A 15 carat gold and ivory launching axe for the Irish ferry S.S. Ulster, is under the hammer on Wednesday at Bonham's Marine Auction in London. The ceremonial axe has a fluted ivory shaft, gold terminal inscribed "ULSTER" / launched at / BIRKENHEAD / 27th June 1896, it is 8in (20cm) long. The guide price is €700 - 930.

According to Bonhams, the passenger ship, Ulster, built by Laird Bros. in Birkenhead, was launched by the Duchess of Abercorn on 27th July, 1896. Registered at 2632 tons, Ulster replaced an earlier ship of the same name for the City of Dublin Steam Packet Co. She was withdrawn from service in 1920 and broken up in 1924.

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