Mystic Seaport Sailing Card Collection (Coll. 112)

An Inventory of the Collection at the G. W. Blunt White Library, Mystic Seaport

History of Sailing Cards

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.

Organization and 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.

Detailed Description of the Collection

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