The magnificent City of Rome is generally regarded as the most beautiful steamship ever built for the North Atlantic passenger trade. Initially however, her speed proved a great disappointment and she was rejected by the prestigious Inman Line for whom she had been built and was leased instead to the Anchor Line. Completed in 1881, City of Rome ran a Liverpool to New York service for ten years and thereafter sailed out of Glasgow. Requisitioned as a troopship in 1900, during the Boer War, she was broken up in 1902. For further information, see Christie's Maritime catalogue, 7 October 1993, lot 331.