Early photographs of Ships

1843 Fox Talbot: The Great Britain fitting out at Bristol.

In NMM.

c1844 - William Henry Fox Talbot: The River Thames at Windsor.

In Camera 55:9 (1976).

Includes a Thames barge at the river bank. This is possibly the earliest photograph including a sailing craft although not a square-rigger.

c1844-1850 - Rev. Calvert Jones: Several pictures from Wales of ships and shipping.

In MacGregor's "Merchant Sailing Ships 1850-1875".

1851 - anon.: Seaman's Bride on slip ready for launching at Baltimore.

In MacGregor's "Clipper Ships", p 69.

Coll. Maryland Historical Society.

c1852 - Albert Salds Southworth & Joshiam Johnsen Hawes: Boston Navy Yard.

In "Camera" 55:12 (1976).

Coll. International Museum of Photography at Eastman House: Southworth and Hawes Collection.

Shows a large American frigate in the dock. Could this be the Constitution fitting out for her 1852-1855 Mediterranean cruise?

1854 - A.S. Southworth & J.J. Hawes: The Champion of the Seas at Donald McKay's shipyard at East Boston.

In MacGregor's "Clipper Ships", p 74.

Coll. Richard Parker.

1855 March - Roger Fenton: St Hilda (1849) at Cattle Pier, Cossack Bay, Balaclava.

In Camera 51:12 (1972) and MacGregor's "Merchant Sailing Ships 1850-1875".

Coll. Library of Congress.

1855 Summer - The clipper ship Schomberg fitting out before her maiden voyage.

Coll. Nautical Publishing Agency

1855 - A.S. Southworth & J.J. Hawes: Donald McKay's shipyard at East Boston.

In Camera 55:12 (1976).

Coll. Richard Parker.

c1855 - A.S. Southworth & J.J. Hawes: The Niagara in the Atlantic Dock, East Boston.

In Camera 55:12 (1976).

Coll. Richard Parker.

1858 - L'Audacieuse, 58-gun frigate at anchor in Saïgon.

In Neptunia No. 165 (1987), p 37.

Coll. Musée de la Marin, Ph 168575.

c1859 - Warnod: Entrance to Le Havre Harbour.

In Camera 53:2 (1974).

This photograph was noted at the time for its lively scenery, quite contrasting to the usual static daguerreotypes.

Updated 1995-09-25 by Lars Bruzelius.