Lot 247: Shipping. Decanter with four different shipping lines in badge including U. S. S. Co, P & O and N Z S Co with motto Quis Separabit! (Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company (P&O))

Very Good. (7.6). Dull internally, not sure if this will soak out or not. Some scratches to inner base. Some usage wear under the heel. Some scratches to be found. Stopper is nice. Initially I thought it odd that this represented four different companies, until I noted the Latin deciphered to "Who will separate us?" which is actually the motto of the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company (P&O). Further research shows that P&O had bought NZSC in October 1916, but left it largely independent. P&O also bought out U. S. S. Co in 1917, and so the four shipping flags represented on this decanter are actually all for one company and it susbsidiaries, P&O, and must date to after 1917 when U. S. S. Co was purchased. The fourth flag is for the British India Steam Navigation Co, which was purchased by P&O in 1914. I believe this is a rare decanter. Estimate: $100-150