Fun Stuff

Van Ryper started his ship-modeling business in 1933 in Martha’s Vineyard. The idea was straight forward — make handmade models in a very recognizable style. The name is famous, and the models are outstanding. But… read more ›

Cunard Line was understandably proud of the wonder ship, the new RMS Queen Mary.  This is a maiden-voyage-era guide to accommodations and, wow, is it extensive.  Running 28 pages and filled with all the details… read more ›

Van Ryper started his ship-modeling business in 1933 in Martha’s Vineyard. The idea was straight forward — make handmade models in a very recognizable style. The name is famous, and the models are outstanding. But… read more ›

ss Empress of Britain butterfly-wing souvenir from her on-board gift shop.  This reverse-painted cutie is in excellent condition and obviously dates to the 1930s given the ship’s tragic demise in WWII.  For some reason, souvenirs… read more ›

Ah, the new late 1960s Canadian Pacific logo and funnel colors.  An attempt to modernize the looks of CPR.  You can see how Carnival would adopt the scheme later when purchasing these very ships in… read more ›

Very impressive ashtray with match holder.  Proudly marked Canadian Pacific Steamship services.  “World’s Greatest Travel System”. Dates 1920s by the style of it.  In excellent condition.  Measures about  5″ across the weighted base and 4″… read more ›

Seldom-seen powder compact from the on-board gift shop of Canadian Pacific liner RMS Empress of Canada.  She was originally built as the CPR liner ss Duchess of Richmond in 1929.  She was lost while docked… read more ›

Cigarette box from the on-board gift shop of the Canadian Pacific liner RMS Empress of France.  She was built as the Duchess of Bedford in 1928, and this dates from her post-war service in the… read more ›

Unusual wardroom plaque from the Empress of England.  I obtained this plaque and a lot of other items items from the same family that took a round trip on Canadian Pacific in 1968.  Excellent condition… read more ›

Reverse-painted butterfly-wing souvenir from the on-board gift shop of the famous RMS Empress of Scotland.  Must date to her brief time as the premier ship for Canadian Pacific from 1950-1957.  In excellent condition.

Interesting photo of the famous floating dry dock in Southampton, the largest in the world.  Remnants of the brick docking piers used to keep this dry dock in place are still visible in Southampton to… read more ›

Log abstract from the final eastbound transatlantic crossing of the RMS Queen Mary.  Sept 22, 1967.  She was still throwing up great times, averaging nearly 28 knots.  This was allegedly her 1001st crossing….  Captain John… read more ›

Stunning color cut-away of White Star Line’s RMS Majestic.  In many ways, Majestic was a forerunner to ships such as ss Normandie (with divided uptakes, every public room being double height, etc.).  White Star cut-aways… read more ›

Cute United States Lines silver tea pot by International Silver.  I haven’t tried this yet, but I just bet it holds 2 cups of tea like the individual pots used by the Cunard Line.  … read more ›

Isn’t the “Manhattan” pattern silver a stylish and classic design?  I love it and I love the Gorham version even more than that made by International Silver Company.  Happily, these serving trays are manufactured by… read more ›

Rolestar table lighter from the souvenir shop on board the RMS Queen Mary.  Our favorite Cunarder had these lighters in several colors, but I think this black version is the classiest.  In excellent condition.

Early souvenir made for the gift shop on the famous Cunarder RMS Queen Elizabeth 2.  Manufactured by Staffordshire out of fine bone china.  In excellent condition and measures about 6.75″ across.

Really good-looking table lighter from the SS United States.  Only seen a few of these and this is the first time I can offer one.  From the gift shop on board the “Big Ship”.  In… read more ›

Fascinating ashtray manufactured by the same firm that made RMS Queen Mary’s real propellers.  Not always in the best of condition but this one cleaned up nicely.  Highly sought after and not often seen.  Grab… read more ›

Most desirable frosted-glass ashtray from the tables of the fabled ss Normandie.  Note the archival photo of it use in the Grill Room of the famous CGT ocean liner.  In very good condition and measures… read more ›

Dating to the 1860’s, this pattern is commonly known by collectors as the “basket weave” pattern. This would have been used on Cunard ships like the Russia, China, and Cuba. Very heavy-duty piece of china…. read more ›

Don’t you love collecting furniture from the RMS Queen Mary?  Well, here is a fantastic chance to purchase a chair still sporting its “Original In Service Equipment Used Aboard the RMS Queen Mary” brass tag. … read more ›

Here is a first for Luxury Liner Row.  A wax impression of the original Cunard Line corporate seal dating from 1840 and used by her original founding partners, including Samuel Cunard.  I obtained this along… read more ›

Van Ryper started his ship modeling business in 1933 in Martha’s Vineyard. The idea was straight forward–make handmade models in a very recognizable style.  The name is famous, and the models are outstanding.  But being… read more ›

Van Ryper started his ship modeling business in 1933 in Martha’s Vineyard. The idea was straight forward–make handmade models in a very recognizable style.  The name is famous, and the models are outstanding.  But being… read more ›

White Star Line used several different covers on their passenger lists with styles changing every few years or so in keeping with the styles of the era. 19th Century lists have a very 19th Century… read more ›

“You can telephone to any part of the world whilst at sea.”  Can you imagine being in the middle of the North Atlantic and sitting in your cabin on an ocean liner talking to people… read more ›

1950s color glossy foldout brochure for Cunard Cabin class to Europe.  Really warm and inviting interiors in that British ocean liner style.  By all accounts, cabin class was the way to cross.  More fun, great… read more ›

The importance of tourist class to post-war Cunard cannot be overstated.  As first-class traffic, and then even second-class traffic, began to fall as more and more people flew, tourist-class (equivalent to third class) grew mightily. … read more ›

Highly sought-after EPNS souvenir ashtray from the RMS Queen Elizabeth.  From the “suit of cards” set of ashtrays sold in her on-board gift shop.  These are quite fun to collect.

Cute silver bowl in the Manhattan pattern.  Perhaps this is a finger bowl given the size.  Made by International Silver.  Very good condition with some use marks.  Measures about 4″ across x 2″ tall.

As you know, Cunard didn’t mark their in-service Stewart crystal glassware, but it is easily identifiable by the famous wave pattern.  Sadly, without the Cunard name on it, it is hard to come by (let… read more ›

As you know, Cunard didn’t mark their in-service Stewart crystal glassware, but it is easily identifiable by the famous wave pattern.  Sadly, without the Cunard name on it, it is hard to come by (let… read more ›

Wow!  What can I say?  I try to bring you the rarest of the rare, and this certainly qualifies!  Back in 2007, very limited salvage work was done on the Cunard liner Carpathia of Titanic… read more ›

Extraordinarily rare letter written on White Star Line stationary.  Mailed from Ismay, Imrie, and Co. to D. and C. MacIver (managing owners of Cunard), the letter concerns the setting up of official North Atlantic traffic lanes. … read more ›

Superb pin tray with the evocative double Cunard White Star house flag logo. Excellent condition. No chips, cracks, or crazing. No loss of gold. Made by Staffordshire and sold in the gift shops. Don’t you… read more ›

Way back in 1987, artifacts from the wreck of the White Star liner Republic, which sank dramatically in 1909, were salvaged.  Claims of massive amounts of gold, wild-goose chases, and tails of sad tragic drama have… read more ›

Hard-to-find 19th Century second-class passenger list RMS Majestic.  19th Century White Star Line are tough to source, and those for second class are even more so.  Bruce Ismay is listed on the cover as New… read more ›

Here’s a special list!  There is so much to make this a stunning list for any White Star Line collector.  Let’s start with the cover, which is the same as used on RMS Titanic.  It… read more ›

Return-to-service brochure produced for the Cunard White Star Liner Britannic in 1947.  “The Britannic is not only British in name, from keel to masthead she embodies the traditional skill of British craftsmen.”  I’ll say!  She… read more ›

Great souvenir pin dish with the famous “sailor-at-the-helm” logo as seen on many French Line souvenirs.  Measures about 4¼” across.  Excellent condition.  A couple of colors to chose from so ask me if you don’t… read more ›

Abstract of log card from the ss United States’s voyage 307, westbound.  In near-mint condition.  A small quantity available.

One of the most beautiful pieces of furniture from the Queen Mary I have ever offered!  This table is from her first-class main lounge and has been nicknamed by collectors as a “U-table” because of… read more ›

One of the rarest pieces of Cunard china that I have ever been able to offer.  In 2007, some very limited salvage work was done on the Cunard liner Carpathia of Titanic fame.  A number… read more ›

A pair of portrait cuff links for Cunard’s Green Goddess.  Purchased in her on-board gift shops, maybe during one of her extremely lengthy and popular world cruises.  What I wouldn’t give to be able to… read more ›

One of my all-time favorite ships (as many of you already know if you’ve read the descriptions on Luxury Liner Row) is Cunard’s Caronia.  To me she is the epitome of Cunard’s British style with… read more ›

A very early brochure for her, probably from her entry into service.  32 pages with 30 images, many I haven’t seen elsewhere.  Huge amount of information about the rooms and heavy concentration on the decorative… read more ›

An exceedingly rare brochure for the French Line ‘s fantastic Ile De France, the Paris, and the France.  24 pages with full-color, mostly full-page renderings, half for the new Ile, and the other half split… read more ›

Picture it!  July 4, 1910–the 70th anniversary of Cunard’s founding.  On that day 110 years ago, a young man sat down at a writing desk on RMS Lusitania. He’s going to Europe on the grandest… read more ›

A tourist-class brochure for the Normandie in French.  Fantastic cover art, but what makes it interesting are the renderings inside which make third-class look far more inviting but also suggest it is a maiden-voyage-era brochure. … read more ›

1920’s-era silver salt dish with a great Cunard Line logo.  Made by Chester and marked “Souvenir.”  In excellent condition and sports its often missing glass insert.

Cuckoo-pattern Cunard bread plate.  This pattern, dating to the time of RMS Mauretania and Aquitania, is the harder-to-find variant of the Tuscan Bird-of-Paradise china.  This bread plate is made by Mintons.  Fine bone china.  Measures… read more ›

Very old Cunard Line silver-plated dinner knife in a pattern I have only seen once or twice.  Definitely not common!  In very good condition.  Made by Elkington Plate and date coded 1903.  Measures just under… read more ›

A very cool carpet from the Queen Mary!  This time I have found you something that fits the home that is already full of furniture!  Of the highest quality, this carpet is a very useful… read more ›

Here is an invitation I think we all would have loved to have received.  It is for Press reporters invited to luncheon in July 1949 to mark the return to service of the famous Ile… read more ›

Attractive fold-over stationary from the fantastic French Line ss Normandie.  Unused and in excellent condition.  A few sheets available.

Lovely waste dish from the tea service produced by Copelands in the famous rose pattern.  It seems that this pattern appears to have only been used on Media and Parthia.  About 2 5/8″ across and… read more ›

Long salt spoon from the tables of the famous Cunard Line.  Great 19th century logo and made by Elkington with a date code of 1900.  Perhaps for the Saxonia?  Measures about 3.5″ long and in… read more ›

A comfortable cabin chair from second-class cabin D-149 on the Queen Mary.  Crafted from solid mahogany, what makes this chair stand out above all other pieces of Queen Mary furniture available for sale is the… read more ›

From the RMS Queen Mary.  Purchased in Long Beach from the prior owner who bought it from the auction of ship’s fittings.  This wool blanket is in remarkable condition given that it is 60+ years… read more ›

Souvenir sterling silver spoon of the finest type ever made for the Cunard Line.  Sporting a date code of 1891.  Measures about 5″ long.  These were sold in the on-board gift shops of the liners. … read more ›

Cute sugar tongs by our old friends at Elkington and Company.  Dates to 1905; so they were probably made for one of the “Pretty Sisters,” Caronia or Carmania.  In very good condition and measuring about… read more ›

A fine sterling-silver and enamel spoon from the Cunarder Carinthia.  One of the Canadian Quartet from the 1950s, these four ships that serviced Canada were not Cunard’s most popular.  Excellent condition measuring about 4.25″ long.

Beautiful pair of silver plate asparagus tongs made by Elkington.  Measures about 4.5″ long.  Dating to 1914, these tongs are in excellent condition and likely from the ss Aquitania in her famous acanthus leaf pattern. … read more ›

Elaborate and impressive, these clawed ice tongs would look amazing in your display of Cunard Line silver.  They measure about 5.5″ long. Perfect condition with perfect logo. Made by Harrison Brothers, the logo dates to… read more ›

The finest advertising poster I have ever offered for America’s most important ocean liner.  I very much lament the relatively sparse number of promotional pieces for the Big U.  Fortunately, that does not extend to… read more ›

One of the rarest and earliest brochures for White Star that I have ever offered.  Produced at the time of the maiden voyages of the Majestic and Teutonic and copyright 1890.  The company’s name “White… read more ›

We are now nearly 16 years past the famous Haltwhistle auction of woodwork and fittings from our favorite liner RMS Olympic.  As you are no doubt well aware, years ago many other sellers, who were… read more ›

What would constitute the finest cruise of all time?  Not simply a good vacation, but the high-water mark of all ocean excursions?   Clearly Normandie’s two cruises to Rio should make a list of some… read more ›

For one of the most beautiful and important ships ever built, relatively little has been written about the French Line’s Normandie.  This is what makes her special edition of The Shipbuilder even more special.  Even… read more ›

This is the first brochure/deck plan for the White Star fleet that was issued immediately after the Titanic disaster.  Dated April, 1912, this printing was “cancelling previous issues.” In other words, the previous issues which… read more ›

A rarity these days!  A pre-sinking postcard for this, perhaps history’s most famous pair of steamships RMS Olympic and RMS Titanic.  No message (and given the recent incident perhaps no message was required) but has… read more ›

Superb graphics on the cover of this passenger list for White Star’s finest 19th Century ship, the RMS Oceanic.  The last ship conceived and built under the guidance of the line’s founder, Thomas Ismay, Oceanic… read more ›

The French Line must be lauded for their efforts as they seem to have produced far more and far nicer brochures for all classes for the Normandie than the Cunard Line did for the Queen… read more ›

I have over the years had a number of these special ss Normandie desk-top souvenirs.  You can’t really call them common, in fact, they are quite rare in this condition.  Rare as hen’s teeth.   … read more ›

I don’t recall the last time I had a “Tea” menu from a White Star liner, but I know that in second and third class this afternoon meal was much more hearty than the beverages… read more ›

Here is something you don’t see everyday.  A cabin-class landing card and a Duty and Identification receipt from the Andrea Doria for Adele Mannello (Manello) from the fatal voyage in July, 1956.  Mrs. Mannello boarded… read more ›

Far and away one of the rarest passenger lists out there.  For the Empress of Britain dated June 15, 1939.  Why is this so rare, you may ask?  Because this is the trip that carried King… read more ›

Outstanding copy of one of the more difficult-to-find Shipbuilders.  The finest ship ever to serve on the Canadian route, Canadian Pacific went all out with her.  So special was she that she was chosen to… read more ›

Pastel & blue souvenir “Launch Plate” for the famous RMS Lusitania in very good condition.  First one I have had in this fine shape for many years.  As many of you know, the rare pattern… read more ›

French medal designed by Rene Baudichon to commemorate the sinking.  One side shows a sinking Lusitania, and the opposite side shows the Statue of Liberty rising from the water holding a sword aloft.  These are… read more ›

Foldout glossy full color flyer for the Italian Line’s new 33,000-ton Leonardo Da Vinci.  Dates to before the maiden voyage because all the illustrations of her interiors are renderings, which we rarely see for her…. read more ›

Late 1960’s fold-open flyer for the Andrea Doria’s fantastic replacement, the Leonardo da Vinci.  I know some people who sailed on her, and they all say that she was pretty amazing.  I haven’t had this… read more ›

Unusual press photo of a passenger “tour” of the bridge of the ss Andrea Doria.  Measures about 10″ x 8″.

A single sheet of blue stationery from the Cristoforo Colombo.  When open, it measures about 10″x 8″.  Comes with original envelope.

I haven’t had this Michelangelo & Raffaello fold-open brochure up on the site in a long time.  Many years ago, I got a stack of these from a collection that belonged to an old railroad… read more ›

A glossy color foldout brochure printed September, 1958, for the Cristoforo Colombo.  This is nearly identical to the Andrea Doria / Cristoforo Colombo brochure of a few years earlier.  It has the same cover and… read more ›

1960s deck plan for the beautiful Leonardo da Vinci of the Italian Line.  Excellent condition.

Second-class passenger list for the Normandie’s voyage from Le Havre to New York via Southampton.  Sailing date was July 7, 1937.  1,112 passengers on board.  Back shows where it had been attached to an album.

Salvaged silver coffee pot from the ill-fated Empress of Ireland.  It amazes me how the silver on the inside of the lid is still intact and shiny after all those years at the bottom of… read more ›

“Empresses of the Atlantic.”  First-class brochure for the ill-fated Empress of Ireland and her sister Empress of Britain.  They were the pride of Canadian Pacific’s fleet before the war.  24 pages (every single one of… read more ›

I’m really opening doors for you now!  Doors that don’t exist anymore, that is, perhaps out outside of some Turkish farm house.  Key tag with key from on board the ss United States.

A first-class side plate.  7″ in diameter.  Very good condition with crazing as can be seen in the photos and the typical staining from decades under the St. Lawrence.  Really quite excellent considering the state… read more ›

Like everything else for this famous ship, obtaining high-quality Lusitania material is a rarity.  Items from her are tough to find and also jealously kept in collections.  After all, why let go something increasingly tough… read more ›

A second-class passenger list for the RMS Cedric’s crossing from Liverpool to New York, Valentines Day, February 14, 1906.  Captain Cameron in command, and the surgeon is W.F.N. O’Loughlin of Titanic fame.  The cover is… read more ›

Sought-after candy tin for the RMS Queen Elizabeth.  I had a few for the QE a while back, but you cleaned me out.  I have another one now after a long period without so grab… read more ›

A fine chair that I haven’t had in stock for a number of years.  Cunard spent a fortune on the high-quality solid sycamore used in these comfortable dining-room chairs.  The chair has been completely restored… read more ›

Remarkably rare catch-all from the RMS Queen Mary.  What makes this so outstanding is that it dates to the pre-war period of 1936-1939.  After the war, the style of many of the bakelite fixtures from… read more ›

This brochure is how the Thorp family chose their accommodation on the RMS Lusitania. Running 20 pages, the brochure is a time capsule of Cunard in 1914-1915.  Mentioned are the famous Cunarders Lusitania, Mauretania, Aquitania… read more ›

What an unusual item and a rare survivor!  A steward’s call plaque from a first-class cabin on board the Queen Mary.  See one in use in the archival photo.  Rarely seen.  Mount it next to… read more ›

“De Luxe Atlantic Service” brochure produced by White Star for the Majestic, the Olympic, and the Homeric. Running 24 pages, there are 18 color renderings, mostly interiors of the three liners, including six images for… read more ›

Passenger list for the famous French liner Ile de France.  CGT really loved this cover for their passenger lists, using it for a very long time!  This list is for her voyage from New York… read more ›

Fascinating and informative passenger information booklet for cruise passengers printed quite late in the ship’s life.  This one is dated March, 1967.  I really enjoyed reading it as the details are fascinating.  In very good… read more ›

Tourist (second) class menu from the ss Normandie’s August 2, 1936, crossing.  No caviar, but the food looks predictably delicious! Very good condition.

A set of unused matches from her final voyage to Long Beach in 1967 and a pack of tissue paper also unused–“for your personal use.”  Both items from her last trip.

So would you or wouldn’t you sail on this cruise?  That was the question prospective passengers were faced with when choosing to sail on this ss Normandie voyage.  The 1938 cruise had been popular enough… read more ›

One of the best items I have ever had from the United States!  A compete set of general arrangement plans, which come directly from a former employee of Gibbs & Cox.   The deck-plan sheets measure… read more ›

A friend of mine once characterized the type of people who could afford first-class on the ss Normandie as “the privileged class, enjoying their privileges.”  I love the picture that paints in my mind.  The… read more ›

Do you wish you could have been a member of the Normandie driving club?  Here is your chance.  Imagine pulling up to the French Line pier in New York in your 1935 Dusenberg for your… read more ›

Hard to find demitasse cup and saucer in the pattern used on board the Normandie.  Made by Haviland and in excellent condition.

Gleaming woodwork, vast space, and your own dining table were hallmarks of the Caen Suite.  Postcard unused and in excellent condition.

A fantastic and extensive brochure for the ss Europa of 1930.  They were proud indeed.  This is a “guide through the ship and her appointments.”  Every part of the ship is covered and all classes,… read more ›

Ultra-rare, solid-bronze medallion for the ss Imperator of Hamburg America Line.  Dates to her maiden voyage.  Imposing portrait of the Kaiser on the reverse and a fine image of the ship on the front.  Marked… read more ›

One of the best brochures ever done for Berengaria.  With 24 pages with 18 full-page images of her first- and second-class public rooms, it is amazing to compare the interior of her and her sisters… read more ›

Ah, 1897 what a year.  It was the year of Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee, but at the same time, German competition on the Atlantic became a major threat.  The threat to England’s dominance of the… read more ›

Introduction into service brochure produced for the North German Lloyd Bremen of 1957.  All color renderings so the ship wasn’t even complete yet.  “Printed in Western-Germany.”  I don’t think I have ever seen it mentioned… read more ›

Fantastic and extensive info and photos of the lovely RMS Queen Elizabeth.  Very few companies (not even post-war Cunard) produced such lavish launch brochures as Cunard themselves did in the 1930s.  Their three big ships… read more ›

A very stylish chair from RMS Queen Mary’s third-class smoking room.  In as-found condition.  Complete with the original markings and storm tie downs, which so often go missing once furniture comes off an ocean liner…. read more ›

Cute souvenir framed portrait reverse painted on glass and backed with butterfly wings.  In very good condition.  Typically, there is some slight deterioration of the butterfly wings.  Not bad you will love it trust me.

Put the RMS Queen Elizabeth on your desk to brighten your day every time you look up!  A cute souvenir framed portrait of her reverse painted on glass and backed with butterfly wings.    In… read more ›

The famous enamel ship’s wheel lapel pin produced for all the great liners.  These came in white, light blue, and dark blue.  This white one for RMS Queen Elizabeth is my favorite because it shows… read more ›

Cute enamel cuff links from the RMS Queen Elizabeth’s on-board gift shop.  In great condition and still on the original card from the manufacturer.  These were supposedly purchased onboard the QE2’s maiden voyage by the… read more ›