is mostly paper, to help with detail and accuracy. "Most of it is historically correct and much better than anything that is printed today,'' he says.

While much of the collection includes brochures and deck plans, postcards, shipping books, and prints, he also has pieces of ships' china and silver services, ashtrays, matchbooks, cap badges, a bar of soap from the 1920s, a bottle of wine, and his favourite, a desk.

"One of the fun parts of collecting is finding the date and the ship a piece was taken from. For instance I picked up an ashtray in Germany, and later found it was off the North German Lloyd Line's (now Hapag Line) Bremen. I knew because I saw an illustration of a very similar one in a brochure for the ship.'' His collection of postcards dates back to about 1900. The older ones are all copies of paintings of ships while many of today's postcards use actual photographs. Postcards issued during the Depression lack the brilliant colours used in the years before and after. "They're the easiest things to collect because their available and they're easy to transport.'' He also has a pair of demitasse cups from the Andrea Doria, which sank in 1956 and which he bought at Authentiques, an antique dealer in New York. Another favourite is a 1983 bottle of red wine put out by French Line which marks the 50th anniversary of the maiden voyage of the Normandie from Le Havre to New York in 1935. His bottle is number 6796. A total of 13,200 were made.

While some collectors specialise in one ship or one company, Card collects from all ships, though he buys whatever pieces he can from the Queen of Bermuda, his favourite, which started sailing between New York and Bermuda during the 30s. Those pieces include a silver plate vase, and a passenger list from October 22, 1935, but his favourite is a desk which now sits in the room he uses as a studio in his Somerset home. "When I bought it I was told it was off the Queen of Bermuda. I checked on the back of the desk and there was a cabin number E483. But that number wasn't on any of the deck plans for the Queen of Bermuda. I also checked a brochure and deck plan from the Monarch of Bermuda which has a picture showing a room E487 with a desk identical to mine.'' How it started: Card says he started to collect about 12 years ago, mostly out of curiosity and for research for his paintings. "Then I started to meet people who collect the same things. I usually pick things up when I'm travelling or if I see something in a dealer's catalogue that I really want, I'll try and get it. A lot of the dealers put out catalogues which list anything that comes into their collection, like postcards, deck plans, books, etc.

"The only problem with that is you don't get to see what it is you're buying before you pay for it. It might be something you already have. It's dangerous.'' Some pieces turn up at auctions in Bermuda, the US and the UK.

Value: "I think the most I've ever paid for something is $1,600 and that was for the desk. My collection is small - it's average, but some people take it very seriously. I know someone in the US who has a similar collection that is worth $20 million. The serious collectors have to keep most of their pieces wrapped to protect them. I actually use some of mine. I don't collect for the value - I do it for fun. I don't see there would be any enjoyment out of taking it too seriously.'' Wine marking the 50th anniversary of the Normandie's maiden voyage in 1935.

Postcard: French Lines's Paris, circa 1921, Queen of Bermuda passenger list Oct. 22, 1935, North German Lloyd Line ashtray early 1960's. Brochure from Royal Mail Line's Araguaya, late 1920's. Postcard: Canard's RMS Lusitania, 1908. Postcard: Queen of Bermuda in Hamilton Harbour, circa 1965. Inside brochure of Royal Mail Line's Araguaya, late 1920's. Matches from the Furness Bermuda Line motor ship Bermuda, 1929. Matchbox from Cunard, 1950's. Merchant Navy cap badge.

RG MAGAZINE MAY 1993