Description:

Queen Elizabeth II & Philip Signed "S.S. Empress of Britain" Scrapbook Commemorating Scotland Launch, 40+ Pcs!

A handsome scrapbook containing memorabilia from the "S.S. Empress of Britain," including a paper leaf signed by royal dignitaries Queen Elizabeth II (1926-2022) and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (1921-2021), who attended the launch of the vessel on June 22, 1955, found in the center of the scrapbook, on p. 13. Elizabeth has signed her name as "Elizabeth R" and Philip has signed his name as "Philip"; the queen's signature is large, measuring 4.125" x 1.5" alone. The scrapbook features approximately 44 items including the signed sheet, ranging from vintage black and white photographs and original whiting illustrations, to tickets, invitations, menus, boat stickers, and fabric cockades. Expected wear including scattered missing items, isolated foxing, scuffs, wrinkles, and cropped corners, etc. The scrapbook is missing the bottom of two binding bolts at the spine. Please refer to catalog photos for additional information related to condition. Else very good to near fine, and very colorful and visually pleasing! 36pp. The scrapbook measures 17.125" x 12.25" x 1.5."

The "S.S. Empress of Britain" was a transatlantic ocean liner built by Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company (Fairfields) for Canadian Pacific Steamship Company, the largest Canadian operator of steamships plying both Atlantic and Pacific waters during the early twentieth century. The "S.S. Empress of Britain" was officially named, christened, and launched by Queen Elizabeth on June 22, 1955 at the Fairfields shipyard at Govan, near Glasgow, Scotland, on the River Clyde. The single-funneled, twin-propellered ocean liner weighed approximately 25,000 gross tons and measured 640 feet in length, and was capable of carrying just over 1,000 passengers and a 500-person crew. This was actually the third " S.S. Empress of Britain" built for the Canadian Pacific Steamship Company: the first was launched in 1905, and the second was sunk by a German U-boat in October 1940. The "S.S. Empress of Britain" launched by Queen Elizabeth in 1955 would enjoy a long and storied career, eventually operating under six different ship names and as many different ship operators. It sailed for the Canadian Pacific Steamship Company from 1956-1963, undertaking the Liverpool to Montreal route. The 54-year-old former "S.S. Empress of Britain" retired in 2008 and was later scrapped.Fairfields, established in 1834, produced many British warships during both World Wars. Multiple speed record-holding transatlantic ships, ferries, and mail steamers had been constructed at its southwestern Scottish shipyards, illustrated in whiting by an unknown artist on two pages of the scrapbook album. The company ceased to exist after a 1968 merger. Founded in 1887, the Canadian Pacific Steamship Company enjoyed tremendous success during its first phase of mail, freight, and passenger transport. It transitioned to container shipping during the 1960s in response to decreased demand due to the development of air travel. Canadian Pacific was eventually folded into a German tourism company in 2005.


Queen Elizabeth christened a total of 13 passenger, scientific, and naval vessels over the course of her 70+-year-long reign, of which the "S.S. Empress of Britain" on June 22, 1955 was the third. Elizabeth had christened her first ship while still a princess in 1944, and christened her last ship as a queen in 2015.

The lot includes the following items:

- A black leather scrapbook with oblong black stock pages. The front cover is gilt-embossed "S.S. 'Empress of Britain' / Launched by Her Majesty the Queen / 22nd June 1955." An embossed griffin symbol, perhaps relating to the album manufacturer, can be found on the back cover. One of the two binding bolts is missing. Expected wear including scuffs and isolated gilt loss, else very good to near fine. 36pp. 17.125" x 12.25" x 1.5."

- A document signed by Queen Elizabeth II as "Elizabeth R" and by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh as "Philip," affixed to p. 13. The document is neatly inscribed "Launch of S.S. 'Empress of Britain' / Wednesday, 22nd June 1955" in another hand at the top of the page. The queen's signature is large, measuring 4.125" x 1.5" alone; Philip's is slightly smaller, measuring 2.375" x 1.375" alone. Expected wear including scattered smudges and scuffs. The left edge is uneven, else very good. The page measures 10.625" x 12.5."

- 10 vintage black and white photographs from the event, including views of royal attendees, spectators, and workers; the ship sliding down the launch; the ship afloat; an interior, presumably the shipbuilding offices; and commemorative silver presented to the Queen. One of the largest photos, 11.75" x 10," shows Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip on the viewing platform, and is probably a press photo from the Edinburgh-based newspaper "The Scotsman."

- 2 original hand-drawn sketches of the Fairfields shipyards in whiting by an unidentified artist on p. 7 and 9, each measuring about 5.5" to 6" diameter.

- A print, "'S.S. Empress of Britain' from the painting by Norman Wilkinson," 7" x 5.5."

- 11 printed invitations to various launch day festivities, including luncheon and afternoon tea, granting access to either the platform section or enclosure.

- 6 unused R.S.V.P. cards.

- 3 directions/etiquette cards.

- A luncheon menu from launch day itemizing the Toast List. The 3-course menu featured a chicken entr'e accompanied by a Forster Jesuitengarten 1949 Reisling. 6.875" x 9.5."

- A fold-out seating plan showing Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip at the head of an E-shaped banquet table.

- An 8pp booklet containing a launch day luncheon guest list. 5" x 8."

- 2 fabric cockade rosettes in the colors of the Canadian Pacific Steamship Company (red checkers on a white ground) and the Farifields (ship's anchor on blue ground), 2" diameter.

- 2 boat stickers, one red and one green, 4.5" diameter.

- 1 informational brochure about launch day.

- 1 mauve-colored stock portfolio with enameled pennant emblazoned with Canadian Pacific colors, slight crazing and flaking. 7.875" x 10.875."

- 1 broadside advertising the "S.S. Empress of Britain."

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This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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