Ship sailing toward left of viewer. Five smoke stacks, all masts at full said. Ship statistics detailed below print’s title.
Currier & Ives celebrated the speed and grace of American clipper ships in their maritime prints, but it was the great size and strength of the steamers that the firm recognized in their lithographs of these vessels. One of the most famous steamers of the day was the Great Eastern, designed by the notable industrial engineer of the 19th century, Isambard Kingdom Brunel. The ship was equipped with sails and paddlewheels, making it one of the most powerful ocean-going vessels of its time. A technological marvel, the vessel was built with a double hull and designed to carry cargo and passengers to India and Australia without stopping for fuel. Twice the length and five times the weight of any previous ship built, the Great Eastern was the largest ship (and largest moveable object) the world had ever seen. The steamer was an international phenomenon and its launch in January, 1858, was celebrated in prints worldwide. While the Great Eastern made history with its ground breaking design, the ship was not a commercial success and suffered from a series of mishaps.
