French Line

An old friend always refers to De Grasse as CGT’s “spunky” ship. What he means is that she was built as an intermediate liner in the 1920’s, but after the war, she alone carried the… read more ›

A resurgent and proud French Line brought out two new ships in 1952. The Flandre and the Antilles. This bronze medallion is the maiden voyage medal for the Flandre as sold in her on-board gift… read more ›

Highly sought-after sterling silver medal for the beautiful France of 1912.  CGT only produced one four stacker, but she was an amazing one!  The artist who designed the medal, Louis Patriarche, was a famous French… read more ›

“The France is one of those strange creatures of steel and wood and paint and glass that has managed to achieve a soul.  A very few hotels do it — and some clubs — but… read more ›

Extremely rare (and I must say) beautiful in-service tea strainer from the art nouveau service of the ss France of 1912.  Did you know she was the third fastest ship in the world when she… read more ›

Full-color brochure filled with 35 photos for both classes. Fold-out in the middle with an aerial photo of her at sea. Pull-out profile at the back which is color-coded to show you in what parts… read more ›

A full-color fold-open brochure with great graphics for the fantastic ss France.  One I haven’t had in quite some time.  The French Line was creative in the images with this brochure.  Really cute.  Measures about… read more ›

Coming in at a massive 46″ long, this is an amazing cut-away. In full-color, 232 items are listed in the extensive key. It is sad to think that this magnificent liner is now gone. As… read more ›

Miniature deck plan for one of the last Ships of State. Great detail. Some photos of her interiors.

Superb fold-out color-coded deck plan for first class. Who fantasizes about traveling any other way?  Eight color photos on glossy paper. In French and English. One of the best deck plans you can find for… read more ›

Wow!  The French Line really went all out on this glorious color-coded tourist-class (second-class) deck plan.  It is full glossy with all color photos.  CGT was being quite careful to cultivate the tourist market, and… read more ›

I thought it might be a beer glass at first, but I have now seen beer mugs from the ss France so I doubt this was for beer.  My next thought was iced tea for… read more ›

This is the first time I have had one of these water glasses from the service of the France of 1962.  Of all the liner crystal I stock, this timeless pattern from the France is… read more ›

An interesting French Line brochure I have only had once before.  Covering the famous ss Ile de France, ss Flandre, and ss Liberte.  Dates to 1950s or, if you will, the 100 year give or… read more ›

A very proud French Line produced this bronze medal in 1955 for the 100th anniversary of the company.  Perhaps in a bit of austerity following the war, the size of the medals produced in the… 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 ›

Do you know what the French call brandy? Les Eaux De Vie.  But if you, as I did, use Google translate, it literally means the  “the waters of life.”  I kinda like that.  Here is… read more ›

A well-made enamel lapel broach from the famous French Line.  Compagnie Generale Transatlantique sold these in the gift shop on the grand liners of the 1950s such as Ile de France and Liberte.  As opposed… read more ›

France Afloat.  Just the title conjures up thoughts of lazy days at sea and wonderful food.  Dates to the immediate post-war period since the Ile de France and Liberte are listed as being refurbished.  “Once… read more ›

Impressive Compagnie Generale Transatlantique house flag.  This is the first time I have offered a French Line house flag, and what a flag it is!  The flag is made of strong wool and is in… read more ›

I haven’t had this one in a while.  A fantastic brochure for the French Line’s famous ss Ile de France.  What can be said about her–one of the most famous liners of all time and… read more ›

Never seen another of these!  Tourist-class brochure for one of the French Line’s greats.  16 pages with 13 images, most of which I have never seen before.  It’s like a tour of tourist class!  Dated… read more ›

Stunning tissue first-class deck plan for the revolutionary CGT liner Ile De France.  Measures about 42″ x 39″.  Dated January 1, 1928, which makes her less than a year old.  Color coded and in near-mint… read more ›

Very rare unused invitation to visit the Ile de France before she entered service.  Embossed CGT flag with day’s schedule on the right.  Measures 11″ x 4.25″.

After Normandie, the most beloved ship of the French Line fleet is a toss up in my opinion between the France of 1962 and the Ile. Like De Grasse, Ile received a post-war medallion of… 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 ›

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 ›

Extremely rare and desirable sugar tongs from the Ile de France.  Not only are they super cute, but they are in fantastic condition.  See archival.  Measuring about 5″ and made by Christofle. 

Extremely tough to find salt and pepper shakers from the first-class dining room of the ss Ile De France.  Made by Christofle and in very good condition.  They have the CGT logo in the silver… read more ›

Formerly the NDL liner, Europa, CGT’s ss Liberte was taken over by the French Line after the war and completely gutted and redecorated.  Despite several mishaps during her refit, she finally made her maiden voyage… read more ›

A very rare puzzle of the French liner Liberte (the ex-NDL liner Europa!) arriving in New York.  May be taken from a photo of her arriving on her maiden voyage, given all the tugs around… read more ›

Souvenir life ring for the French Line’s Liberte, ex-NDL Europa.  Made of heavy duty cardboard.  In excellent condition for a not-often-seen item of French Line souvenirs.  It measures about 12″ across.

Cabin-class deck plan for the ss Liberte.  13  photos.  When opened, it measures almost 31″ in length.  Excellent condition.

First-class deck plan for the ss Liberte.  She was certainly CGT’s finest ship in the immediate post-war era.  It’s a fascinating look at the layout of what used to be the North German Lloyd flyer… read more ›

Tourist-class deck plan for the ss Liberte.  It’s surprising how small her tourist-class accommodation was.  8 photos and dated 11-15-50.  When opened, it measures 31″ in length.  Excellent condition.

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 ›

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 ›

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 ›

The famed crystal clock produced for the ss Normandie.  This was reproduced about 30 years ago, and this is one of those amazing reproductions.  In fantastic condition with its original box.  Box has a touch… read more ›

Never had another one of these small carafes before.  For decanting wine, perhaps?  Even something for such a mundane task on Normandie had such style!  In excellent condition and measures about 6.5″ tall.  JF

Exquisite Lalique crystal from the best first-class suites on board the French liner Normandie.  In perfect condition but has the tiniest of fleabites out of the foot.  Stands about 3 3/8″ tall.  JF

Lovely liqueur glass from the service of the ss Normandie. Stands about 3.5″ tall. Frosted CGT logo.  Fill line under the logo which its post-war counterparts lack.  In excellent condition.  I have never had one… read more ›

Gorgeous small wine glass from the service of the ss Normandie.  The logo is not frosted as it is on most French Line crystal, but etched.  In excellent condition and measures about 4.75″ tall.  JF

Unusual cut-away for the ss Normandie.  Your favorite French Line ship is surrounded by nearly 24 interiors renderings, meaning that it certainly dates to before the maiden voyage.  Great cover art!  Something CGT was really… read more ›

The French Line really went all out on intriguing deck plans for the Normandie.  This is a cool plan where a small card pulls out showing various spots on the ship.  You have a key… read more ›

The ship of the year!  I’ll say!  Nice foldout advertising the ss Normandie.  Mint condition and dated May, 1935.

Lovely souvenir enameled broach as sold aboard the Normandie in her gift shops, showing the shield of the province of Normandie.  As opposed to a pin, this one can be put through the lapel hole… 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 ›

There is the best,  then the best of the best, and then perhaps, just sometimes, there is even better….  This menu represents the best of all.  A private dinner “tendered on the flagship *Normandie*” to… 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.

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.

Here is something I don’t believe I have ever had before.  A passenger list dated August, 1936, for third class on board the ss Normandie.  She was making money on this trip.  The French Line… read more ›

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

Figural ink well in the shape of the famed French liner ss Normandie. High Art Deco design.  These desk type souvenirs were produced in a variety of of different ways for the lauded CGT flagship…. read more ›

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

What a cool bit of film!  The Normandie Tru Vue filmstrip.  Super sharp and ultra 3-D.  These are a joy to view and own.  Film is in excellent to mint condition in its original box… read more ›

Facts About The Normandie.  This brochure has a rather unique point to make — to satisfy the public’s desire for stats and information about the world’s most luxurious liner.  So it is packed with all… read more ›

A program for a gala charity fete held on board the Normandie at sea on August 29, 1936.  This was “for the benefit of the several benevolent institution of which the Cie. Gle. Transatlantique is… read more ›

One of the finest items I have ever been able to offer from the Normandie.  An ultra-rare Lalique bone-china dinner plate from the French Line’s flagship.  This china was used exclusively in her best suites. … read more ›

The night’s entertainment program from August 7, 1937, held at 11 pm in what was arguably the most impressive room ever installed on an ocean liner.  Her most popular year in service.  Fantastic condition.