The China Navigation Company : 1872-1965.

The pamphlet outlines the history of the China Navigation Company founded in 1872 by John Samuel Swire to operate a modest fleet of paddle steamers on China's Yangtze River, up to the end of 1965 when the company boasted 26 ships with trading areas covering the Western Rim of the Pacific basin and luxury cruising out of Australia and New Zealand. Illustrated with black and white photographs, it covers early successes such as the monopoly of the carriage of 'beancake' which was carried from north to south China to be used as fertiliser, and the company's chequered fortunes during two world wars.