Jewellery, Watches and Objects of Vertu

An Edwardian silver cigarette case, of slightly bowed rectangular form, the front centred with enamelled flag for the Elder Dempster African Steam Ship Co, by Walker & Hall, Sheffield 1909, dimensions 9.0 x 6.3cm. £100-£150

Elder Dempster was the largest UK shipping group trading between Western Europe and West Africa from the late 19th century to the 1980s.

Elder Depster had its origins in the African Steam Ship Company which had a mail contract to serve Madeira, Tenerife and the African West Coast from London and Plymouth. Services ran from Liverpool from 1856. In 1894 the African Steam Ship Company took over the Canadian trade from Avonmouth of the Dominion Line. In 1898 the Beaver Line was acquired and in 1899 Elder Dempster Shipping was formed. In 1901, the Imperial Direct West India Mail Service was formed to operate services to the Caribbean, and in 1903, the Canadian services were sold to Canadian Pacific along with 14 ships.


In 1910, Elder Dempster and the Imperial Direct West India Mail Service became part of Lords Kylsant and Pirrie's Royal Mail Group, where they were combined as Elder Dempster & Company. The Royal Mail Group collapsed in 1931, and Elder Dempster became associated with the Blue Funnel group of companies. Ownership passed to the Ocean Steamship Company in 1965. Passenger services ceased in 1974. In 1989, Elder Dempster was sold to the French Delmas group.