Cute Christmas and New Year's card from the Empress of Australia’s round the world cruise from 1927-1928.  Heavily-embossed logo and life ring on the cover and tied with a silk ribbon.  Mint condition.  $25.

47103       Empress of Britain (1906)                Post Card

Kingsway was a standard bearer in the world of high-quality real-photo postcards.  They outdid themselves with this fantastic view of the Empress of Britain at anchor.  This image is any ship lover's ideal.  The liner is shown to her best advantage and looking so good that she might be brand new.  There is not a spot of rust on her paintwork.  The detail in the photo is so clear I can see the rivets in her hull and her coaling ports without a magnifying glass.  It would scan very well.  $25.

47444       Empress of Britain (1906)                Post Card

Nearly identical sister to the ill-fated Empress of Ireland, the Empress of Britain went on to become the Montroyal in 1924, still in service for Canadian Pacific.  Beautiful unused color rendering of her in excellent condition.  $20.

What a find!  A set of 23 post cards of the Empress of Britain of 1906, sister of the ill-fated Empress of Ireland.  These are official Canadian Pacific cards and were issued by the sales department as noted on the reverse of each card.  They date to between 1920 and 1924.

For me, the most interesting cards are the two views of her stokehold -- one before and one after conversion to oil.  All are unused and in excellent condition with some slight scuffing to the exterior view and some bumped corners. 

Extremely hard-to-find original souvenir number of the Shipbuilder and Marine Engine-Builder from May, 1931.  Like all issues of the Shipbuilder, the information about this amazing liner is exhaustive and covers every conceivable area of the ship from building, launching, and fitting out to interiors and navigation equipment.  Runs a full 132 pages with 9 full-color plates and sports several foldout plans and diagrams of her decks and major equipment.  It is amazing how much these books cover, including photos of the captain's sitting room, the staff captain's cabin, the Chief Engineer's sitting room, and Purser's Reception room!  Hardbound and in excellent condition. 

There are brochures and then there are BROCHURES.  This entry-into-service example was produced for first-class on the Empress of Britain prior to her maiden voyage and is dated 1931.  It refers to itself as a “preliminary presentation of the Empress of Britain.”  24 pages, it is completely in full color with much gold used.  Many of the illustrations run onto two pages.  It’s not an exaggeration to say this is the best brochure ever done for her.  Each room shown has a description of the decor and the name of its decorator.  The best is saved for the center spread where the famous painting of the ship by Shoesmith is seen.  In excellent condition.  Grab it because this is as good as it gets for her.

47930       Empress of Britain (1931)                Brochure, Full Color

"Empress of Britain: The Worlds Wonder Ship."  Without question the best brochure ever done for the Empress.  Sporting 13 full-color real photos of her first-class interiors -- nearly all a full page and some are double-page spreads!  Canadian Pacific was so proud of the interiors that they noted the name of the designer under the photos for each major room.  Near-mint condition with just the very slightest lightest touch of foxing on the cover.  A must have for anyone interested in Empress of Britain.

 We all known she was the biggest liner ever built for the Canadian route, but did you know that she was also the largest merchant ship lost during WWII?  This pre-maiden-voyage postcard gives full particulars for the ship.  In excellent condition.  $25.

47895       Empress of Britain (1931)                Post Cards

Kingsway real-photo series for first class on the famous Empress of Britain.  Five stunningly clear photographs of her interiors and one exterior showcasing her looks to advantage.  Rooms shown include the Writing Room, Knickerbocker Bar, Cathay Lounge, Gym, and Olympian pool.   All unused and in excellent condition.  These would scan well and would be an asset to any digital collection.  $95.

47605       Empress of Britain (1931)                Post Card

Unusual stern view of the Empress of Britain.  This card is so well produced that it looks like a print from the photo developer.  Judges, Ltd., was a well-known name in UK postcard production.  They did some amazing views of Olympic, for example.  The card is unused and in excellent condition.  $25.

47574       Empress of Britain (1931)                Post Card

Real photo postcard postally unused and in excellent condition.  So many post cards were made of her using a stern angle, one has to wonder if they thought she looked best from the stern or if photographers were interested in her modern cruiser stern.... $25.

47868       Empress of Britain (1931)                Post Card

Two Canadian beauties together.  The Chateau Frontenac and the Empress of Britain together.  Both were owned by CPR.  You might say they were the twin stars of the CPR empire.  Unused and in excellent condition.  $25.

47265       Empress of Britain (1931)                Post Card

An unusual real-photo view of her stunning swimming pool.  Her pool was one of the best ever that was put into a liner.  Unused and in excellent condition.  $20.

Electro-plated nickel silver souvenir spoon as sold in the on-board gift shop of this Canadian liner.  Based on the style, this is from the 1956 Empress of Britain and not her larger predecessor.  In excellent condition.  $35.

Very early tissue plan (on air-mail grade watermarked tissue), dated October, 1957.  She later became the Pacific Empress for Shaw Savill and only lasted in that service for five years.  She was scrapped at only 18 years old in 1975.  Measures 30" x 26"  Very good condition.  $28.

SOLD!

A beloved and long-lived Canadian Pacific liner, the Empress of France started her career as the Duchess of Bedford.  After the war, she came back into service in 1948 and took Princess Elizabeth to North America for a goodwill tour.

Very good condition with no loss of silver or enamel.  $35.

I wonder who made all these cool enameled British ocean-liner souvenirs in the post-war era?  They are well made unlike the Chinese items in the gift shops of modern cruise ships.  This letter opener dates from the 1950’s and even has its rare original leatherette pouch.  In very good condition with some age spotting on the blade.  The entire pouch and opener measure about 8”.  Useful!   $45.

38455    Empress of Scotland               Menu for Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve dinner approaching the Holy Land on the round the world cruise of the Empress of Scotland 1925.  They had quite a feast including “Yule Log and X’mas Pudding”.  Signed by the table mates on the reverse.  Some slight bumping to corners otherwise excellent.  $20.

47299       Canadian Pacific                       Ashtray

Shockingly rare gravity ashtray and match stand from the onboard service.  Made by Mappin and Webb and date marked 1921.  It is a clever design and still works well.  A simple spin on the silver handles at each side dumps the ashes into the pan below.  Fantastic CPR logo envraged on the match stand.  The base has a couple of dents where this fell over at sea and a few rim fleabites perhaps from the very same storm.  Otherwise in excellent condition with no loss to the silver.  Measures about 5” tall by about 5” across.  Not something you will likely to find anywhere else!  $275.

SOLD!

24-page brochure about the Monoclass service -- one class only.  Kind of like an über second class.  Lots of pictures, usually one or two per page.  All showing ships and their interiors with no fluff photos of scenery.  Also included is the Montroyal, the old Empress of Britain, sister of the Empress of Ireland.  Some dirt on cover, otherwise excellent.  $45.

SOLD!

Nice fold-out brochure explaining what a "cabin steamer" is.  Dated October, 1924.  In very good condition.  $25.

Brochure for tourist third cabin onboard Canadian Pacific.  16 pages 43 photos including a double page spread showing the entire fleet as well as a pullout route map in the back.  An add for the new Empress of Japan describes her as the new "Miracle Giantess".  Dates to the mid 1930s.  Very good condition with some dirt on the cover.  $50. 

SOLD!

"Escape to a life of leisure...."  Very late brochure for Canadian Pacific from the late 1960's, very near the end.  Full-color fold-out with lots of interior photos.  Measures about 19" x 24" when unfolded.  In excellent condition.  $30.

Fold-over embarkation notice dated August, 1938.  Insert sheet from Empress of Australia informing all passengers "young and old also crew" of the obligatory abandon ship muster station exercise.  $18.

Empress of Canada and Empress of France sailing schedule and fares dated January 2, 1948, service just having resumed after the war.  Near mint.  $20.

Measuring 27" x 22", this fold-open brochure has 20 color interior and exterior images.  Covers the Empresses of Canada, Scotland, and France.  A small addition pasted into the brochure dates it to 1952.  Very good condition.  $25.

47309       Canadian Pacific                       Buttons

After the acquisition of the Allan Line in 1915, Canadian Pacific began to call its steamship lines Canadian Pacific Ocean Services.  These buttons date from that era, and are marked "CPOS" on the famous checkered house flag.  Around the rim of the brass buttons, the entire name is spelled out.  The large button is marked “Naval Quality” on the back, and the smaller is marked Firmin & Sons, Ltd., London.  The larger button is about 1” across while the smaller is ¾”.  Both in very good condition.  $10 ea.

SOLD!

Canadian Pacific purchased their great rival the Allan line in 1917.  For a few years, they ran the combined company as Canadian Pacific Steamship Services.  In the very early 1920's, that name was changed to Canadian Pacific Steamship Lines.

Rare and beautiful Mintons tea pot in what's often referred to as the "Empress" pattern.  Dates to the 1920's and 1930's and was used on Canadian Pacific's far-east runs.  Lovely Oriental pattern.  Stands about 9" tall and measures 5½" from handle to spout.  In excellent condition.  $265.

38235   Canadian Pacific                       China, Serving Dish

Large china serving dish by Royal Worcestor made of “fireproof porcelain.”  Marked with the steamship line's logo.  Measures 10½” x 6¼”.  In excellent condition with no chips cracks or crazing.  $125.

Hand-painted creamer in the "Empress" pattern.  Made by Mintons, this is in excellent condition with some crazing.  Used on the far-east run in the 1920's and 1930's.  I can now say with certainty that this pattern was also used on the Atlantic run in the pre-war period.  Note archival on the Empress of Britain of 1930.  Stands about 2½" tall.  $65.

Designed to withstand the high heat of an oven, these dishes were used for a very specific purpose.  Does anyone know what that might be?  In the "Empress" pattern.  Dates to the 1920's and 1930's and was used on Canadian Pacific's far-east run.  Made by Royal Worcester, this piece measures about 7" x 4".  In near-mint condition.  A pair available.  $65.

47251       Canadian Pacific                       Silver, Coffee Pot

Canadian Paific loved to use Mappin and Webb for their silver, and this coffee pot dated to 1936 was no exception to that rule.  In very good condition with some dents and dings, but no loss to the silver.  Measures about 5” tall by 7” from handle to spout.  $85.

47659       Canadian Pacific                       Ticket Wallet

Kanadian Pacific Railway!  A third-class canvas ticket wallet for the eastern European market.  Dates to the pre-war period and has an image of the Empress of Ireland/Empress of Britain.  In excellent condition and quite rare!  $145.