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Published by Nesbitt and Co., New York, 1861
Seller: William Reese Company - Americana, New Haven, CT, U.S.A.
Illustrated handbill, 6 1/4 x 9 1/2 inches (sight), printed in red, blue, and black. In fine condition. Matted and framed. A rare and attractive handbill advertising the services of the Andrew Jackson, a clipper ship bound for San Francisco in late 1861. This is a large handbill, much larger than the typical clipper ship card, and has a wonderful image of Andrew Jackson astride his horse, with the American flag behind. The illustration of Jackson was drawn by George F. Nesbitt, who also printed this handbill. The Andrew Jackson was a 1679 ton medium clipper, built in Mystic in 1855. She was a fast sailer, but contrary to what the handbill would imply, she didn't set any records on any of her passages. At the time of the voyage advertised here (December 16, 1861), she was helmed by a Captain Johnson. It is interesting that this voyage to California was scheduled at a time when naval action in the Civil War was ramping up: the USS Constitution arrived at Ship Island at the mouth of the Mississippi River carrying the 26th Massachusetts Regiment to New Orleans; Great Britain began its embargo on U.S. exports; and the naval blockade of the Confederate coast was beginning to show results. Despite the turmoil of the war, the handbill states that the ship would depart "by Christmas day, but certainly on or before the 1st of January." The clipper ship Andrew Jackson was sold to the British in 1863 and was lost in the Gaspar Straits in 1868. A rare survival.