*French, Post-War, Compagnie Générale Transatlantique Ocean Liner SS LIBERTÉ Cap Tally / Hat Ribbon*
A bright and attractive vintage souvenir cap tally or hat ribbon for the famous French Line liner Liberté, worked in red synthetic ribbon with yellow embroidered LIBERTÉ lettering to the centre. One side carries the French tricolour, while the other shows the Compagnie Générale Transatlantique house flag with the abbreviated CGT / Cie Gle Transatlantique style device, identifying it with the celebrated post-war French passenger liner. Pieces of this sort were commonly sold or distributed as shipboard souvenirs and are now increasingly collectible as decorative ocean liner memorabilia.
Approx. Measurements – 65cm x 3cm.
Historical Note:
The tally relates to the famous French liner SS Liberté, flagship of the French Line during the post-war transatlantic era. The vessel had an unusual history: she began life as the German liner SS Europa, launched in 1928 for Norddeutscher Lloyd and famed for holding the Blue Riband for the fastest Atlantic crossing.
Following the Second World War, Europa was allocated to France as war reparations for the loss of the liner SS Normandie, which had been destroyed in New York in 1942. After extensive refitting and repair in France — including recovery from a fire and partial sinking during refit — the ship entered service in 1950 under the name Liberté.
Throughout the 1950s she served as one of the principal ships of the French Line on the transatlantic route between Europe and New York before being retired in 1961, shortly before the introduction of the new liner France.
*Condition* Good overall display condition. The ribbon retains strong colour and clear embroidered detail. There is light handling wear, some creasing from storage, a few loose threads and slight fraying to the ends, as photographed. Please see photographs as part of the condition report.
