CHATTERTON, Keble.

Inquire · Offered by Peter Harrington

"Mauretania". Launch at the yard of Cammell Laird & Co Limited, Birkenhead. First edition of this handsomely produced brochure celebrating the ship's launch on 28 July 1938. The well-composed photographs record her construction, from the laying of the keel in 24 May 1937 to the steel plating of the decks.RMS Mauretania was the largest ship built in England at the time and the second ship delivered to the Cunard-White Star Line, newly merged out of the Cunard and White Star companies. After her launch in 1938 and final sea trials in 1939, she made her first commercial trip to New York from 17 to 30 June. In 1940, she was requisitioned by the British government for the war effort, armed with 6-inch guns and painted grey. She spent the war as a troop ship, carrying soldiers across the world and sailing over 500,000 miles. After the war, she returned to commercial activities until 1965.Many of the photographs were taken by Stewart Bale Ltd, a family run practice based in Liverpool. They were known for high-quality shots of architecture and industry and "left a visual legacy of Liverpool's built environment and industrial, commercial history during a major period of social change and development" (NML).

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