The Maritime Museum’s collections are extremely rich and varied. They include pieces ranging from a ship that still sails to a postal stamp, or from a steam engine to a 14th-century manuscript. Of course, they also include everything you expect to find in a maritime museum: binnacles, anchors, model ships, navigational tools, etc. In other words, all sorts of documents and objects from the miniscule to the huge, from all different periods and made of all sorts of materials. For decades, the Museum has gathered examples of the maritime past, a heritage that reminds us of the lives of seafarers, the histories of ships and maritime activities in peacetime or war.
We would like to offer a selection of objects and documents that are notable for their historical interest, their rarity or their aesthetic value. These can give you a general idea of the content of the Museum’s collection. However, do not forget that there is a great deal beyond this selection, with thousands of artefacts and documents that you can discover using our search engine or other resources.
We encourage you to take a stroll through some of the key pieces in our Museum’s collection, grouped into twelve categories to help you keep your bearings.
Advertising poster for the Barcelona-Buenos Aires line
Engravings and lithographsPoster from the Genoa-based Italian company Lloyd Sabauco, advertising a trip between Barcelona and Buenos Aires with stops at Las Palmas (eventual), Rio de Janeiro, Santos and Montevideo. This lithograph printed by J.M. Pasenas in 1910 was aimed mostly at possible immigrants. The poster offers a great deal of information on the company, the ship, the route and how to sign up. “Lloyd Sabauco joint stock company with headquarters in Genoa, 75,000,000 issued and paid in (top); To Buenos Aires with stops in Las Palmas (eventual), Rio de Janeiro; Santos and Montevideo. Leaving December 31st from the Port of Barcelona, the fast and accredited steamship Principe di Udine (centre) accepting cargo and 1st-, 2nd– and 3rd-class passengers. Besides its spacious cabins and halls, this ship also has a winter garden, wireless telegraph, bar and any other commodities that can be wished for on a luxury steamship. It also has magnificent cabins with bathrooms and a splendid deck for 3rd-class passengers. For more information, contact general agents in Spain. Ignacio Villavecchia y Cia. Rambla Santa Mónica, nº 7 Barcelona. Telephone Nº 345 and 349 A. Madrid agency for 1st and 2nd class: Valenzuela, 10 (corner of Alfonso XII)”.
