American Export Lines Archival Collection

 

American Export Lines Historical Archives

 

The Export Steamship Company, formed in 1919, was renamed the American Export Lines five years later. The American Export Lines operated in various corporate formations from 1919 to 1977. They offered both Cargo and Passenger services between New York and the Mediterranean, principally Gibraltar, Cannes, Genoa and Naples.

Other names this steamship line operated as included Export Steamship Corporation, American Export Steamship Corporation, American Export Lines and American Export - Isbrandtsen Lines.

 

AMERICAN EXPORT LINES provides some 200 scheduled sailings each year from U. S. Norah Atlantic ports. . . featuring big, speedy, modern liners that ply the Sunlane across the Atlantic, where the weather is mild all year 'round. The luxurious, fully sir conditioned Sun-Liners nnd the well-equipped freighters of American Export Lines, serving their routes regularly and frequently, are an unbeatable combination.

 

S.S. INDEPENDENCE and S.S. CONSTITUTION — 29.500 tons. 22 1/2 knots. Frequent sailings to Gibraltar, Cannes, Genoa, and Naples. Express passenger and freight service.

 

THE 4 ACES (Excalibur, Exochorda, Exeter, and Excambion) -- Popular, one-class combination passenger-cargo vessels. Sailings every two weeks to Barcelona. Marseilles. Naples. Alexandria. Beirut. Iskenderun. Latakia. Piraeus. Leghorn, and Genoa.

 

The Excalibur's entry into service marks resumption of a service that was interrupted by war in 1940. The original Four Aces, which had run in the service from 1930, were requisitioned for war service as United States troop transports.

Three became victims of enemy action and the fourth, no longer fit for passenger service at the war’s end, was disposed of by the government.

The new units, each of which will accommodate 125 passengers in first class only, are undergoing finishing touches at the Bethlehem Steel Company’s New York shipyards. (July 27, 1948 Naval Institute Proceedings p.1323)

 

30 MODERN FAST CARGO-CARRYING SHIPS IN ALL serving the entire Mediterranean... Spain, Portugal. North Africa. Black Sea, Red Sea, India, Pakistan, Ceylon, and Burma.

 

 

SS Constitution of the American Export Lines, 1951.

SS Constitution Archival Collection

Constitution (1951) American Export Lines Ship's History (Brief); Passenger Lists; Menus; Advertisements.

 

Passenger's Receipt Forward Reservations, American Export Lines Contract for Passage on the SS Excalibur, Departing from Genoa to New York Dated 18 March 1938.

SS Excalibur Archival Collection

Ephemera for the SS Excalibur available may include Passenger Lists, Menus, Brochures, Sailing Schedules, Route Maps, Photographs, and more.

 

Passenger's Receipt Forward Reservations, American Export Lines Contract for Passage on the SS Excambion, Departing from New York to Naples Dated 18 January 1938.

SS Excambion Archival Collection

Ephemera for the SS Exeter available may include Passenger Lists, Menus, Brochures, Sailing Schedules, Route Maps, Photographs, and more.

 

1936-03-24 Passenger Manifest for the SS Exeter

SS Exeter Archival Collection

Exeter (1931) American Export Lines Ship's History (Brief); Exeter (1945) American Export Lines Ship's History (Brief); Passenger Lists; Advertisements; and Books Referencing the SS Exeter.

 

Front Side of Color Postcard of the SS Independence of the American Export Lines. nd circa 1951.

SS Independence Archival Collection

Independence (1950) American Export Lines Ship's History (Brief); Passenger Lists; Advertisements; Passenger Inscriptions; Postcards; Back Cover Images.

 

 

American Export Lines 1957 Advertisement "A Voyage to Remember, the SS Constitution and SS Independence.

American Export Lines 1957 Advertisement "A Voyage to Remember, the SS Constitution and SS Independence. Scene from 20th Century-Fox's production of Leo McCarey's "AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER" co-starring CARY GRANT and DEBORAH KERR, which takes place aboard the s.s. Constitution. A Jerry Wald Production in CinemaScope. Color by Deluxe. GGA Image ID # 15f57df6b4

 

A Voyage to Remember

A Sunlane Cruise to Europe this Fall or Winter can be your voyage to remember. For as little as $535 in Cabin Class or $685 in First, you can sail aboard the great Independence or Constitution for a luxurious 3-week round trip to the Mediterranean!

The Independence and Constitution will be sailing from New York approximately every two weeks all this Fall and early Winter through January. You'll have time to visit ashore at 3 to 8 ports, such as Canary Islands, Casablanca, Barcelona, Cannes, Genoa, Naples, Tangier, Madeira.

At sea there's fun, glamour, relaxation! And you'll have an air conditioned stateroom, private bathroom with shower, enjoy absolutely unsurpassed cuisine. For complete information and illustrated literature, see your Travel Agent or write to American Export Lines, New York.

 

 

Front Cover, Ocean Liner Collectibles with Price Guide by Myra Yellin Outwater, Photographs by Eric Boe Outwater, 1998.

Ocean Liner Collectibles

This book recreates the ambiance of the ocean linereraby showing the actual objects used on board. Each piece of ocean-liner memorabilia is like an aladdin's lamp, releasing wondrous memories of that grand style of travel.

 

Front Cover and Spine, Ocean Liners of the 20th Century by Gordon Newell, 1963.

Ocean Liners of the 20th Century

This book imparts a bit of the glamor, majesty, and color of the most exciting things ever built by man: the Ocean Liners. Brief histories of most of the major shipping companies presently operating passenger liners are included.

 

Front Cover and Spine, Passenger Ships of the World, Past and Present by Eugene W. Smith, 1963.

Passenger Ships of the World - 1963

Passenger Ships of the World, 1963, represents an incredible resource covering passenger ships that are Trans-Atlantic, Trans-Pacific, Trans-Pacific via Panama Canal, Latin American, Africa and the Eastern Oceans, and California-Hawaii.

 

Front Cover, U.S. Steamships: A Picture Postcard History by Frank O. Braynard with an Introduction by Wlater Cronkite, 1991.

US Steamships: A Picture Postcard History

Over many years, Postcards were collected for the message, history, and the scene. As a result of these collecting interests, we have a valuable source of information relating to many subjects, including steamships, from a historical, technical, and artistic perspective. The Postcards in this book provide a chronological history of U.S. Steamships.

 

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