If you carefully examine these two photos, you'll probably conclude, as I did, that they are reverse prints of the same picture. Although highly retouched, most of the distinguishable items on the two postcards are very similar, even to the positions of the passengers standing on the decks. The large forward flag says EASTERN STATES while the one on the other vessel says WESTERN STATES with reverse lettering. Both banners aft of the stack say NEW YORK, but the lettering on the WESTERN STATES banner is reversed. If you check out the star fields of the American flags at the sterns, you will note that their shapes are identical, but exactly reversed. So---if this is the case, which vessel, the EASTERN or WESTERN STATES is actually depicted by these 1905 era imported postcards? Let me know what YOU think?

And here it is. The real EASTERN STATES arriving in Detroit after an overnight run from Buffalo early one morning in August, 1948. Turn the page to view WAS IT REALLY THAT LARGE?

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