon which has a half-dollar for the bowl and the old Liberty bell on the handle, or one which has the coat of arms for its top, the bowl having a picture engraved upon it of Penn making a treaty with the Indians. The Washington spoon has a picture of the Capitol engraved in the bowl, and the handle is formed of the Washington Monument, while wound around it are beautifully etched laurel and oak leaves, suggestive of strength and glory. Another Washington spoon has a cameo of George Washington in the gold bowl and a penny on the back of the spoon. The handle of the Massachusetts spoon is formed of an anchor, while engraved in the bowl is a picture of the Landing of the Pilgrims, with the date. Every spoon collection must have the witch spoon of Salem, for there are so many interesting stories connected with it. The Lynn spoon has a picture of Moll Pitcher on the handle and the word "Lynn " in black letters on the bowl. Our smallest State is represented by a very historic spoon, for the Rhode Island spoon has a statuette of Roger Williams for the handle and a picture of him fleeing from Rhode Island engraved in the bowl. The Albany spoon is not only suggestive of the capital city, but of the Hudson. Albany is engraved in the bowl and part of the handle is formed of a sturgeon. The other part represents a very jolly-looking picture of Diedrich Knickerbocker offering a toast. Does imagination aid us in hearing him say, "Here's to our capital! long may she prosper!" The handle of the New Hampshire spoon has a picture of Profile Rock upon it. Connecticut has an odd little souvenir spoon in the exact shape of a nutmeg. It is in the after-dinner coffee size and may be of either gold or silver. The bowl is formed of half a nutmeg and the handle is in the form of a branch with a few leaves and a tiny nutmeg for a top. One of the most elaborate of the souvenir spoons is the Hartford spoon. Very finely engraved in the bowl is the Charter Oak. There are three dates on the handle, 1687, 1689, and 1856, and a stag forms the top. From 1687 to 1689 the Charter was hid in the old oak tree and 1856 is the year in which the tree fell. This design on a gold orange spoon is very beautiful. The Niagara spoon has an excellent representation of the Falls on the handle with Niagara engraved in the bowl. The Brooklyn spoon makes a dainty little souvenir. It is generally in the after-dinner coffee size. Engraved in black on the gold bowl is a little picture of the Brooklyn Bridge, and down the handle in black lettering is the word Brooklyn. Many of the souvenir spoons suggest historical facts. But the New Bedford spoon recalls moonlight sails, all-day fishing trips, and many a walk around that quaint old town. Yet this spoon makes the best of souvenirs. All over the silver bowl waves are etched. The handle is in the shape of a harpoon, while on the top is a miniature whaling vessel, very perfect in every detail. All who love the Quaker poet will be glad to add the Whittier spoon to their collection. On the handle is engraved a tiny picture of Whittier's home, and "Haverhill," with the date of his birth, is written in the bowl. There are many spoons which are souvenirs of the houses of the different poets. There are, also, the Grant, Lincoln, and Sherman spoons. Mrs. Cleveland has just added two more spoons to her already large collection. One was the Knickerbocker spoon, the other the Rip Van Winkle. Morgan Dix, in selecting a souvenir spoon the other day, showed his partiality to the old Dutch governor and bought the New York spoon with the statuette of Peter Stuyvesant for its handle. Many of the society women have been puzzling their brains as to the style of case in which they should keep their spoon collection. A good idea for one of these cases is to have a deep sandal-wood box, mounted in gold, with a gold lock and key. Inside there should be three trays, lined with white satin and arranged so that the spoons set in them nicely. The first tray should be kept exclusively for American souvenir spoons. The second for odd little after-dinner coffee spoons having no special significance, but being dainty and pretty. The forget-me-not spoon, with blue enamel forget-me-nots on the handle, should go in this tray; also the spoon made of old coins and the fish-spoon, which has the bowl formed of half a fish, the tail being used for a handle. In the third tray will be foreign spoons, with the flower emblematic of the different European cities upon it. The English spoon has a rose for a handle. The Scottish spoon is decorated by a thistle and the French spoon will have a fleur-de-lis enamelled upon its handle. A good way for the society girl to polish up her history is to get a spoon collection and then to understand it so thoroughly that she can explain each spoon in an interesting way to her different friends.
