The Yacht "Maria" – 216 Tons

The "Maria," one of the most beautiful and fastest yachts of its day, is depicted as a two-masted schooner sailing from left to right; five crew members are on its deck. In the right background, there is a large steamship, while in the left background, the single-masted sailboat "Irene" heads in the opposite direction. This ship was designed and owned by one of America's leading families. John Cox Stevens (1785-1857), and his younger brothers Robert L. Stevens (1787-1856) and Edwin A. Stevens (1795-1868) --all cited in this print's inscription. They were the sons of an American Revolutionary War colonel, who established a country estate in Hoboken, New Jersey, and devised early steam engines and boats. The three younger Stevens would eventually become leading ship designers and yachtsmen, as well as prominet members of the New York Yacht Club -- John Cox Stevens being a founding member and its first Commodore. They were also part of the syndicate sponsoring the yacht "America," famous for winning the 1851 transatlantic race to England, thereby launching the yachting event known as the America's Cup Race. As indicated in the subtitle beneath this image, Robert L. Stevens designed the "Maria", which was noted for beating the "America" during a series of speed trial races to Sandy Hook, Long Island, prior to the "America" making its epoch-making journey to England.

Nathaniel Currier, whose successful New York-based lithography firm began in 1835, produced thousands of hand-colored prints in various sizes that together create a vivid panorama of mid-to-late nineteenth century American life and its history. People eagerly acquired such lithographs featuring picturesque scenery, rural and city views, ships, railroads, portraits, hunting and fishing scenes, domestic life and numerous other subjects, as an inexpensive way to decorate their homes or business establishments. As the firm expanded, Nathaniel included his younger brother Charles in the business. In 1857, James Merritt Ives (the firm's accountant since 1852 and Charles's brother-in-law) was made a business partner; subsequently renamed Currier & Ives, the firm continued until 1907.