This superb big plate is a wonderful example of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway's onboard dining car china in the Bleeding Blue pattern. At 9 inches across, it is a full-size dinner plate.

Made by the Scammell China in their better quality Lamberton ware, this is the "Ivory" line, a creamy not-quite-white dinnerware. Our "Restaurant China Vol. 2" (Conroy) confirms the back marking dates from the late 1920s into the mid-1930s. Our collector guides confirm that Scammell was a known maker and that there never were any railroad markings on the underside.

Condition is amazing -- there are only very light utensil marks on the surface, that you must tilt the plate in bright light to be able to see. There are NO cracks, chips, flakes or repairs. Critical to discriminating collectors, the blue Santa Fe lettering is sharp and clear, with no glaze runs or blurs. An inside, finer line of lighter blue adds depth and dimension to the letters.

Most Bleeding Blue pieces were heavily used. With its later production and very little use apparent, we are guessing that this plate likely is from an order toward the end of when the pattern was used -- definitely showing use marks, but not nearly as much as earlier pieces.