Two menus from May 1940, one being for Dinner on Tuesday 7 May, the other for Luncheon on Thursday 9 May; both are for 'Officers'
[Liverpool], Cunard White Star, 1940.
Octavo, two items, each [4] pages, being a piece of stiff card folded once down the centre, with a pictorial front cover and the bill of fare on the third page.
Pictorial front panels, each with a variant 'Cunard White Star' logo; the first one, with a generic nautical-theme illustration, is in fine condition; the second, with a colour illustration of a sister-ship, the "Franconia", is slightly foxed with a couple of light creases and marks, but overall is in near-fine condition.
'On May 27, 1936, the "Queen Mary" departed from Southampton, England embarking on her maiden voyage. She boasted five dining areas and lounges, two cocktail bars and swimming pools, a grand ballroom, a squash court and even a small hospital. The "Queen Mary" had set a new benchmark in transatlantic travel, which the rich and famous considered as the only civilized way to travel. She quickly seized the hearts and imaginations of the public on both sides of the Atlantic, representing the spirit of an era known for its elegance, class and style.... For three years after her maiden voyage, the "Queen Mary" was the grandest ocean liner in the world carrying Hollywood celebrities like Bob Hope and Clark Gable, royalty like the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, and dignitaries like Winston Churchill. During this time she even set a new speed record, which she held for 14 years' ("Queen Mary" website). On 1 September 1939, she left Southampton for New York. 'By the time she arrived, the Second World War had started and she was ordered to remain in port alongside "Normandie" until further notice. In March 1940 "Queen Mary" and "Normandie" were joined in New York by "Queen Mary"'s new sister ship "Queen Elizabeth", fresh from her secret dash from Clydebank. The three largest liners in the world sat idle for some time until the Allied commanders decided that all three ships could be used as troopships. "Normandie" was destroyed by fire during her troopship conversion. "Queen Mary" left New York for Sydney, Australia, where she, along with several other liners, was converted into a troopship to carry Australian and New Zealand soldiers to the United Kingdom.... [The] ship's hull, superstructure and funnels were painted navy grey. As a result of her new colour, and in combination with her great speed, she became known as the "Grey Ghost". To protect against magnetic mines, a degaussing coil was fitted around the outside of the hull. Inside, stateroom furniture and decoration were removed and replaced with triple-tiered wooden bunks, which were later replaced by standee bunks. Six miles of carpet, 220 cases of china, crystal and silver service, tapestries and paintings were removed and stored in warehouses for the duration of the war. The woodwork in the staterooms, the cabin-class dining room and other public areas was covered with leather. "Queen Mary" and "Queen Elizabeth" were the largest and fastest troopships involved in the war, often carrying as many as 15,000 men in a single voyage, and often travelling out of convoy and without escort. Their high speed and zigzag courses made it virtually impossible for U-boats to catch them' (Wikipedia). She was retrofitted after the war, and for two decades from 1947, resumed regular passenger service across the Atlantic Ocean, before becoming an iconic Southern California attraction, hotel, and venue for special events at Long Beach. 'Queen Mary''s maiden voyage as a troopship departed Sydney in early May 1940; these menus, printed 'H.T. "Queen Mary"' at the head and 'Officers' at the foot of the bill of fare, come from that historic voyage. They are offered together with an impressive relic from her pre-war glory days, the extensive drinks list: quarto, [16] pages, printed in red and black, with '"Queen Mary 1-12-38' on the colophon, cord-bound in colour pictorial papered boards (slightly rubbed); an excellent copy. The list starts with a bang: there are 23 Champagnes, soon outdone by the 27 whiskys (or perhaps the 70 year-old Gautier Freres cognac) ... There are 52 wines, mainly French, but one of only two 'Empire Wines' is Emu. The balance of the large selection of items available includes other spirits, ales, mineral waters, cigars, cigarettes, tobacco and playing cards.
Item #110971
Sold