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• Conflict / Era: Cold War (1954-1974)
• Original / Reproduction: Original
• Theme / Service: Militaria / US Navy (USN)
• Type: Document / Teletype Tape / EphemeraUp for sale is a remarkably preserved, 100% original and uncut continuous segment of U.S. Navy ticker/teletype tape dating to October 30, 1956, capturing the dramatic opening hours of the Suez Crisis.Unlike common loose clippings, this piece is an unbroken, chronological run of real-time military communications traffic printed directly off a shipboard receiver. It offers a raw, unedited look into U.S. Navy refugee evacuation operations (Operation Safe Haven) as the Middle East stood on the brink of war.The transmission originates from CINCNELM (Commander in Chief, U.S. Naval Forces, Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean) and is routed directly from COMSIXTHFLT (Commander, U.S. Sixth Fleet) to his active Task Groups.Historical Highlights Within the Text:• The Ultimatum: Real-time logging of the historic Anglo-French ultimatum demanding that Egypt and Israel cease fire within 12 hours and withdraw 10 miles from the Suez Canal.• Evacuation Logistics: Detailed capacities mapping out exactly how many civilian evacuees (men, women, and children) could be accommodated across specific warship classes (Carriers: 500, Cruisers: 200, Destroyers: 100).• Military Shorthand & Coordinates: Features operational codes, timestamps (2230B / Bravo Time), typos from fast-typing radio men (ALERANX / ALEXANDREA), and instructions to transfer refugees to amphibious ships.• Sailor Humor: Includes a fantastic piece of human interest where the on-duty operator pokes fun at the night-shift crew, typing: "FOR THE LATE, LATE SHOW CROWD".Full Unbroken Transcript:
"THE LITTLE PAPER , WITH ALL THE NEWS , FIT TO PRINT . THE LATEST COMMUNIQUE - FROM : CINCNELM QUOTE PRESS . REPORT BRITISH AND FRENCH TODAY HAVE . ISSUED ULTIMATUM TO EGYPT AND ISRAEL . TO STOP FIGHTING WITHIN 12 HOURS AND . WITHDRAW THEIR FORCES 10 MILES FROM . SUEZ CANAL X OTHERWISE BRITISH AND FRENCH TROOPS WILL INTERVENE X BECAUSE OF POSSIBLE REACTION THIS PLACES GREATEST . URGENCY UPON COMPLETION EVACUATION . EGYPT AND ISRAEL ASAP UNQUOTE ORDERS . WILL FOLLOW BT . ---------- 2230B CUS 180 SOA 20 TO ARRIVE ALERANX . ALEXANDREA 0600 . ? ? ---------- . FOR THE LATE , LATE SHOW CROWDCCC . FROM : COMSIXTHFLT . TO : CTG 60.1 . CTG 60.3 . . PLANNING FACTORS FOR ACCOMMODATING EVACUEES . COLON CARRIERS 500 CMM CRUISERS 200 . AND DESTROYERS 100 X ABOVE FIGURES INCLUDE . MEN WOMEN AND CHILDREN X EVACUEES WILL . BE TRANSFERRED TO AMPHIBIOUS SHIPS DEPARTING LIFT PORTS IF AT ALL PRACTICABLE . ----------"Condition:
Excellent vintage condition for its age. The paper strip is continuous, securely coiled, and completely legible with strong purple ink. It shows natural, uniform aging/patina consistent with a mid-20th-century paper artifact. Please review the high-resolution photos to evaluate its
physical condition.An exceptional piece for collectors of Cold War militaria, U.S. Naval history, or rare mid-century ephemera.The tape is currently in a flattened roll shape, as pictured, from decades of secure storage. It has been kept safely inside a protective plastic sleeve to preserve the paper and the ink.Shipping & Security: Shipping is calculated automatically by to ensure you pay the exact postage rate for your location. For our mutual peace of mind, I will personally cover the additional costs for full $250 insurance and Signature Confirmation at delivery out of my own pocket. The vintage tape will be shipped safely secured between rigid cardboard to preserve its flattened shape during transit."
