The White Star Line was originally founded in Liverpool in 1845 to provide passage to Australia before Thomas Ismay purchased and transformed the identity and goodwill of the line into the successful Oceanic Steam Navigation Co. Cleverly working in partnership with Harland & Wolff, the line focussed on luxury over speed, building many of the world's most famous vessels: Oceanic, Titanic, Olympic, Britannic and Majestic. Finally merging with its great rival Cunard during the 1930s Depression, the companies still retained their original names and company colours while flying one another's flags below their own.

The evocative White Star Collection uses personal postcards and messages from passengers and crew to explore the story of the line, drawing a colourful picture of the careers of the vessels in peacetime and at war. Complete with unusual stories, such as the planned escape of Dr Crippen, and stunning images of rare postcards, interior views and ephemera, this is a timeless collection perfect for the shelves of maritime historians and ship-lovers alike.