Argentina celebrated the termination of her 1947-51 Five Year Plan with an issue of four stamps, the 25c. value of the set showing a liner which may have proved difficult to identify. The vessel is an artist's impression representing the three new ships built for the Institute Argentine de Promocion del Intercambio by Vickers-Armstrongs at Barrow during the 5-year period mentioned. These ships, Presidente Peron, Eva Peron. and 17 de Octubre, are all similar in profile, though differing in detail, notably in funnel height. The Presidente Peron, first of the class, has a smaller funnel than the later pair, and her midship structure is more open. She has accommodation for only 74 first-class passengers, the other two vessels carrying 96. The three were built for the State-owned River Plate Line to maintain a 16-day express service between London and Buenos Aires with calls at Lisbon and Rio de Janeiro.
The whole of the cargo spaces, except No.1 upper `tween decks, is fully insulated for the carriage of refrigerated cargoes. Every passenger amenity, such as shops, hairdressing saloons, beauty parlour, gymnasium, cinema, open air swimming pool, etc., are provided although the vessels carry fewer passengers than many older vessels on the South American service. The vessel shown on the stamp most resembles the Presidente Peron, having a small funnel, but the white band is more pronounced than on the actual ship, while the open deck work amidships and beneath the bridge is nothing like that of any of the three ships of the class.
SG829 Sea Breezes 7/52