Samuel Cunard's first steamship was a wooden paddle-steamer, built in 1840 by R. Duncan & Co. of Greenock, and launched on February 5th. She was built for the British and North American Royal Mail Steam Packet Co. which was popularly known as Cunard's Line. On her maiden voyage she left Liverpool on Saturday, 4th July, 1840, at 2 o'clock, and arrived in Halifax 12 days 10 hours later. Charles Dickens made his first journey to America in the Britannia in 1842, and later chronicled how un-impressed he had been with the accommodation. This was largely because she ran into a series of westerly gales which caused Dickens to suffer from severe sea-sickness. When he was well enough to venture on deck, he found the lifeboats reduced to matchwood. Part of the starboard paddle-box had been carried away and the naked paddles churned spray over the heaving decks.
Britannia was sold to the North German Confederation Navy and re-named Barbarossa in 1849. She was transferred to the Prussian Navy in 1852, serving until 1880 when she was sunk while acting as a target during experiments with early forms of torpedoes.
Limited to 850 copies, signed and numbered by the artist and countersigned by Commodore Ridley.
Price £20 + carriage.
One of a set of six Cunard Liners prints. Full set only £75 + carriage.
Overall size : 17" x 13.5"
Facts and Figures of Britannia
Builder :R. Duncan and Co., Greenock
Gross tonnage :1,135 tons
Overall length :207 ft
Breadth :34 ft
Propellers :Twin paddles
Normal speed :9 knots
Passengers :115