The Old Print Shop

First Naval Conflict between Iron Clad Vessels. In Hampton Roads, March 9th 1862. The,

  • ARTIST: Charles Parsons

  • PUBLISHER: Endicott & Co, Lith. New York.

  • MEDIUM: Three-stone lithograph with handcolored details,

    DATE: 1862

  • EDITION SIZE: The main image is 8 11/16 x 14 1/16" (221 x 359 mm) plus nine vignettes, title and margins.

  • DESCRIPTION: A dramatic image of the fist battle between iron clad vessels. The Merrimac originally had been a steam frigate in the U.S. Navy. At the beginning of the Civil War the confederates captured the Norfolk navy yard where the ship was laid up. The Union forces burned the yard and all the ships there. The Confederates raised her, found the hull was still sound, and built a gun deck with a slanting citadel protected by a two inch sheath of iron. They rechristened her the C.S.S. Virginia. When news of this reconstruction reached the Federal Navy Department, they contracted John Ericsson to design a counterpart. At Brooklyn's Navy Yard. Ericsson designed and built the U.S.S. Monitor, an armor-plated raft with a revolving gun turret amidships. Both were launched in early 1862 and met just inside the entrance to the Chesapeake Bay. The battle was inconclusive - the two ships lay side by side, solidly pounding each other, yet neither incurred serious damage. Both retired from the battle after a few hours. Surrounding the main image is a series of detailed images, including six interior views of the ship and a portrait of Ericson.

  • ADDITIONAL INFO:

  • CONDITION: Fair condition. Water stain along bottom paper edge to just above title line. Original color is somewhat washed out, small tear along right edge, toning. As is...

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