United States Lines

Superb brochure for the America.  24 pages with 21 images of first, cabin, and tourist class.   Centerfold broadside rendering with color cut-away renderings of four cabin types showing the various layouts.  Dates to the early… read more ›

Lovely 32-page brochure for American Line and Red Star Line services from New York and Philadelphia to Southampton and Antwerp.  Dated 1893, still the International Navigation Company era as listed in the brochure.  Not the… read more ›

An excellent example of a souvenir for the American Line advertising their Philadelphia, Queenstown, Liverpool service, showing an image of the Kroonland of the Red Star Line, which was one of its partner companies after… read more ›

A very rare survivor!  A souvenir pin tray advertising the New York, Plymouth, Cherbourg, and Southampton service with an image of the St. Paul or St. Louis.  Dates to about 1905. Measures about 4.25″ across. … read more ›

It is tough at this date (90 years on) to find china from the famous ss Manhattan and ss Washington of the United States Lines.  After IMM sold the White Star Line, endured the great… read more ›

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 ›

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 ›

Nice little bowls in the Graystar pattern as used on the ss United States.  These come to us direct from the auction in 1984.  No chips, cracks, or crazing and made by Lamberton.  In the… 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 ›

Oval bowl used as a vegetable dish on board.  Measures 5½” and made by Lamberton.  Excellent condition.  This was purchased at the United States auction by the prior owner.  Excellent condition.

Cute and desirable cordial glasses from the on-board service of the United States.  These were bought by the last owner in New York City at the traveling sale of fittings that preceded the auction of… read more ›

Hefty water tumbler as used in the staterooms on board the ss United States.  These came directly from a couple who purchased them at the auction of the ship’s fittings in 1984.  Measures about 4″ tall… read more ›

How American is this?  Let’s belly up to the bar and say “set’em up, Joe” with these cute in-service shot glasses for the United States Lines.  Measures about 2.5″ tall.   A few available.  Price… read more ›

Oversized artist-rendering card of the ss Leviathan, “The World’s Largest Liner.”  This is a huge book-post-size card.  In near mint condition.  Measures 10 3/8″ x 5 3/8″.  Unused.

Simply the best.  Large tissue deck plan for first class on the United States Lines’s Leviathan.  Dated 1923, the year she entered service.  Color coded with a great USL logo.  Great condition.  Measures about 50″… read more ›

A fine glossy deck plan from the United States Lines’s ss Manhattan.  Extremely well illustrated–almost shockingly.  Lots of photos of the interiors that I had not seen before as well as a few superb 3D… read more ›

Nearly 90 years old, these tourist-class plans for the USL’s ss Manhattan prove she was one of the finest tourist-class ships on the Atlantic.  The accommodations were really quite nice (but not quite so nice… read more ›

Proudly proclaiming the USL’s ss Manhattan as the largest ship ever built in America, this is a first-day cover that was mailed August 10, 1932.  In excellent condition.

Silver creamer in the Manhattan pattern by the International Silver Co.  Stands 4½” tall x 5¼ from handle to spout.  Marked on the bottom “1 MD.”  I have heard some theories for what this means… read more ›

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.

International silver oyster fork marked United States Lines.  In the famous Manhattan pattern.  In excellent condition.

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 ›

From the ship’s on-board service.  Made by International Silver and back marked United States Lines.  Perfect to put with your USL coffee cup and saucer!  Excellent condition.

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 ›

Several years ago, I was called to help clean out the Dr. Forbes estate.  This process took a few years and was never really finished.  At the last minute, plans changed within the estate, and… read more ›

Haven’t had one of these in a while.  A pewter tankard with a glass bottom from the ss United States on board gift shop.  In excellent condition.  Measures about 4.5″ tall x 3″ across. What… read more ›

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

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 ›

Glossy full-color foldout brochure for the ss United States.  Showing life on board and accommodations for both first and second class.  23 photos.  Dates to the mid 1960’s.  We know this because it literally took… 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 ›

Pre-maiden voyage brochure for the “superb new” ss United States.  12 pages with 8 color renderings, including  of her interiors.  In the back are some black & white photos of the ss America.

Chair straps from the dining room of the ss United States.  The straps went around the chairs and hooked to the tables to keep you from moving around in rough seas.  They are very different… read more ›

Let’s look inside the world’s fastest luxury liner!  23 photos of life and luxury on board plus opens to a full cutaway in color.  Quite nice and in great condition.  Once you get yours, you… read more ›

Not often do I get to carry these cruise plans for the world’s fastest liner.  If you are like me, you don’t really believe she has lost her record for the fastest crossing.  In very… read more ›

Miniature deck plan for the fantastic ss United States.  Some interesting interior photos for all classes, and of course, the plan covers the entire ship.  Measures about 20″ x 36″ and in excellent condition.  A… read more ›

Great color-coded plan for cabin class (also known as second).  Lots of colorful interior images.  She had surprisingly spacious cabins in second class, and it seems that most cabins have at least showers.  Combined with… read more ›

Rarely seen plan for the third-class accommodations on board the United States.  Printed on glossy paper, this plan shows the added Writing Room and Library which were taken from first class around 1960 to increase… 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 ›

Looking for the perfect way to enhance your display of ss United States china?  This tea towel was made for that purpose.  Sporting the famous eagle logo and with “United States Lines” woven into the… 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 ›

A story was told by the late John Maxtone-Graham that the Duke and Duchess of Windsor were notorious skinflints when it came to tipping cash–instead giving crew members on the great liners autographed photos of… 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 ›

Not typically seen this stationery from the ss United States.  The previous owner took it off the ship himself when he visited her in 1986.  Both the logo and the ship’s name are embossed onto… read more ›

Extremely rare and, I might add, quite lovely comforter as used in the suites on the ss United States.  This neutral pattern would be great in any home.  This comforter was from the spare stores… 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 ›

Peach-colored wool cabin blanket made by Horner for use in the cabins on board the ss United States.  All the blankets I have seen are dated, some 1952, 1957, 1959, some 1960.  This one is… 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 ›

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 ›

Mid-century iconic polka dot table cloth set from the ss United States.  Not only do they have style, but they are all marked “US Lines 52.”  Made of beautiful linen and used on board for… read more ›

Great graphics on this USL baggage sticker.  Excellent condition.  Put one on your luggage!  This is cheaper than the souvenirs on cruise ships.

So there are rate booklets and then there are rate booklets.  This is the latter!  This dates to November, 1952, and thus shows some of the earliest sailings of the Big Ship.  It’s fun to… read more ›

Passenger fare book for the ss United States and ss America.  Two dates available so chose January, 1964 or July, 1962.  You can see one reason why airlines put such a hurt on the liners. … read more ›

Nearly 90 years old, this tourist-class plan for the USL’s ss Washington prove she was one of the finest tourist class ships on the Atlantic.  The accommodations were really quite nice.  For the cost it… read more ›