DescriptionLeather checkbook issued by North German Lloyd for travellers' checks. No date, circa 1906 to 1914. Hoboken was the American home port at this time for NGL. Black leather portfolio (item could also be called a wallet) with North German Lloyd Steamship Co. insignia stamped on cover, 4" wide x 6-1/4" high; interior tan leather and cloth with two pockets; imprinted on lefthand panel as below in English only: North German Lloyd Travelers' Checks In case of loss notify at once North German Lloyd, Bremen. Oelrichs & Co., 5 Broadway, New York. ---- Early date of issue is based on full-page article in the August 1906 issue of the North German Lloyd Bulletin, page 5 (Volume XXII, No. 2) which discusses the checks in detail and shows a picture of one. This may have been the beginning of this service for its passengers and other who were travelling. Promotional ads appear in later issues, but it has not been seen in earlier ones. In the 1906 example shown, they were issued in U.S. Dollar amounts and the check showed the equivalent value in the currency of several other countries (although it was not stated as exchange rates.) See reference image of the page with the check. Late date is the beginning of World War I in Europe. References have been seen that indicated the checks were heavily discounted because of uncertainties about them being honored during the war. ---- traveler / travellers / ticket