The Old Print Shop

Steamer Robt. E. Lee. : Captain J. W. Cannon. : From New Orleans to St. Louis 1210 Miles. : Time: 3 days 18 hours 30 minutes.

  • ARTIST:

  • PUBLISHER: Published by Stetson & Armstrong, New Orleans.

  • MEDIUM: Lithograph printed in color, finished by hand,

    DATE: c.1870.

  • EDITION SIZE: Image size 18 1/4 x 29 1/8" (46.2 x 47 cm).

  • DESCRIPTION: Lithograph printed in color, finished by hand, circa 1870. Lith. By Hatch & Co. New York. Published by Stetson & Armstrong, New Orleans. <br><br> “The machinery of the Robt. E. Lee consists of, the largest high-pressure engines on the river. The doctor (a steam-powered feed pump) is considered a triumph of the medical art, it being a new style of with the parallel motion applied. It supplies the boiler with water and can throw an immense volume. The boat is also furnished with three separate pumping fire engines with an abundance of hose to use in case of fire. She has wrought iron shafts weighing 18,750 pounds, the shafts being each 23 feet (7.0 m) in length, with the journals 18 inches (460 mm) in diameter. Each of the cranks, which are also of wrought iron, weighs 6,000 pounds. These were all made east of the Alleghenies and are the largest ever constructed for a western steamer… The cabin with its rich garniture and splendid furniture, dazzling chandeliers, arched and fretted ceilings, etched with gold, stained glass skylights, immense mirrors, the velvet carpet, the pure zinc white of sides, the rosewood state room doors, and the imitation Egyptian marble stills, all combined to make it bear an appearance of Oriental luxury and splendor seldom conceived an never before seen floating the wild waters of this so-called semi-barbarian western world.” New Albany Ledger, Oct. 6, 1866.

  • ADDITIONAL INFO: Winner of the Great Race on the Mississippi.

  • CONDITION: Fair condition, good color. Mottling of the margins, tear top center 3" into color, small hole in the title margin, all skillfully repaired. This print is very rare.

  • REFERENCE:

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