Unattributed "Awful Conflagration of the Steam Boat Lexington in Long Island Sound."

Unattributed.  "Awful Conflagration of the Steam Boat Lexington in Long Island Sound."

Publisher unknown.  1840. Lithograph. 6 1/2 x 11 1/2. Close margins, but complete. Very good condition.  

The "Awful Conflagration" of the Lexington in Long Island Sound on January 13th, 1840, with its large loss of life, was an event that attracted much attention in New York City and area. This spurred the production of broadsides and lithographed images of the disaster, most famously one by Nathaniel Currier that is supposed to have been one of the foundations of his successful career This was not the only "rush print" made of the burning of the Lexington and here is an unusual and unattributed lithograph of the same scene. The title is similar to the Currier print, but the image is quite different. It was undoubtedly issued within a short time of the event and was aimed at the market created by the public fascination with this famous disaster.