Canadian Pacific Railway Company RMS EMPRESS OF CHINA, luncheon, Friday 26 April 1907

Maker Canadian Pacific Steamship Company (1891 - 1971)

Date1907

Object numberANMS1111[002]

NameMenu

MediumInk on paper

DimensionsOverall: 185 x 118 mm

ClassificationsEphemera

Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Donald McLean

Terms

DescriptionThis luncheon menu for on board RMS EMPRESS OF CHINA features the logo of the Canadian Pacific Railway Company. On the reverse the meal options are printed as well as a handwritten list of wines. HistoryRMS EMPRESS OF CHINA was built for the Canadian Pacific Railway Company and launched on 25 March 1891. The vessel was the last to join a trio of three sister ships owned by the company, EMPRESS OF INDIA, EMPRESS OF CHINA and EMPRESS OF JAPAN. The sister ships offered a passenger service on the trans-Pacific route between Canada and the ports of the Far East and were well known by the travelling public for their aesthetics and high quality service. The three ships were the first twin-screw vessels operating on the Pacific and each vessel carried a figurehead, the EMPRESS OF CHINA displaying an impressive gilt dragon. EMPRESS OF CHINA's career was relatively short lived however when in July 1911 the vessel struck the Mera Reef in Tokyo Bay and had to be abandoned. The Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) was incorporated on 16 February 1881 with the aim to construct a railway across North America, linking the country's separate settlements. In 1882 the company entered the express shipment business, in 1886 it was chartering ships on the Pacific Ocean and by 1891 had launched its first fleet. The company moved into shipping, accumulating a fleet of 100 ships and some of the world’s most luxurious ocean liners. CP later expanded into telegraph and express services, opulent hotels and eventually airlines. SignificanceShipboard menus such as these were often printed to be souvenirs of travels and special events, and were collected as mementos by crew and passengers. The Australian National Maritime Museum holds a variety of shipboard menus that represent the journeys of both the individuals who collected them and the vessels that produced them.