The Brochure and Photographs
I hope that you are enjoying these photographs, both for the finer details of the Caronia as well as all the exquisite ladies. The photography is credited to John Cole, and all these years later they are cherished pieces of history.
The 1950s was probably the most formal decade of the 20th Century in Britain, where the class system was reinforced and there was almost a return to Victorian values. So soon after WWII, at a time when the end of food rationing was still at least another year away, this brochure would have cost a great deal to produce, so it would have only been sent out to very well-off ladies.
The colour cover is something quite special too. It wasn't until the early 1950s that the first colour lithographic plates were produced by Kodak. This was probably one of the first brochures produced by this printing method. Although Strelitz is no more, clearly they were trading at the higher end of the market at that time, so, like on board Caronia, little expense was spared on production quality.
Putting together all the pieces of research that I've made in attempting to date the brochure, my best guess is that the pictures were taken at Le Havre and on the return to Southampton from New York on 17 October 1952. This was just prior to Caronia going to Liverpool for her annual overhaul. The activity on the ship, with staff in uniform, people in the bar, tables laid-up etc., seems to confirm this. The accompanying letter, which doesn't carry that one vital clue, mentions the new Spring Collection, so I imagine that this catalogue was issued in 1953 - Coronation Year.
