The F. Missler is one of the more famous "ghost" ships in emigration/immigration lore. No ship by that name existed.
The confusion stems from the fact that Freidrich Missler was a 19th century travel agent. He was the biggest ticket agent in Bremen who made an offer of passage to emigrants from Germany to America, Canada, South America, and South Africa in the late 1800's and early 1900's. Missler established a good working relationship with the North German Lloyd shipping line.
Missler's ad at left (which I found on the internet) is an interesting piece of immigration history. It is from the Pecirkuv Narodni kalendar - 1900, published in Prague, and appeared on the back page of the almanac and calendar.
In the early 1900's there was a wave of immigration from what is now the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic to America and other destinations throughout the world. Missler's advertisements promoted this immigration. This particular ad features passage to America, Africa, and Australia from the Port of Bremen, Germany.
By 1903 the Austro-Hungarian government was making a serious effort to stem the tide of emigration and passed the Hungarian Emigration Law of 1903. The Emigration Law contained some pretty strong measures to slow the immigration from the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Ads like the one above were banned throughout the Austro-Hungarian Empire. It became illegal to even bring information like this ad into the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
Article 46 of the law states, "Any one who encourages emigration at a public meeting by speeches, or by distributing printed matter or pamphlets, or by exhibiting these publicly, shall be punished with imprisonment for not more than two months, and by a fine not exceeding 600 crowns." In Austria-Hungary, taking Missler's brochure to an inn, meeting place or church and showing it to other people could land you in jail!
A similar ad may have helped my Bohemian ancestors make their decision to emigrate to America or other countries at the turn of the century -- and given them information about making that voyage.
Below is the F. Missler Bremen linen folding ticket and document wallet, given to either Grandfather Jan (John) Zvolanek in 1911, or to his brother Waclav (Jim) in 1914 as they left Bremen, Germany for New York City. I have scanned the front and inside (2 pockets!) of this wallet.
Translation of Polish phrases on inside wallet:Line 1: "Taking passengers"
Line 2: "Fast steamships to America"
Line 3: "House Banking and Money Exchange"
My thanks to my Aunt Belle and cousins Gale Zuest and Darrell Zvolanek - the wife and children of John's oldest son, my Uncle Edward Zvolanek, who were kind enough to loan all of Grandfather's papers for me to scan and share on this blog.
