SANTA PAULA: 1958 - Maiden year souvenir portrait dish

Grace Line:  A hand colored portrait dish of the SANTA PAULA.  The image is by famed American artist Carl Evers.  Printed on back is "Grace Line new SANTA PAULA, Caribbean-South America Cruises, Entered Service October 1958."  The 5.25" by 7.25" dish was given out or sold to passengers in the late 1950s.  Notice the handsome lines and sampan funnel, both trademarks of the ship's designer, William Francis Gibbs.  The SANTA PAULA's last gig was as a floating hotel in Kuwait City.  You can only imagine the wreckage after Saddam's henchmen finished bombing her during the First Gulf War.  The ship was scraped on site.  Excellent condition with light wear to the gold rim.