A "Jib and Mainsail" Race

Yacht racing and recreational sailing became a popular sport in America starting in the 1850s. Nathaniel Currier, and later the Currier and Ives lithography firm, capitalized on public interest in swift sailing ships of all kinds by creating affordably priced prints depicting celebrated clipper ships, yachts, and smaller sailing ships exemplifying American skills in boat design and in establishing speed records.

The New York firm of Currier & Ives grew from a printing business established by Nathaniel Currier (1813–1888) in 1835. Expansion led, in 1857, to a partnership with James Merritt Ives (1824–1895). The firm operated until 1907, lithographing over 4,000 subjects for distribution across America and Europe with popular categories including landscape, marines, natural history, genre, caricatures, portraits, history and foreign views. Until the 1880s, images were printed in monochrome, then hand-colored by women who worked for the company at home.