Today marks the 102nd anniversary of the transfer of the Danish West Indies to the United States of America. Fearing Germany’s advances on Denmark and its possessions, as well as protecting their route to the future Panama Canal, the United States purchased the Danish West Indies. They paid $25,000,000. At the time, the islands were in the most desperate economic situation. […]
St. Thomas 🇩🇰
New Book! ~ Runaway Virgins by Enrique Corneiro
Runaway Virgins I recently purchased this brand new book entitled, Runaway Virgins by Enrique Corneiro. It is incredibly moving! Enrique shared over 250 slavery-related advertisements that he curated from the old Danish newspapers to help shine a light on what life was like for the enslaved people of the Danish West Indies, now the US Virgin Islands. More than 300 specific […]
Newly Discovered Camille Pissarro Painting Up For Auction!
Portrait of a Boy 1852 – 1855 This rare painting is an incredible find! It is a Camille Pissarro painting, truly a one of a kind original by the famed impressionist. It’s been examined first hand by the Wildenstein Institute and authenticated. Camille Pissarro Camille Pissarro was born on the island of St. Thomas in […]
190 Vintage Photographs of the Danish West Indies Up for Auction!
Vintage Photograph Album A rare album containing more than 190 vintage photographs from the Danish West Indies and US Virgin Islands is up for auction! They include photographs from the 1900’s to the 1920’s. This vintage photograph album portrays rare images from St. Croix and St. Thomas on Transfer Day 1917. Also included are images from […]
Colorful Coastal Scene of St. Thomas on Auction ~ 1824
Coastal Scene of St. Thomas So many artists have attempted to capture the beauty of the islands in their paintings. 🎨 Rightly so, the Virgin Islands is stunning! This unique print of St. Thomas is close to 200 years old! Unfortunately, the print sold before I had a chance to share the listing. It was […]
Rare View of St. Thomas From Havensight ~ 1809
View of St. Thomas The auction house of Bruun Rasmussen offers some of the most unique artwork and artifacts from the Danish West Indies. Yesterday, this detailed print of St. Thomas was sold for 3,200 kroner or approximately $528.00 US dollars. It’s a rare view taken from Havensight that you don’t often see. Joseph Constantine […]
Visitor Says Danish Islands Not Worth Millions Paid
Lately, I’ve been reading old postcards and finding it quite entertaining to see what visitors thought about the Virgin Islands. Here’s an interesting one from the early 1920s. Danish Islands “This is the harbor and bay.⚓ There is an X over the castles. Remember when the US paid 20 million bucks for the Virgin Islands? […]
St. Thomas Temperance Society Extolls the Virtues of Abstaining from Alcohol ~ 1911
St. Thomas Temperance Society “Too few men have been given such opportunity for worthy service, and fewer still have made of their sojourn here so useful an interlude between youth and age.” Mr. Orville S. Kean Obituary “As a businessman in several fields, a legislator, a Mason, a government employee holding every position of trust, […]