Charles Parsons (1821-1910). “The Great Ocean Yacht Race. Between the Henrietta, Fleetwing & Vesta. The 'Good Bye' to the Yacht Club Steamer 'River Queen,' 4 Miles East of Sandy Hook Light Ship, Dec. 11th 1866."
New York: Currier and Ives, 1867. Second state of this image. Possibly a later reissue by Currier and Ives or an early 20th century re-strike. 17 5/8 x 27 ¾ (image). Large folio. Chromolithograph. Signed in image by the artist. Scratches in image in ocean, bottom left hand side due to scratches in lithographic printing plate. Very small abrasion to paper surface just to the left of the sail of the boat on the right hand side. Light horizontal buckling in sheet. Else, very good condition. Unrecorded print. Not in Cunningham or Gale.
This excellent view was drawn by Charles Parsons, from the Yacht Club Steamer "River Queen." This image was initially issued as a hand colored lithograph. This print is the second version printed in color and can be identified by the difference in cloud formations, coloring in the sky and the color of water. The scratches in the image are most likely due to plate being damaged at some point due to improper storage and/or handling. These scratches would not have been present during the first printing, hence our assumption that it may be a later re-issue by the Currier firm prior to its closing in 1907 or an early 20th century re-strike by another firm. Several of the large folio Clipper ships were re-struck in the early 20th century when Currier and Ives closed and sold their lithographic stones.