For the Royal Navy (British) alone, it is difficult even if you can track a particular ship to a tropical station or to a temperate station. Mostly, it seems that the former might have white hulls and superstructures and " yellow" (primrose or buff) funnels, ventilators and masts; the latter would probably have a black hull below the main deck. Various trim lines and boot toppings might be found.
Other navies seem to have had a variety also. Photos are the best first choice, if you can find one of the correct date; but these can be deceptive too. Jane's Fighting Ships of 1898 (I believe the first) is illustrated only with Fred Jane's pen and ink sketches, seemingly quite accurate. Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1850-1905 has good photos and specs. Also Conway's History of the Ship - Steam. Steel And Shellfire. None of these sources have any color samples.
I have been advised in my own researches that: Models in museums can help, but are not always a guide as to how a ship appeared in service; see if you can find a painting by a good marine artist of the age; if all else fails, follow your best judgment!
BTW, one very
good contemporaneous source in color, which depicts some "foreign" ships as
well as British, and a good read, is The Royal Tour 1901, or the Cruise of HMS
Ophir by Petty Officer Harry Price. He was a good watercolorist and diarist. I got
a copy recently through Abebooks on the web.
{Brian Taylor}
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