These rare photographs show that the stern lettering of RMS Lusitania changed between her fitting-out period and her years in active service. Early images feature smaller, more widely spaced letters, while later photographs show a larger, bolder style that remained for most of her career.

Although the exact reason for this change has never been officially documented, it is generally believed to have been part of the ship’s finishing and appearance updates before entering regular service.

Launched for the Cunard Line, RMS Lusitania made her maiden voyage on 7 September 1907, earned fame for her remarkable speed, and was tragically sunk by German U-20 on 7 May 1915, becoming one of the most significant maritime disasters of the First World War.