P&O RMS CATHAY 15,000 Tons Far East and Australia Mail Passenger Service
Maker
P&O
(British, founded 1837)
Date1924-1939
Object numberANMS1401[002]
NamePostcard
MediumPaper
DimensionsOverall: 90 x 140 mm
ClassificationsPosters and postcards
Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Bonnie Bush
HistoryThe Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Company was founded in 1836. It operated services from Britain to the Mediterranean, with extensions to India in 1840, Singapore and the Far East in 1845 and Australia in 1852. P&O acquired the Australasian United Steam Navigation Company in 1914, the New Zealand Shipping Company in 1916 and the Union Steamship Company of New Zealand in 1917. In 1919 it also acquired a controlling interest in the Orient Line. Vessels represented in this collection include COMORIN (built 1924, sunk off Sierra Leone 1941), CORFU (built 1930, scrapped 1961), STRATHAIRD (built 1932, scrapped 1967), ORMONDE (built 1917, scrapped 1952), ORFORD (built 1928, scrapped 1947), ORION (built 1935, scrapped 1963), ORONSAY (built 1951, scrapped 1975) and ORSOVA (built 1954, scrapped 1974). CATHAY built 1924, sunk during WWII in 1942.SignificanceShip postcards have always been cherished mementos of a long sea voyage. This substantial collection of postcards covers a wide range of 20th century passenger and cargo vessels from various British, Australian, American, Japanese and New Zealand shipping lines. The postcards have great historic and aesthetic interest, with the vessels pictured in locations around the world including Sydney, South Africa, New York, Panama and San Francisco. The collection of Cunard watercolour postcards has particular aesthetic appeal.
