United States Lines

The United States Lines is just about the only company I can think of that offered both double-handled and handle-less bouillon cups for the obligatory deck-chair sip.  Why this was done is a mystery to… read more ›

Near mint with a few utensil marks.  Measures about 6.5″ in diameter.  These were purchased at the United States auction by the prior owner.   A small quantity available. By far my highest selling item of… read more ›

One of the harder-to-find items from the china service of the Big U.  The celery dish so named in her inventory measures 10″ x 4.75.”  Excellent condition with no chips, cracks, crazing and made by… read more ›

The famous grey star pattern as used on the super liner United States.  You all know I love a cup and saucer, partly because they display so well.  In this case, though, ss United States… read more ›

Dinner plate for the United States Lines.  Dinner plates are not quite as common as other pieces in this pattern for some reason, even though there were thousands on board.  About 9½” across.  Very good… read more ›

Cute and tough-to-source lemon dish from the on-board service of the ss United States.  Made by Lamberton and in excellent condition.  It measures about 4″ across.  This was purchased at the 1984 United States auction… read more ›

Rarely seen salad bowl from the ss United States.  These come to us direct from the auction in 1984.  Our friend Mr. Fielding of Fielding’s travel-guide-book fame said if you wanted good food on the… read more ›

Side plate as used on board the ss United States.  Made by Lamberton china and comes to us directly from the 1984 auction of the ship’s fittings.  The auction catalog marks these, using original manufacturer’s… read more ›

Rarely seen soup bowl in the graystar pattern as used on the big ship ss United States.  More correctly called a “soup plate” (according to the manufacturer), there is only one available by Lamberton.  Measures… read more ›

A highball glass as used in the dining rooms on the ss United States.  In excellent condition and measuring about 5″ tall.  A few available.

Glass from the on-board service of the ss United States.  In excellent condition with an etched logo.  These are the water goblets that were used in the dining rooms.  Stands about 4.75” tall.  Very rare…. read more ›

Direct to us from the ss United States and a fellow who attended her auction in 1984.  These are cocktail glasses according to the ships inventory.  They are not the champagne glasses as they are… read more ›

I have had a few of these before.  I wish I had saved my previous description but figured they aren’t common enough and I wouldn’t often be able to mark them restocked.  Well, they still… read more ›

Direct to us from the ss United States and a fellow who attended her auction in 1984. These are old-fashion glasses, according to the ship’s inventory.  I have measured them and they do hold exactly… read more ›

Beautiful supreme stand for serving shrimp cocktail or caviar.  Great piece and the best condition one I have had in ages.  Both the base and silver top ring are marked “US Lines 52.”  Stands 4½”… read more ›

The holy of holies.  The highly sought after champagne bucket from the ss United States.  Like all of you, I just love the seashell handles.  This bucket is the equivalent to getting your checker crowned… read more ›

Silver-plated creamer from the ssUS.  Stands 2.75” tall x is 3.75” from handle to spout.  Made by International Silver Co., and marked “US Lines 62.”  In very good condition with a few small dings and… read more ›

A gorgeous and extremely hard-to-find silver fruit bowl from the on-board service of the ss United States.  Made by International Silver Company and date coded most interestingly to 1963.  It’s not very often that I… read more ›

Were you aware that there were 6 different sized meat dishes (platters) provided by International Silver to the United States Lines?  The line chose various sizes from 10″ to 22″ for use on board the… read more ›

Were you aware that there were 6 different sized meat dishes provided by International Silver to the United States Lines?  The line chose various sizes from 10″ to 22″ for use on board the Big… read more ›

One of the nicest and rarest pieces of silver I have ever offered from the ss United States.  Highly sought-after silver salt-and-pepper caddy made by International Silver and dated coded 1952 for the maiden voyage… read more ›

Silver-plated sugar bowl from the ss US.  Stands 2¼” tall x is 4½” from handle to handle.  Made by International Silver Co. and marked “US Lines 52.”  In great condition with no dents, just some… read more ›

Silver-plated sugar bowl from the ss US.  Stands 3.5” tall (to finial) x is 4.5” from handle to handle.  Made by International Silver Co. and marked United States Lines, 62. In excellent condition with no… 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 ›

Perhaps the most loved item of silver from the USL stewards’ perspective.  This “utility tray: was a catch all.  It was meant to go under just about anything.  The International Silver Co.’s catalog lists it… read more ›

“Your crossing on the United States or the America is so much more than a way to ‘get there’…. it’s a holiday in itself” says this interesting brochure for both ships.  Full color with loads… read more ›

Straight to us from the 1984 auction held on board the ship via the Dr. Sarah Forbes collection.  This is a complete bathroom setup of fittings.  Included are two types of coat hooks, and one… read more ›

First-class cabin bedspread from the ss United States.  Many of these twin-sized bedspreads are marked with individual cabin numbers on a tag that says “ss United States,” and all are in very good to excellent… read more ›

The United States Lines was keen to showcase the food, service, and clientele of our beloved Big U.  Favorite dishes are endorsed by the ship’s most-famous passengers, including the Duke and Duchess of Windsor.  As… read more ›

Rates brochure for the December, 18, 1964, Christmas cruise undertaken nearly 60 years ago now.  Someone, a travel agent I suppose, has written on the front that there were 694 passengers on board.  Back cover… read more ›

An interesting pamphlet of dimensions for all the first-class staterooms on board the ss United States.  This is the USL showing off and being proud of their new flagship.  I am certain this was found… read more ›

12-page brochure describing the interesting sand art in the Navajo Lounge on board the ss United States.  Measures about 6½” x 4½”.  Absolutely mint.  These have gotten very scarce in the past few years.

Absolutely superb brochure for the new ss United States.  24 pages with 20 full-color artist impressions of first, cabin, and tourist class.   Centerfold foldout is a broadside rendering of the new liner.  Dates to just… read more ›

The cabin door info plaque from the ss United States.  Entirely complete including the card which gave your steward’s name.  Often these cards are missing.  Mount one of these to your own interior door.  I… read more ›

Sought-after Bensons candy tin for the ss United States.  These are available in larger numbers for the Cunard Queens but are less common for the Big Ship.  Not as perfect as my last one with… read more ›

A look inside the world’s fastest liner!  Photos of life and luxury on board plus opens to a full-color cutaway with a map showing her record-breaking crossings.  Quite nice and in great condition.  Once you… read more ›

I haven’t offered a deck plan like this before.  As you know, first-class plans from the Big Ship are sought after; however, this one is rarer than most and is marked “preliminary” and dated to… read more ›

The ss United States is so popular, and his plan shows her to great advantage.  It has 8 full-color glossy images and measures about 48″ x 9″ when opened.  Despite the fact that the United… read more ›

A very handy and useful item!  These cabin foot stools from the ss United States are getting tough to find in the original upholstery.  This one is from first-class cabin M-116.  It could use a… read more ›

Useful and cool stateroom hat hook from the Big U.  Use these in your home as I have done in mine.  I have a pair of them up in my garage, and I hang baseball… read more ›

When I was a boy, my grandparents (both sets) had a plastic dispenser hanging in their bath room that held waxed-paper “Dixie Cups.”  I suppose this was considered the height of modernity in the 1950s… 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.

Of all the keys I’ve ever had for America’s “Big Ship,” this key is perhaps the most interesting.  It was to the Master’s Pantry on the ss United States.  Think of the captains “Tiger” who… read more ›

Uniform button as used on board the ss United States.  Measures almost 1″ across.  Comes with a round display container.  Not at all common.

A set of menus from a crossing in 1955.  This is not a full set, but it is a very good representation of what the food choices were on the ss United States at the… 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 ›

An exceptional and amazing directional sign from Sun Deck on board the ss United States.  These are very tough to find now and highly sought after.  Attention on the Big Ship is, of course, at… read more ›

5 cardboard signs from the Big U.  I think some of them might be for embarkation or disembarkation day.  “Temporary Sitting Today Only,” for example, sounds like the stewards were busy getting the ship turned… read more ›

Many tens of thousands of passengers sailed on the United States during her career.  Her popularity was never in doubt, and even in her last year she averaged nearly 70% occupancy rates.  The 1953 annual… read more ›

Towel from the ss United States.  Marked “United States Lines”  Dated ’67.  Measures about 40″ long and 21.5″.  Made by Fieldcrest and in very good condition with only a few stains.  I have not washed… read more ›

When they say that the United States didn’t have wood on board, don’t believe them!  This muddler was bought at the auction of fittings from the Big U in 1984 by Dr. Sarah Forbes, who… read more ›

Ever wondered what it was like to auction an entire Ship of State?  Well, aside from a lot of work, the answer is in this huge catalog.  Nicely illustrated and worth the purchase price alone… read more ›

Here is a rarity for one of you.  The bedspread from the Executive Officer’s cabin on the ss United States.  It is in excellent condition with no holes or tears, and it has just been… read more ›

When the estate of Dr. Sarah Forbes (owner of the Windmill Point Restaurant in Kitty Hawk, NC) was being settled, I was asked to help clean out her storage units. Her collection, while vast, was… read more ›

Want to dine on the incomparable ss United States?  This is a complete setup of ssUS first-class dining room furniture.  It is the entire thing with all the parts — chairs, tables, and straps for… read more ›

Did you know that the United States Lines produced an oversized “Book Post” card of the Big U?  I don’t think I was aware of that, but here it is.  A quantity available.  Price is… read more ›

A real photograph of the launch of the famous Big Ship.  Mrs. Tom Connolly, wife of the Texas senator, performing the honors.  40,000 people were on hand to witness this event in 1951.  Excellent condition. … read more ›

Here is another item I have never had before.  A crossing-the-line proclamation from the ss United States while on a cruise in February, 1968. She did so few cruises that crossed the equator that there… read more ›

Over 15 years ago now, I had the pleasure to pick the choicest items from the amazing Dr. Forbes collection when I helped clean out her storage units after her passing.  Dr. Forbes was the… read more ›

Mid-century iconic polka dot table cloth and napkin set from the ss United States.  Made of beautiful linen and used on board for the afternoon tea service, these are in great condition as they have… read more ›