Gildersleave, Charles F.
1860

Steam Ship Commodores and United States Mail Contractors

SOLD

The Great Pictorial Romance of the Age or Steam Ship Commodores and United States Mail Contractors

DESCRIPTION: SOLD

Pre-civil war lithographed political cartoon on the topic of awarding contracts to carry the mail by steamboat from New York to San Francisco via Nicaragua. Many of the references in the cartoon are now opaque but in the 1850's contracts to carry the U.S. Mail were the subject of great controversy and competition. This cartoon reflects that competition in the context of the leading-edge technologies of that time.

At center a gas-filled balloon labeled "California Mail Balloon via Nicaragua" rises above the sea. Mail transport by balloon was first attempted in the United States in 1859 by John Wise aboard the balloon 'Jupiter'. Not a commercial success, nevertheless it was doubtless a major topic of conversation in that period.

Below another figure balances two steamboats (Star of the West and Moses Taylor) on a pole as he walks a high-wire strung between two steamships shaped as rocking horses. One ship is labeled U.S.M. (U.S. Mail Steamship Company) and the other Cornelius Vanderbilt's Independent Line steamer 'Northern Light' which operated between Nicaragua and New York City. At left, aboard the ship 'Baltic' a gentleman in top hat (Edward Knight Collins ?) watches through a telescope. The 'Baltic' a 282 foot wooden-hulled sidewheel steamboat was owned by the American Collins Line, a competitor to Vanderbilt, and was for five years the fastest steamship in the Atlantic. Ships mentioned include: 1) The 'San Francisco' a 280 foot steamship owned by the Pacific Mail Steamship Company . 2) S.S. Moses Taylor owned by the U.S. Mail Steamship Company. 3) The 'Star of the West' , a paddlewheel steamer owned by Cornelius Vanderbilt (known as the 'Commodore') one of the richest men in the United States with extensive interests in steamboats. The vessel was launched in 1852 and from July 1853 to March 1856 was operated on a mail route between New York City and San Juan de Nicaragua.

CREATOR: Gildersleave, Charles F.

PUBLICATION DATE: 1860

GEOGRAPHIC AREA: United States

BODY OF WATER: N/A

CONDITION: Good Small tear at lower left just intruding into neatline. Other repaired tears in the wide margins well away from the image. Uniformly browned.

COLORING: None

ENGRAVER: Unknown

SIZE: 17 " x 13 "

ITEM PHYSICAL LOCATION: 0

PRICE: $

ADD TO CART *

* Next Shipping Date is May 14, 2024

This web site provides security by Rapid SSL

Similar items:

6759	Pictorial map San Joaquin Power Club Wishon Cove Camp You have heard about "Where's Waldo?" but on this map I ask: "Where's Kilroy?" An original post-WWII pictorial map of Wishon Cove Camp at Wishon Cove on Bass Lake in Cra . . .	Details		Clary--A--D-	Pictorial-map-San-Joaquin-Power-Club-Wishon-Cove-Camp	You have heard about "Where's Waldo?" but on this map I ask: "Where's Kilroy?" <br><br> An original post-WWII pictorial map of Wishon Cove Camp at Wishon Cove on Bass Lake in Crane Valley, California <b>featuring Kilroy</b> (1). Subtitled "San Joaquin Power Club", apparently this camp was originally a private club for the San Joaquin Power Company. Today the camp is run by the Pacific Service Employees Association. <br><br> The map shows hikers, horse-back riders, dancers, hunters, boaters, Boy Scouts, fishermen, and swimmers, all enjoying themselves outdoors on what appears to be some steep slopes. McDougald's store is located next to the shoreline and red-roofed Sam's Place seems to be the local watering hole, surrounded by apartments, dormitories, and numerous outhouses. The camp was named after businessman Arthur Wishon. <br><br> Arthur Emory Wishon, often known as A. Emory Wishon, was a pioneering figure in the development of hydroelectric power in California, using Bass Lake water. He served as a chief engineer and later as a vice president for San Joaquin Light and Power Corporation. His work significantly contributed to the construction of multiple dams and power plants in the region. <br><br>
6813	Dynamic Clearwater Florida Sailing Poster Dynamic glossy sailing poster for the 1990 Florida Coastal Management Conference: Navigating the Nineties by McMillan. The 1990 Florida Coastal Management Conference was held in C . . .	Details	1990	McMillan-	Dynamic-Clearwater-Florida-Sailing-Poster	Dynamic glossy sailing poster for the 1990 Florida Coastal Management Conference: Navigating the Nineties by McMillan. The 1990 Florida Coastal Management Conference was held in Clearwater, Florida during September 26 - 28. <br><br> Could be trimmed and framed. Image alone is ~ 12" x 30".
6845	Scarce view of Hollywood Stars Homes Beverly Hills Scarce, early photographic oblique "airplane" birds-eye view of Beverly Hills, California annotated with numerals keyed to homes of Hollywood stars. These movie stars include Bust . . .	Details	1930	Fairchild-Aerial-Surveys-Inc-	Scarce-view-of-Hollywood-Stars-Homes-Beverly-Hills	Scarce, early photographic oblique "airplane" birds-eye view of Beverly Hills, California annotated with numerals keyed to homes of Hollywood stars. These movie stars include Buster Keaton, Tom Mix, Mary Pickford, Douglass Fairbanks, Charles Chaplin, Marlene Dietrich, and Will Rogers. The view probably dates between 1926 and 1933 based on the marriage duration of King Vidor and Eleanor Boardman (Home # 22) . By Fairchild Aerial Surveys, N.Y.C. Published in an unknown magazine. Verso with glamour photographs of period stars. <br><br> The view looks roughly north with the Beverly Hills Hotel, established 1912, slightly to the left of the center. This item may be the earliest published aerial photograph of Photomap of Beverly Hills to locate the homes of movie stars and likely predates Landacre's "Newe Mappe of the Heavens." <br><br><div class="indenttextblocksingle"> "When Wallace Beery flies back from his island camp, or when Ben Lyon volplanes down home to see Bebe and the baby, this is where the magic carpet of Hollywood looks to the returning wanderers of the sky." </div><br>
7898	Port of San Francisco The Orient starts from here Pictorial advertising poster for the Port of San Francisco, California. Japanese text at the top of the image reads "サンフランシスコの港東洋はここからはじまる" which translates to "Port o . . .	Details	1984	Port-of-San-Francisco	Port-of-San-Francisco-The-Orient-starts-from-here	Pictorial advertising poster for the Port of San Francisco, California. <br><br> Japanese text at the top of the image reads "サンフランシスコの港東洋はここからはじまる" which translates to "Port of San Francisco - The Orient starts from here". <br><br> The depicts view San Francisco as a gateway or starting point to the East/Orient from the perspective of the United States, but in a stylized, somewhat fantastical way. The port and various ships are prominently featured, emphasizing San Francisco's role as a major port city connecting the U.S. to Asia. <br><br> The map includes various landmarks and geographic features of the San Francisco Bay Area, such as the Golden Gate Bridge, downtown San Francisco skyscrapers, boats in the bay, and the hilly terrain. However, the proportions and layouts are not geographically accurate. <br><br> Interestingly, the hills and mountains are rendered in a colorful, undulating style reminiscent of Japanese ukiyo-e landscape prints. This gives the map a unique artistic interpretation blending American and Japanese aesthetics. The whimsical, simplified style seems designed to engage and orient viewers while capturing the general character of the Bay Area. <br><br> Published by the Port of San Francisco in 1984. Artists' signature at bottom right is either Waggoner or Waffoner.
7899	Pictorial Advertising Map of Greenville Avenue Dallas Texas Large advertising poster of Upper Greenville Avenue, a vibrant neighborhood located in east Dallas, Texas, known for its diverse restaurants, lively entertainment scene, and walkab . . .	Details	1992	Greenville-Avenue-Area-Business-Association	Pictorial-Advertising-Map-of-Greenville-Avenue-Dallas-Texas	Large advertising poster of Upper Greenville Avenue, a vibrant neighborhood located in east Dallas, Texas, known for its diverse restaurants, lively entertainment scene, and walkable streets. Situated along Greenville Avenue, the area is home to a wide variety of dining options, ranging from casual eateries to upscale restaurants, as well as live music venues, bars, and pubs. <br><br> The neighborhood is surrounded by residential areas, primarily composed of single-family homes and apartments. Upper Greenville also features a mix of local boutiques, vintage stores, and specialty shops, catering to various tastes and interests. The area hosts several annual events, such as the Greenville Avenue St. Patrick's Day Parade and Block Party, which attracts thousands of visitors. <br><br> Copyright 1992-1993 Landmark Adventures.