The Spain was built by Laird Bros., Ltd., Birkenhead, England in 1871. It was owned by the National line and began its maiden voyage in Liverpool on 16 August, 1871 and sailed to New York. Its burthen was 4,512 tons, with dimensions of 426' x 43' and an iron hull. It had two funnels and four masts and used a single-screw powered by compound engines, with a speed of 13.5 knots. Its sister ship was the Egypt.

It could carry 120 first passengers and 1,400 third. It was considered a fast liner and made a Cobh-New York crossing in 8 days, 13 hours, at an average speed of 13.6 knots. Its final voyage was from London to New York in November 1895 and it was scrapped in France, 1896.

The image shows a part of the passenger list its journey that started in Liverpool and ended in New York on 12 June, 1881.

The first passenger shown in the image is Edward Blacker from Mountain Ash, Wales.