T.S.K. LINE Cup & Saucer - Japanese Freighter Ships

This steamship cup and saucer came from the estate of a ship's pilot. According to his heir, he worked in the Panama Canal circa 1963-1979. Custom was to tip the pilot for safely steering the ship through the canal. Usual tips were a bottle of whisky or a carton of cigarettes but this gentleman neither imbibed not smoked so he always asked for a cup and saucer off each vessel.

T.S.K. (Toyko Senpaku Kaisha), a freighter and container operation, started in Japan in 1949. Both cup and saucer feature the house flag buoy logo in dark red with blue accent bands around the rims and down the handle.

The coffee cup stands 2 inches tall and 3 1/2 inches across. The saucer is approx. 5 3/4 inches. Excellent condition, with no chips, cracks or hairlines. Both have the Kobe logo on the bottom.

It's a gorgeous set of hard to find steamship china.

Thanks for looking and please see all 4 pictures of this great set.