Pictorial Silk Broadside: 'New-York, Albany and Troy Steam Boat Line! Through in Nine Hours, Including all Landings!
Albany: Richard H. Pease, 1838. A commemorative silk broadside for the Hudson River steamer 'Albany' , which had just been built in the winter of 1838, here under the command of Captain J. G. Jenkins. The 'Albany' ran between Albany and New York, and as the ad boasts "this splendid steam boat is 289 feet in length - 28 feet beam, and can accomodate one thousand passengers. Rebuilt in the winter of 1838".
"Pease sc. Albany" just beneath the image. The printer was Richard H. Pease, owner of Pease's Temple of Fancy, a noted 19th century Albany variety store and printing operation. Pease printed what is considered the first Christmas card in America in 1851 (only one of which exists, at the Manchester Metropolitan Museum in England) as well as printing the hand colored lithographs of fruit for Ebenezer Emmons’s book 'Agriculture of New York State', published between 1846 and 1854.
In 1819 there were only nine steamboats in operation on the Hudson River. The monopoly was dissolved in 1824 following the landmark Gibbons v. Ogden Supreme Court case, opening New York waters to all competitive steam navigation companies. By 1840, customers could choose from more than 100 in service. This Steamboat and Captain were advertised in the press of the 1840s as paired with Captain Gorham of the "Troy". Captain Jenkins had a long career, working on the Philadelphia route in the 1820s; there followed a long career on the Hudson. The captain's names seem to be invoked as a reassurance for the traveling public, as there were often fires on the steamboats.
Some damp markings at edge, and white mark near the date at the bottom of the broad side. the image of the steam boat itself is bright and clean. Printed in black on pale silver colored silk. 15 x 9" Very good overall. Item #20678
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