The house flag of the United States Lines Co., New York. A white rectangular flag, printed in blue with the American eagle and 'UNITED STATES LINES' below. The flag is made of nylon fabric with a cotton hoist and is machine sewn. A cord is attached.

The United States Lines (USL) came into being after failure of United States Mail Steamships Company. USL was formed in 1921, using two German liners renamed ‘America’ and ‘George Washington’, initially operating on routes between New York, Bremen and London. In 1923 the German liner ‘Vaterland’ was rebuilt and named ‘Leviathan’, and operated between New York and Southampton, as the company’s flagship. Routes were later introduced to Danzig, Manchester, Hamburg, Le Verden and Genoa.

In 1929 the loss-making business was bought out by PW Chapman Company, which acquired 11 ships for 16 million dollars, and traded under the name of USL Delaware. Further shipbuilding plans were curtailed by the stock market crash in October 1929, and ships were laid up and sold off. The stock was eventually bought by USL Nevada, and in 1932 the first purpose built liner ‘Manhattan’ entered service, followed by her sister ship ‘Washington’ in 1933. A new ‘America’ was built in 1940.

During World War II USL’s fleet was put into the service of the American Navy. After the war the company operated a fleet of ex-service C-4 transport ships during the post-war boom in shipping. All ships were prefixed with the title ‘American’.

In 1952 the ‘United States’ was introduced by the company to serve the New York – Le Havre – Southampton route, and the liner won the Blue Riband for the fastest crossing of the Atlantic on her maiden voyage.

The increasing popularity or air travel in the 1960’s caused a decline in the company’s fortunes, and it was wound up in 1969.