A group of two clipper ship advertising cards for routes to San Francisco from the East Coast. Items include: 

1. Smallest, Sharpest and Fastest Clipper Loading. 10 Days to San Francisco...The Celebrated A 1 Extreme Clipper Ship Boston Light. [New York?]: N.p., [1861]. Coated cardstock, printed in blue, red, and gold. 

Featuring the illustration of a nautical flag, the fine trade card advertised the Boston Light clipper ship captained by Holway, boasting that it is able to reach San Francisco in just 10 days. Randolph M. Cooley is the New York agent, and De Witt, Kittle & Co. are listed as the agents in San Francisco. 

A list of arrivals published in the 14 March 1861 issue of The New York Times records the arrival of the Boston Light, captained by Holway. In 1861, April 30th was on a Tuesday, giving us a likely date of printing for the elegant trade card.

2. Cheapest Freight Route to California and Oregon...The New and Elegant A 1 First-Class Clipper Ship St. Charles. [Philadelphia?]: N.p., circa 1880s. 6 1/8 x 3 1/2 in. Blue cardstock, printed in brown, gold, and green. 

An advertising card for the Clipper Ship St. Charles. Originally, the card identified a "Nichols" as St. Charles's master; however, Nichols has been crossed out, with the ink inscription "Purinton" alongside, noting his replacement. The agent is identified as Sutton & Co. of Philadelphia, and John Rosenfeld as the consignee in San Francisco. 

Sutton & Co. were launching ships as early as 1846 (Public Ledger (Philadelphia), 19 August 1849), and Rosenfeld is recorded as the agent for Sutton & Co. as early as 1882 (Philadelphia Inquirer, 22 July 1882). In an article titled "Sea Commerce. A Review of the Clipper Trade" from the 9 April 1887 issue of the San Francisco Chronicle records that the St. Charles sailed from New York "around the Horn to the Golden Gate" carrying 1535 tons.

Fine examples of maritime trade cards.

[Ephemera, Navy, Naval History] [Western Americana, Western History, Western Expansion, Wild West]