This postcard; the second of a set of two was mailed to Mrs. Robert B. Meikle during a return trip from Great Britain. There is no indication of who sent the two cards. Robert B. Meikle and his wife Jeannie are listed as living in Westerly, Rhode Island in the census of 1910. Both Robert and Jeannie are listed as having been born in Scotland in 1854. The census lists Robert's occupation as cotton mill in 1910.

The reverse of the card bears a Queenstown August 13, 1904 CDS, and a straight-line Paquebot marking, (also applied at Queenstown). There is a Westerly - August 20, 1904 received CDS, which was applied on top of the Paquebot marking, but no New York marking on the card, which would have arrived there on August 19, 1904. Both cards bear the one penny scarlet King Edward VII issue of 1902. This issue was produced by De La Rue and is listed in the Scott Catalog as #128.

SEE ALSO: 1904 Campania Postcard 

SS LUCANIA

The SS Lucania was constructed by the Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engine Company, Limited at Glasgow in 1893. She was launched on February 2nd and commenced her maiden voyage on September 2, 1893. Lucania held the Blue Riband (see note below) for both the fastest eastern and western Transatlantic crossing. She held the record for the fastest eastern crossing from 1894 to 1897 and the fastest western crossing from 1894 to 1898. Both of these records were broken by the German steamship, "Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse."

The Lucania was the sister ship of SS Campania. She was 620 feet in length overall and her gross tonnage was 12,952 tons. She contained quarters for 600 First Class, 400 Second Class and 1000 Third Class passengers. Lucania was in service on the Transatlantic crossing from 1893 until 1908. She was badly damaged in a fire while docked at Liverpool in 1909 and was condemned and broken up in that year.

NOTE: The Blue Riband (Ribbon) was awarded to the steamship that held the record for the fastest transatlantic crossing. It was divided into two parts and awarded separately for the fastest eastbound and fastest westbound crossing. 

SEE: Paquebot Markings for further information concerning Paquebot Mail