TL;DR — This is an original dinner (dîner) menu from Compagnie Générale Transatlantique, June 1, 1906, preserved in the Buttolph Collection at The New York Public Library. The cover uses a stylised signal-flag composition along a vertical mast: each pennant represents an actual maritime code flag from the era. Restored and reformatted at 300 DPI, it prints as archival wall art in three sizes.
By The Menu Press · Published October 2026
What this card is
Compagnie Générale Transatlantique, June 1, 1906. La Lorraine, launched 1900, was a twin-funnel express liner running the Le Havre–New York service. CGT’s printed menus aboard her were entirely in French — a deliberate identity choice — and listed classical French cuisine: consommé, sole, ris de veau, asperges en branches, fromages, glaces.
The line and the moment
The Compagnie Générale Transatlantique — known commercially as the “French Line” — was founded in 1855 with French government backing to operate scheduled steamer service between Le Havre and New York. By 1906 CGT was firmly established as the most refined of the Atlantic carriers, competing on French cuisine, French service, and Parisian style rather than on speed.
Reading the design
The cover uses a stylised signal-flag composition along a vertical mast: each pennant represents an actual maritime code flag from the era. The CGT initials are integrated as the topmost flag, and the red banner — “Compagnie Générale Transatlantique” — recalls the company’s house colours.
The design printed by Ed. Pinaud, Paris.
Why it works on a wall today
Printed at 300 DPI, the card reads well at every size we offer. The 16×20 anchors a wall on its own; the 11×14 works in a multi-menu grouping; the 8×10 suits a shelf or a narrow space.
A simple frame and a generous mat let the original printing — the ink, the paper tone, the period typography — carry the room. Hung as a pair or in a chronological sweep with other cards from the same line, a single menu becomes a small history of dining at sea.
Compagnie Générale Transatlantique · Paquebot La Lorraine · 1906 is available as an instant download in three print sizes (8×10, 11×14, 16×20) at 300 DPI, each in a pure and a museum-labelled version. View the full print →
Frequently asked questions
Is this an original historic menu or a modern reproduction?
It is an original historic menu — a single card from Compagnie Générale Transatlantique, June 1, 1906, held in the Buttolph Collection at The New York Public Library and digitised at high resolution. We restore and reformat the scan for modern printing; the underlying artwork is the period original.
What print size works best?
The 16×20 inch print is the boldest single-wall choice and reads from across a room. The 11×14 suits a grouping of several menus; the 8×10 fits a shelf or a tight space. All three ship at 300 DPI.
What was Compagnie Générale Transatlantique?
The Compagnie Générale Transatlantique — known commercially as the “French Line” — was founded in 1855 with French government backing to operate scheduled steamer service between Le Havre and New York. By 1906 CGT was firmly established as the most refined of the Atlantic carriers, competing on French cuisine, French service, and Parisian style rather than on speed.
Further reading
- The Golden Age of Ocean Liner Dining, 1880-1930
- The Buttolph Collection: A Curator’s Guide
- See the print: Compagnie Générale Transatlantique · Paquebot La Lorraine · 1906
The Menu Press curates, digitally restores, and reformats public-domain menus from the Buttolph Collection of Menus, The New York Public Library, for archival-quality printing as wall art. Browse the archive · Read our story.