In 1977 Chad issued a set of 5 stamps and a miniature sheet to commemorate the LZ-127 Graf Zeppelin flights. The 200F stamp and the 500F mini sheet show the US $2.60 Graf Zeppelin stamp (SG A389) of 1930 and a New York ferry.
The ferry is one of the Merrell class of Staten Island ferries. There were 3 sister-ships built between 1950 – 1951. and their names were Verrazzano (1951), Cornelius G Kolff (1950) and the Private Joseph P Merrell (1951). They were commissioned for sailings between Staten Island and Manhattan. They were double-ended and bigger, better and faster than previous ferries on the route. They were designed by Kindlund & Drake and built by the Bethlehem Steel Shipbuilding Company located on Richmond Terrace in Staten Island, NY. Bethlehem also operated a foundry on Staten Island that specialized in making the ships' propellers for all Bethlehem shipbuilding activities at that time and operated until 1971.
These three double-ended boats measured 290 ft. in length, with a 69 ft. beam, and a hull 20 ft. 10 in. deep. Each had a displacement of 2,350 tons with a draft of 13 ft. 2 in. With three decks and three gangways, the Merrell Class ferries were 23 ft. longer and capable of carrying 700 more passengers than those in the earlier Manhattan Class. Their engines were Steam Six Cylinder Skinner Unaflow and propulsion was a direct drive one shaft the length of ferry.
From the images I have seen only one had Department of Marine & Aviation – New York on its side and that was the VERRAZZANO, named after the first European explorer to pass through Narrows in 1524. (He spelled his name with only one Z !).
The VERRAZZANO has been retired from service and as of 2007 was awaiting its fate.
Images of the ferries can be found at http://www.siferry.com/SIFerry_Photos.aspx - the Staten Island Ferry web-page. Click on the Current and Past Ferries tab then click on the Past Staten Island Ferries tab.
Can any New Yorker confirm the identification ?
Sources - various internet sites.
Peter Crichton