Mauretania (1939) Launch Brochure

Product Description

Very few companies (not even post-war Cunard) produced such lavish launch brochures as Cunard themselves did in the 1930s.  Their three big ships of state all got the top treatment.  Mauretania might have the luxury of claiming the nicest brochure of all.  Sporting 30 pages with three full foldouts — all tied with a silk cord.  The images themselves are all full page and are stunningly clear.  The text is interesting. Here’s an example:  “The standard of comfort in all three classes amazed me; and, speaking hand upon heart, the third class accommodation in this ship is such as will satisfy anyone accustomed to stay in first-class hotels.”  I personally think her first-class was the apex of British Art Deco gone to sea.  QM set the stage, Mauretania perfected it, while QE softened the decor a bit too much in my opinion.  The ship was built by Cammell Laird & Co which astonishingly is still in business today.  I recall Cunard complaining about the ship costing more than estimated and the yard coming back with a reply of “you got a far better ship than the contract, didn’t you?”  Cunard must have agreed!  In excellent to near mint condition with some slight bumping to the corners of the cover.