Mystic Seaport Sailing Card Collection

Overview of the Collection
	Repository:	G. W. Blunt White Library, Mystic Seaport
	Title:	Mystic Seaport Sailing Card Collection
	Extent:	ca. 200 items
	Abstract:	Sailing cards (used to advertise vessel qualifications and sailing dates) for a number of well-known vessels, including the DAVID CROCKETT, GREAT REPUBLIC, and YOUNG AMERICA, and other vessels, including several for other vessels built in Mystic, Connecticut.
	Identification:	Coll. 112

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History of Sailing Cards

According to “American Maritime Documents 1776-1860” by Doug Stein, sailing cards are;

Often printed on heavy grade card stock, 4″ x 6 ” being a common size. Many examples feature elaborately engraved scenes, and contain as many as seven different colors. The reverse side is usually blank.

Sailing cards . . . are significant and distinctive maritime documents. Agents or owners commonly advertised the availability and loading of their vessels in the local newspapers, but by the mid-1850’s the colorful sailing cards began to appear in the windows of shipping firms, banks, and public shops along the waterfronts in ports like New York and Boston. These cards might be printed several days prior to the anticipated departure, in order to secure last-minute cargo or passengers. Initially a specific sailing date was not included on the card, although some later examples do state that the ship would sail “on or about” a certain day. Sailing cards then, are difficult to date accurately, but it seems that many of the vessels represented on these eye-catching advertisements flourished between the 1850’s and the 1880’s. Many of the early card announcements were used primarily to advertise sailings to California following the discovery of gold there in 1849. Consequently, [they are] often referred to as “clipper ship sailing cards.” Evidence would indicate, however, that they continued to be used long after the preeminence of the clipper (and gold fever) had passed. Despite this lengthy period of use, sailing cards are relatively scarce.

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Arrangement

This collection is organized into three series, the first being whole and original cards, the second series being for reproductions that we have included in the collection, and the third series contains fragments of cards.

Each series is arranged alphabetically by vessel name.

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Restrictions

Restrictions on Access

Available for use in the Manuscripts Division.

Restrictions on Use

Various copying restriction apply. Guidelines are available from the Manuscripts Division.

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Index Terms

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the G. W. Blunt White Library. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these headings.

Subjects:

Advertising
Sailing ships
Shipping

Document Types:

Advertising cards
Sailing cards

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Coll. 112, Manuscripts Collection, G. W. Blunt White Library, Mystic Seaport Museum, Inc.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.

Sailing cards arranged by vessel name. Sailing card reproductions arranged by vessel name. Sailing cards – fragments and miscellaneous pieces.

Box	Folder
1	1	ANDREW JACKSON. Images
Box	Folder
1	1	ALLEGHANEAN. Images
	2	ASTERION. Images
	3	AUDUBON. Images
	4	BELVEDERE. Images
	5	BLACK HAWK. Images
	6	BLACK PRINCE. Images
	7	BLUE JACKET. Images
	8	BRYN IVOR. Images
	9	BUNKER HILL. Images
	10	C. S. PENNELL. Images
	11	CARRIER DOVE. Images
	12	CELESTIAL EMPIRE. Images
	13	CHALLENGER. Images
	14	COMET; SCA 1.13. Images
	15	COMET; SCA 1.14 (2). Images
	15	COMET. Images
	16	CONQUEST. Images
	17	CREMORNE. Images
	18	DAVID CROCKETT; SCA 1.17. Images
	19	DAVID CROCKETT. Images
	20	DERBY. Images
	21	DON QUIXOTE; SCA 1.20. Images
	22	DON QUIXOTE; SCA 1.21. Images
	23	DONATI. Images
	24	E. H. TAYLOR. Images
	25	E. M. YOUNG. Images
	26	EAGLE WING. Images
	27	ELLEN SEARS. Images
	28	EMERALD ISLE. Images
	29	ENDEAVOR. Images
	30	ENTERPRISE. Images
	31	FAVORITA. Images
	32	FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE. Images
	33	FLYING SCUD. Images
	34	FREE TRADE. Images
	35	FRIENDS. Images
	36	GALATEA; SCA 1.34. Images
	37	GALATEA; SCA 1.35. Images
	38	GARIBALDI; SCA 1.36. Images
	39	GARIBALDI; SCA 1.37. Images
	40	GOLDEN FLEECE. Images
	41	GOV. MORTON. Images
	42	GREAT REPUBLIC. Images
	43	HIGHLANDER. Images
	44	HORNET; SCA 1.43. Images
	45	HORNET; SCA 1.44. Images
	46	HORNET; SCA 1.45. Images
	47	I. F. CHAPMAN. Images
	48	IONE. Images
	49	ISAAC JEANES. Images
	50	JOHN GILPIN. Images
	51	KING PHILIP. Images
	52	KINGFISHER. Images
	53	LADY WASHINGTON. Images
	54	LOGAN. Images
	55	LOOKOUT; SCA 1.51. Images
	56	LOOKOUT; SCA 1.52. Images
	57	LOOKOUT; SCA 1.53. Images
Box	Folder
2	1	MAMELUKE. Images
	2	MARY ROBINSON. Images
	3	MEMNON. Images
	4	MERCHANT. Images
	5	MIDNIGHT. Images
	6	NE PLUS ULTRA. Images
	7	OCEAN EXPRESS. Images
	8	PANAMA. Images
	9	PANTHER. Images
	10	PEARL. Images
	11	POLLY. Images
	12	POLYNESIA. Images
	13	POLYNESIA. Images
	14	PRIMA DONNA. Images
	15	PRINCESS. Images
	16	QUEEN OF THE EAST. Images
	17	RACER. Images
	18	RADUGA. Images
	19	RANGOON. Images
	20	RICHARD S. ELY. Images
	21	ROBIN HOOD. Images
	22	ROCKLAND. Images
	23	SAMARIA. Images
	24	SEA NYMPH. Images
	25	SEA SERPENT. Images
	26	SEMINOLE. Images
	27	SKYLARK. Images
	28	STAR OF THE UNION. Images
	29	SUCCESS. Images
	30	SUNRISE. Images
	31	SUNSHINE. Images
	32	SUSAN FEARING. Images
	33	SYREN. Images
	34	THATCHER MAGOUN. Images
	35	THERESE. Images
	36	TITAN. Images
	37	TRIADE TARABOCHIA. Images
	38	TYCOON. Images
	39	UNDAUNTED. Images
	40	VALPARAISO. Images
	41	WEALTHY PENDLETON. Images
	42	WHISTLER. Images
	43	WHITE SWALLOW. Images
	44	WM. CHAMBERLAIN. Images
	45	WIZARD KING. Images
	46	YOUNG AMERICA. Images
	47	YOUNG AMERICA. Images
	48	YOUNG AMERICA; (Postcard). Images
	49	ZOUAVE. Images
	50	COMMODORE.
	50	ERICSSON.
	50	FLEET-WING.
	50	GARIBALDI.
	50	GRACE DARLING.
	50	IVANHOE.
	50	LOOKOUT.
	50	ONTARIO.
	50	PAULINE.
	50	REPORTER.
	50	ST. CHARLES.
	50	SILAS FISH.
	51	B. F. HOXIE.
	51	CREOLE. Images
	51	CUTWATER. Images
	51	DANIEL MARRY. Images
	51	DAVID CROCKETT. Images
	51	DREADNOUGHT. Images
	51	LADOGA. Images
	51	MESSENGER. Images
	51	NABOB. Images
	51	NAPIER. Images
	51	PRIMA DONNA.
	51	ROANOKE. Images
	51	WHISTLER. Images