Royal Mail Steam Packet Company - 1918

Beautifully engraved certificate from the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company issued in 1818. This historic document was printed by 1918 and has an ornate border around it with a vignette of an old ship. This item is hand signed by the Company's Director and Secretary and is over 87 years old.

Royal Mail Steam Packet Company / Royal Mail Lines Limited

The Royal Mail Steam Packet Company received the mail contract for the West Indies and commenced operating in 1841. A West Indies inter-island service was also operated. In 1850 services expanded to South America. Several short lived routes were operated and in 1906 Owen Philipps, who later became Lord Kylsant became Chairman of the company. A joint service with Holland America Line to the Pacific coast of North America started in 1921. In 1932 the giant Kylsant Shipping empire collapsed and Lord Kylsant was jailed for issueing a false prospectus. Royal Mail Steam Packet Company went into liquidation, Royal Mail Lines Limited was formed and took over the assets of the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company, the Nelson Line and David MacIver & Company. The Royal Mail Line was taken over in 1965 by Furness, Withy & Company and ships often interchanged between the Royal Mail Line, Furness and Shaw Savill & Albion Lines fleets. By 1972 Royal Mail had virtually disappeared as a separate shipping line.