RMS Aquitania on this postcard, printed on the reverse as an advertisement for Thomas Cook. The text describes a portion of a May 1936 voyage on Franconia, in an attempt to woo prospective travelers. Impressions from the typewritten text are faintly visible on the face of this card - still a nice example.

An advertising card from Cunard White Star and Thomas Cook. This card features a beautiful portrait of the Berengaria, and the reverse hold a printed message describing a cruise on board Franconia. We would venture a guess that this type of promotion utilized surplus stock of postcards from ships such as Berengaria and Majestic, both soon destined to be removed from service. This example exhibits very slight corner rounding. The artwork is superb.

An advertising card for Cunard White Star and Thomas Cook. This card features a grand portrait of Majestic being eased into her berth, while Aquitania sails in the distance. Not postally used; the reverse bears a typewritten message, apparently the text (actual or simulated) from a cable sent by the Cruise Director on board Franconia as she departed Durban during a South African cruise. These cards were meant to create interest in the lines cruises to various parts of the globe, though Majestic cannot seriously be considered a cruise ship! Condition of this example is excellent.

A "Real Photograph" from A. Mainzer. Close examination of this image reveals that it is most likely an artist's rendering, or perhaps even a model with a photo of the water added. The text, as well as the number 38D-8, indicates that this card might well have been issued very near to or shortly after the ship's launch, making this a very early and rare card.

There is the slightest rounding to only one corner of this great, real photo card. A sepia tone photo of 'Lizzie's' starboard, not quite broadside, with a 'bone in her teeth'! Unused.

No. 1294, C.R. Hoffman, Southampton. A real photo of the 1st Class Garden Lounge - as many of the cards from this series, this image has a very light sepia tone - not quite pure black & white. Unused and excellent!

The Tourist Winter Garden. A near mint and unused real photo card. I would truly like to get my hands on all the bud vases and ashtrays visible in this photo! Excellent condition, with some extremely minor corner bumping.

A little staid, perhaps austere, but a nice real photo of the Cabin Lounge. Unused, and very near mint; we were very pleased to find the lot of interiors which included this card.

Her Observation Lounge and Cocktail Bar - again showing some of the beautiful woodwork that was to be tragically consumed by fire. The upper right corner of this card shows a small bend, but entirely within the border. Unused and absolutely excellent.

The first of a series of six interiors which are purely black & white, with no hint of a sepia tone. Certainly CWS provided a large number of photos to a number of publishers, and the variations in "tone" are attributable to slight differences in processing methods. This is the First Class Verandah Grill - mint!

The First Class Garden Lounge. Another pure black & white real photo. Looks like a wonderful source for Foley teacups & saucers! Mint and unused.

The Cabin Lounge - this one purely black & white, though the same photo as listed above. Again unused, and truly in mint condition.

The Main Lounge in pure black & white on this vertical format card. Your imagination can easily fill in the warm colors of the beautiful veneers on the walls and furniture of this wonderful room. Again unused and mint.

The First Class Smoking Room. Another wonderful real photo of another of the Elizabeth's "Great Rooms". Of course mint and unused.

The Elizabeth's Main Restaurant in pure black & white. Another photo in which your imagination can easily place passengers in the chairs, and a banquet on the tables! Unused and mint!

A very nice, early illustration of the Elizabeth at sea on this card franked with a Southampton Paquebot cancel of 21 June, 1949. The writer has indicated her deck and stateroom with an "A" written on the ship, just below her promenade deck. Just a touch of corner wear, and some edge wear lower right.

A very rare Valentine's series postcard from the Queen Mary. She is identified on this example only by her hull number; "534," indicating that the card was issued prior to her launch and naming. Of interest as well is the notation on the reverse: "This a  of the Great Boat." This note was written by one William "Willy" Hay, who was one of the artists who added the finishing touches to the vessel during her fitting-out. We acquired this card from Mr. Hay's nephew, who possesses a photo of his uncle at work in the ship's nursery. The card itself is in excellent condition, showing only some very minor corner wear. An exceptional example with a bit of history as well!

One of the sought-after early issue postcards for the Queen Mary, produced for promotional purposes prior to her launch, and labeling her only "534," her Brown of Clydebank hull number. Her true name would not be officially uttered until spoken by the Queen at the moment of the ship's launch. This example is not postally used, but does exhibit some minor corner wear and some very light toning along the edges - visible mainly on the reverse. The artist appears to have exaggerated the ship's length a bit, making this a delightful rendering!

A wonderful pre-maiden voyage postcard of Queen Mary. This is a very interesting item, as though it is clearly marked "Post Card" on reverse, the entire back of the card is filled with descriptive text, leaving no room for a message or an address. A bit of propaganda is in evidence as the publicist is careful to claim that the ship is the longest ever constructed, (when measured at the waterline!). The card states that the ship is expected to enter service early in 1936. Not posted, and in excellent condition - a very rare example!

A wonderful, early card for the Mary, featuring a dockside photo of the ship, as well as a portrait of her captain, Sir Edgar Britten. The lower border gives her length, and an erroneous tonnage of 37,000! The reverse shows a handwritten date - 30 September, 1936. An unusual card.

A great real photo card of the Mary from A. Mainzer. A bit difficult to date this one, as the tonnage listed is her measurement when she entered service, yet the description mentions that her length, 1,019.5 feet, is the "Greatest of any ship afloat". The ship is dressed in her signal flags for this photo, and appears brand new. (Perhaps Normandie was in dry dock at the time, and technically not floating!). Unused - an excellent image!

This is a marvelous set of sepia tone real photo cards from Queen Mary, showing mostly First Class spaces. These are wonderful photos, showing tables fully set in her dining rooms. The gift shop shelves visible in the photo of her Tourist Lounge are fully stocked with Norah Wellings dolls and "Cube" china. One can also spot the classic black & white ashtray, as well as the brown Bakelite version. One card in the lot has a small corner crease upper left, and two have minor staining in the border - quite insignificant. Unused and excellent.

The black and white image of the Mary which appears on this photo-finished card is quite early, and sometimes appears with her original designation, "534". This example, however, merely names the ship "New Cunard White Star Superliner". Excellent, unused condition.

Every once in a while we come across a previously unseen image of the Mary, and here is our most recent. This rendering appears to be based on the common, early image of the ship surrounded by small craft and airplanes. The artist has placed the ship at sea, steaming at high speed. A interesting choice of colors makes this particular image stand out. Published by J. Salmon, Ltd.. A tiny bump lower right and some minor speckling, (reverse only) on this unused example.

A majestic artist's portrait of Queen Mary. This early card, we believe, pictures the ship entering Southampton waters. There appears to be a faint signature at lower left, and the original work could well have been executed by noted nautical illustrator Fred Pansing. Not postally used, though someone has penciled: "Starting Out" on the reverse. Tiny bumps to the lower corners, and some very tiny spots, (look closely!) at upper left. Still a very nice example.

This unused postcard features a portrait of the Queen Mary in the Solent. Often found in full color, this example features an unusual dark metallic finish. Extremely sharp corners make this an exceptional example of this card.

An unused card from "Valentine's" series - this image was originally used for the "534" card prior to the ship being officially named. This example bears a retouched image that clearly shows the vessel's name on her prow. Minor corner wear and light soiling. An early card from the Mary.

A beautiful black and white real photo card of the Mary. This is an early image of the ship, as the card was obtained in a lot of ephemera from a 1938 crossing. She does indeed appear brand new! Likely taken as the ship was sailing from Southampton. Very near mint.