If you see an item you want, please note the ITEM NUMBER and NAME and use it in your email.
We also have a single uniform button from the Iceland Steamship Company. It was a pre-WWII steam ship line that also used the swastika as an identification. You can see it here.
You can email us at snyderstr@aol.comwith questions.
This is uniquely interesting silver plate and Sterling silver service ware featuring a logo with a flag depicting the early swastika inside a circular seal with the name STATES LINES on the perimeter. A close-up of the logo is shown below:
Much of this silver was made by the International Silver Company and carries maker marks on the bottom, along with control numbers and sizes and a number indicating silver content. An example is shown below:
Some pieces were made in England in Sterling and have different markings, an example is shown below:
All piece show signs of routine use and long-time service.
This silver is extremely rare with these particular markings, as the swastika became politically incorrect with the rise of the Nazi movement in Germany. The States Lines logo was changed several times in the following years. First to a cross within a circle -- which was still too closely reminiscent to the swastika design, then to a much more acceptable seahorse.
The old silver was either destroyed or sold off. Some pieces were picked up by crew members of the German-American Bund who worked as stewards -- there are documented cases of espionage agents and German sympathizers among the crew -- used and kept over the years. One of the more famous of these espionage groups was the Duquesne Spy Ring. Thirty-three spies were arrested and convicted in 1942 of espionage activities, many of them working for various cruise lines plying the Atlantic, acting as couriers to take information back to Germany. You can read about some of their exploits from the FBI website here.
This is a rare opportunity to acquire silver service of uniquely historical significance.
Of interest, and providing a closer date fix on this silver, is this February 1936 dated States Lines brochure, showing the States Lines swastika logo as a black swastika on a red field.
The brochure image is courtesy of the collection of Björn Larsson's Maritime Timetables website. This particular image and some amplifying history is shown at that site here, and reiterated here:
Sailings January-December 1936
(issued February 15, 1936) for:
General Lee, General Pershing, General Sherman
Ports of call:
Portland, San Francisco, Yokohama, Kobe, Shanghai, Hong Kong,
Manila
Some additional details on the ships of the line were reconstructed from United Fruit Company maritime records (source data from: The Ships List), and detailed below:
The General Lee
(originally Cartago) Built in 1908 sailing under the
UK flag, then in 1914 the US flag, in 1933 chartered to States
Lines Steamship Company and renamed General Lee. In
1937 reverted to Cartago, converted to cargo ship,
1947 scrapped. 4,937 Tons
The General Pershing (originally Heredia)
Built in 1908 sailing under the UK flag then in 1914
transferred to US flag, in 1933 chartered to States Lines
Steamship Company and renamed General Pershing. In
1937 returned to United Fruit Company, reverted to
Heredia, 1942 torpedoed and sunk. 4,943 Tons.
The General Sherman (originally Parismina)
Built in 1908 sailing under the UK flag, then in 1912
transferred to US flag, in 1933 chartered to States Lines
Steamship Company and renamed General Sherman. In 1937
returned to United Fruit Company, reverted to
Parismina, 1942 torpedoed and sunk. 4,937 Tons
| Thumbnail (Click to Enlarge) | Item
Number Item Name |
Description, Size, Condition | Price | Status |
 |
SLC01 |
A States Lines marked 8 Inch platter
This is an 8 inch long oval platter. It is marked as shown here. This is a view of the bottom side, showing the location of the markings. |
$399.99 | Available |
 |
SLC12 |
A States Lines marked 8 Inch platter
This is an 8 inch long oval platter. It is slightly deeper than the one shown above. This is a view of the bottom side, showing the location of the markings. |
$399.99 | Available |
 |
SLC02 |
A States Lines marked 10 Inch platter
This is an 10 inch long oval platter. It is marked as shown here. This is a view of thebottom side, showing the location of the markings. |
$499.99 | Available |
 |
SLC03 |
A States Lines marked 12 Inch platter
This is an 12 inch long oval platter. It is marked as shown here. This is a view of the bottom side, showing the location of the markings. |
$599.99 | Available |
 |
SLC04 |
A States Lines marked 10 Inch wide oval platter
This is an 10 inch wide oval platter. It is marked as shown here This is a view of the bottom side, showing the location of the markings. |
$699.99 | Available |
 |
SLC05 |
A States Lines marked 7 Inch bowl
This is a 7 inch long oval bowl. It is marked as shown here. This is a view of the bottom side, showing the location of the markings. |
$499.99 | Available |
 |
SLC11 |
A States Lines marked 7 Inch curved rim bowl
This is a 7 inch long oval bowl. It is different than the one above in that the rim is curved and it is a bit wider (possibly for a baked potato or similar dish). This is a view of the bottom side, showing the location of the markings. |
$499.99 | Available |
 |
SLC06 |
A States Lines marked 12 Inch shallow bowl
This is a 12 inch long oval shallow bowl. It is marked as shown here. This is a view of the bottom side, showing the location of the markings. |
$799.99 | Available |
 |
SLC07 |
A States Lines marked 9 Inch domed cover
This is a 9 inch long oval domed cover. It is marked on the underside on the handle attachment plate, similarly to other pieces in this set. This is a view of the inside. |
$1199.99 | Available |
 |
SLC08 |
A States Lines marked 12 Inch domed cover
This is a 12 inch long oval domed cover. It is marked on the underside on the handle attachment plate, similarly to other pieces in this set. |
$1399.99 | Available |
 |
SLC09 |
A States Lines marked 14 Inch domed cover
This is a 14 inch long oval domed cover. It is marked on the underside on the handle attachment plate, similarly to other pieces in this set. |
$1599.99 | Available |
 |
SLC09 |
A States Lines marked 6 Inch round high side cover
This is a 6 inch diameter cover 3 inches high. It is marked on the underside on the handle attachment plate, similarly to other pieces in this set. |
$1199.99 | Available |
| Thumbnail (Click to Enlarge) | Item
Number Item Name |
Description, Size, Condition | Price | Status |
 |
SLC10 |
A States Lines marked 4-1/2 Inch STERLING Silver Small
Bowl
This piece differs from the above items in that it has profuse markings on the bottom, including a number of European silver Hallmarks. Like other pieces, it does have accession/inventory numbers and multiple touch marks, shown here. This is a 1-1/8 inch high deep dish or shallow bowl. This is a view of the bottom side, showing the location of the markings. There is deep tarnish from age. |
$499.99 | Available |
This is an example of the logo and STATES LINES name and replacement logo
| Thumbnail (Click to Enlarge) | Item
Number Item Name |
Description, Size, Condition | Price | Status |
 |
SLC11 |
A States Lines marked 3-1/4 Inch Porcelain China Tea Cup
This piece differs from the above items in that it has the SEAHORSE markings under glaze on the side, shown here. This is a view of the bottom side, showing the location of the markings. The maker marks are "STERLING Vitrified China East Liverpool Ohio, U.S.A. L5" The condition is near excellent throughout. |
SOLD |
Iceland Steamship Company
This is an interesting button, with a clockwise swastika and the words Eimskipafjelag Íslands. The company used several designs based on this theme over its history, from 1914 through WWII. The company is still in existence, using a different emblem. You can read some of the history here.
The button is marked C. C. SPORPONG & CO. STOCKHOLM on the back. It appears to be about 75 years old. It is hollow two-piece brass with a gilt (worn) finish. It measures 1 inch in diameter.
Priced at $49.99
This is a cup from the Iceland Steamship Company. It is nicely marked on the bottom as made by the BAUCSCHER WEIDEN Bavaria Germany porcelain company under glaze. It is also marked with J. Ó & Co. Reykjavik over glaze. There is a minor flake out of the bottom edge, and some minor stains, visible at about 6 o'clock on the bottom.
The old style swastika ship line insignia, similar to the button above, is enclosed in a wreath. There is a single stripe, all in blue over glaze.
It measures 3-1/4 inches high by 3-1/4 inches in diameter.
Offered at $299.99
