Ocean Liners

    

Ocean Liners

Ocean Liners reminds us of a more glamorous era when the only way to travel the world was by ship, usually in some s style. Nostalgia and the chance to own a tiny  slice of liner luxury .



 At the beginning of the 20th century, the giant luxury liners of shipping companies such as Cunard and White Star plied the transatlantic passenger trade. Notable ships included the Olympic, the Britannic, and the Mauretania, but the market for ocean- and cruise-liner collectables  is dominated by the ill-fated Titanic.

The tip of the iceberg

Ocean Liners

Titanic artefacts and memorabilia have increased in price since the 1997 film. Items produced after the sinking of the Titanic in 1912 are generally of less value. Top prices of .£3,000-10.000 or more are paid for rare memorabilia owned or used by survivors or rescuers,

such as watches, spoons,

menus, and plates.

Ocean Liners

Ocean Liners Postcards and photographs are more reasonably priced, as so many were made. They can fetch around £50-100 each, often less. Handwritten postcards that mention the Titanic are valuable, depending on the message, date, and sender. Cards sent from the ship when it docked at Cherbourg or Queenstown attract premium prices. A small framed photograph of the liner can fetch around £100-150.

Art Deco opulence

Ocean Liners

In the 1920s and 30s, ships such as the French Normandie, launched in 1932, set new standards of luxury, speed, and safety. 





Her first-class dining room was an extraordinarily lavish An Deco creation of bronze, hammered glass, and Lalique fixtures. She was in New York when World War II broke out in Europe and was commandeered. Unfortunately, an accidental fire caused her to capsize, and she was scrapped in 1942.

Sister ships

Ocean Liners

Memorabilia from the Queen Mary is commonly found, and usually fetches less than £100. Launched in 1934, she is now a tourist attraction in California. Commemorative ceramics, now often sold in the on-board souvenir shop, can cost £50-150, while a souvenir tin can fetch around £50-70.

Did You Know?

Ocean Liners

Memorabilia from passengers who escaped from the 'Titanic are in the top league and have shot up in value.  an original painted cast-iron plaque from one of the lifeboats fetched more than £20,000 at auction, and in 2002 a rare first- class dinner menu dated 10 April 1112 (the day she sailed), made a world record price of £27,000.

Ocean Liners

Cunard's Queen Elizabeth entered passenger service in 1946. Like her sister ship, she had luxurious An Deco-inspired interiors. 

Memorabilia related to her tends to lie less expensive than Queen Mary souvenirs. A menu from her last voyage can cost less than ,t20 and a 1964 course book, enabling passengers to follow her route, can fetch around £30-50.

Ocean Liners

The growth in air travel brought to an end the era of the great liners. The Queen Mary' was withdrawn from service in 1967 and the Queen Elizabeth the following year.

 souvenirs from Ocean Liners

Ocean Liners

In general, collectors focus on the best-known liners and shipping companies - Cunard, the White Star Line, Union Castle, P&O, Canadian Pacific, and Compagnie



Generate Transatlantic. Memorabilia associated with lesser-known foreign lines, and those not operating the transatlantic route, are usually less costly. Objects showing the ship or boldly displaying the company logo are the most prized.

Ocean Liners

Items taken from the liners themselves can fetch high prices, depending on the type of object, with pieces related to first-class travel being the most desirable.

Ocean Liners

 Official souvenirs are popular too, but are often confused with ship stock - the former usually show an image of the ship while the latter have a more discreet logo or wording. Many official souvenirs (as opposed to items that were taken from the ship and kept .