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An original vintage colour lithograph shipping postcard depicting the famous Cunard passenger liner R.M.S. Ascania at sea, accompanied by a small tug/tender craft.

​The artwork is by renowned British marine artist Charles Edward Turner (C.E. Turner), with his printed signature visible in the lower right corner. The lower margin bears the printed caption: "CUNARD R.M.S. ASCANIA" and "TONNAGE 14,000".

​An interesting regional feature is the reverse agency overprint:

"CUNARD LINE AGENCY / W. W. BELL & CO. LTD., 7 NEW BOND ST., BATH" along with "PRINTED IN ENGLAND". This was an official promotional card issued through W.W. Bell & Co. Ltd., who operated as prominent shipping and travel booking agents in Bath during the interwar and early mid-century periods.

​Item Details

• ​Ship / Line: Cunard Line – R.M.S. Ascania (14,000 Tons)

• ​Artist: Charles Edward Turner (1883–1965)

• ​Type: Original promotional artist-signed shipping postcard

• ​Format: Divided back, standard size (approx. 140 mm x 90 mm)

• ​Agency Overprint: W. W. Bell & Co. Ltd., 7 New Bond St., Bath

• ​Postage / Usage: Unposted / unwritten back

​Condition Report

• ​Front: Colours remain bright and clear with nice depth. Mild age toning to the white border margins; minor handling/rubbing wear along edges and corners consistent with age.

• ​Back: Clean and unwritten, light natural age tanning/foxing speckles. No heavy creases, pinholes, or tears. (Please inspect all high-resolution photos for close-up condition assessment).

​Historical Note on R.M.S. Ascania

​Built by Sir W. G. Armstrong, Whitworth & Co. on the River Tyne, RMS Ascania was launched in 1923 and made her maiden voyage for the Cunard Line in 1925 on the London–Southampton–Quebec–Montreal route.

​She was an "A-class" liner designed primarily for passenger and cargo transatlantic service. During World War II, Ascania served with distinction after being requisitioned by the Royal Navy, first as an Armed Merchant Cruiser (HMS Ascania) carrying heavy naval guns, and later as a Landing Ship Infantry (Large), participating in operations such as the Allied invasion of Sicily (Operation Husky) and the South of France (Operation Dragoon). After the war, she was refurbished, returned to transatlantic civilian and emigrant passenger service to Canada, and even took part in the Suez Crisis operations in 1956 before being scrapped at Newport, Wales in 1957.