| P A I N T I N G S P O S T E R S P R I N T S & P O R T R A I T S |
  
THE CUNARD LINES STEAMSHIPS
"LUSITANIA AND MAURETANIA" |
$1,200.00
This is a FRAMED Lithograph on paper, approx. 57" x 48".
These were distributed by the Steamship companies to shipping & travel offices as Advertising pieces for their line.
This is in the ORIGINAL FRAME it was in when we purchased the item. The frames are in good condition with some minor discoloration or marks from handling. Buyer may wish to have it reframed.
Item has been stored in a smoke free, air conditioned environment since it was purchased.
(Any shadows, reflections or dark markings on the images are from the area the picture was taken in and NOT on the item.)
|
By the turn of the century, the prestige of Britain's merchant marine was under threat from two sides. Since 1897, German passenger ships had outpaced the British with a succession of fast and elegant transatlantic liners, most notably Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse Deutschland Kronprinz Wilhelm and Kaiser Wilhelm II. To the west, American financier J. P. Morgan's International Mercantile Marine had acquired a controlling interest not only in Germany's Hamburg-Amerika Linie and Norddeutscher Lloyd, but also in Britain's White Star Line. In response to the latter development especially, the British government offered Cunard Line a loan of £2,600,000 for the construction of two passenger liners, provided that the company remain wholly British for twenty years and that the ships could be requisitioned in wartime. In addition, Cunard was guaranteed a mail subsidy of £75,000 per ship per year.
The immediate result was the construction of the ill-fated Lusitania and her no less magnificent sister ship, Mauretania, the largest, most luxurious, and fastest liners of their day. On the return leg of her maiden voyage, Mauretania named for the Roman province in North Africa captured the Blue Riband from her sister with an eastbound crossing from Sandy Hook to Queenstown at an average speed of 23.69 knots. Although Mauretania would not wrest the westbound record from Lusitania until September 26-30, 1909, her record speed of 26.06 knots from Queenstown to Ambrose (4 days, 10 hours, 51 minutes) would stand for twenty years, when it was finally eclipsed by Norddeutscher Lloyd's Bremen. Eastbound, Mauretania beat her own record seven times, the last August 20-25, 1924, with a speed of 26.25 knots (5 days, 1 hour, 49 minutes) from Ambrose to Cherbourg.
A favorite of passengers of all classes and nationalities, Mauretania remained on the transatlantic run until just after the outbreak of World War I in 1914. Shortly thereafter, she was converted to use as a troopship for service between England and the Mediterranean. After brief service as a hospital ship to bring home wounded soldiers from the Gallipoli campaign, she reverted to trooping duty in 1916, ferrying Canadian and later U.S. troops to Europe. She remained in this work until shortly after the Armistice, and finally reentered commercial passenger service in 1919.
Following a fire at Southampton in July 1921, Cunard replaced Mauretania's coal-burning engines with oil fuel, and adjusted her accommodations to account for the decline in steerage passengers occasioned by the imposition of U.S. immigrant quotas. As reconfigured for transatlantic service, she could carry 589 passengers in first class, 400 in second, and 767 in third. As the depression worsened and increased competition from other British and European ships began to eclipse Mauretania, she was gradually withdrawn from transatlantic service and entered the cruise trade in both the Mediterranean and Caribbean. Her last departure from New York was on September 26, 1934. Sold the following year to ship breakers, she was scrapped at Rosyth in 1936.
Source: Bonsor, North Atlantic Seaway. Braynard & Miller, Fifty Famous Liners. Shipbuilder and Marine Engine-Builder, The Cunard Express Liners "Lusitania" and "Mauretania."
|
SHIPPING:
This item will be professionally packaged in special bubble wrap and art packaging materials, due to it's collectible status.
Shipping, packaging and Insurance is estimated to be right at $100.00. If it is more than that, we will cover the difference.
Item will be shipped by professional carrier, specializing in fine art.
Local pickup can also be arranged.
|
PURCHASING:
To purchase this item, please contact GARY COHEN
|
 |
|
Images shown above are approximately ¼th of their original image size. Measurements are of frames, where applicable.
|
|
|
