Baltimore Mail Line History and Ephemera

The Baltimore Mail Line (Baltimore Mail Steamship Company) was primarily a mail service that also carried a limited number of passengers (passenger capacity was about 80 Tourist Class). They operated regular weekly service between the US Ports of Baltimore and Norfolk to the European Ports of Le Havre, France, and Hamburg, Germany.

Their Fleet of Five ships, all built in 1918 as freighters of the Eclipse Class were rebuilt into 83-passenger / cargo combination transatlantic ships for the newly-formed Baltimore Mail Line. The Fleet, capable of a speed of 16 knots, consisted of the City of Baltimore, City of Norfolk, City of Havre, City of Hamburg and City of Newport News. The single class liners offered staterooms with outside exposure, hot running water, and Simmons beds.

In 1935, the Baltimore Mail Line offered fares to London or Hamburg for $90 one way or $171 round trip.

They were in operation for a relatively short time from 1930 to 1937. The assets of the Baltimore Mail Line were transferred to the Panama Pacific Line in 1938.

Baltimore Mail Line Ephemera in Date Order

Front Cover, Outstanding Travel Value to Europe on the Baltimore Mail Line

1930s Brochure - Baltimore Mail Line Outstanding Travel Value

1930s Brochure offers extraordinary interior and exterior views (including passengers) of their transatlantic steamships of the Baltimore Mail Line with routes between Baltimore, Norfolk, Havre and Hamburg.

1932-01-29 Passenger Manifest SS City of Hamburg

1932-01-29 SS City of Hamburg Passenger List

Class of Passengers: Cabin (One Class)
Date of Departure: 29 January 1932
Route: Hamburg to Norfolk and Baltimore via Le Havre
Commander: Captain John F. Jensen

Front Cover, Baltimore Mail Line Information for Passengers. Published March 1932.

1932 Brochure - Baltimore Mail Line Passenger Information

Rare Passenger Booklet from Baltimore Mail Line covers everything that their patrons would need to know about their voyage. Unlike many of the passenger steamship lines, the Baltimore Mail Line printed the Information for Passengers separate from the Passenger Lists.

1932-06-24 City Of Hamburg Cabin Passenger Manifest

1932-06-24 SS City Of Hamburg Passenger List

Class of Passengers: Cabin (One Class)
Date of Departure: 24 June 1932
Route: Hamburg and Le Havre to Norfolk and Baltimore
Commander: Captain John F. Jensen

1934-03-17 City of Hamburg Passenger Manifest

1934-03-17 SS City of Hamburg Passenger List

Class of Passengers: Cabin (One Class)
Date of Departure: 17 March 1934
Route: Hamburg and Le Havre to Norfolk and Baltimore
Commander: Joseph Epps Lee, Lt. Cmdr., U.S.N.R.

1934-11-24 City of Hamburg Passenger Manifest

1934-11-24 SS City of Hamburg Passenger List

Class of Passengers: Cabin (One Class)
Date of Departure: 24 November 1934
Route: Bremen to Norfolk and Baltimore via Le Havre
Commander: Captain Joseph E. Lee

1935-01-12 City Of Newport News Passenger Manifest

1935-01-12 SS City Of Newport News Passenger List

Class of Passengers: Cabin (One Class)
Date of Departure: 12 January 1935
Route: Hamburg and Le Havre to Norfolk and Baltimore
Commander: Captain Robert H. Wright

Front Cover, Baltimore Mail Line An Innovation in One-Class,Transatlantic Passenger Service.

1936 Brochure - Baltimore Mail Line to Europe

Baltimore Mail Line utilizes one-class liners. You can go anywhere onboard without worrying about class restrictions. Decks, lounges, dining saloon— there is no class distinction. Passenger accommodations throughout are of a single high standard.