Maritime musings

Mark B. Perry on his vast collection of cruise-related ephemera:What would you carry out of a burning building?

Besides my dog Blanche? I’d try to grab the movies. They are one-of-a kind, irreplaceable. When I have a party, nonship people gravitate to them.

Those amateur movies shot by passengers and crew decades ago? What, no “Titanic”?

I’m interested in the story of the Titanic but not the ship. I don’t think it’s a pretty ship. I prefer ships that actually did what they were designed to do — stay afloat.

What items do ship geeks flock to when they visit your collection?

They always want to see the latest films I have. They are quaint and bring the ships to life in a way that documentary films don’t. They see the ships as they were experienced by everyday people.

Where do you get this stuff?

EBay, Christie’s. There are dealers who specialize in this kind of thing: Richard Faber in New York, Don Leavitt of www.nautiques.net, www.cabinclass.com, www.sskenschultz.com, Mitchell Mart in Miami. They sometimes call me, and I tell them I’m going to change my phone number.

How do you choose a piece?

It’s a gut reaction. First and foremost, it has to do with one of my top 15 ships. It depends on what ship it comes from.

Where do the pieces go from here?

My biggest regret about dying is that I won’t be able to attend my own estate sale.

— Lisa Boone