Antique 1885 Harper's Weekly Framed Print The International Yacht Races

Antique 1885 Harper's Weekly Framed Print: "The International Yacht Races"

Item: #4308

Own a striking piece of maritime history with this framed antique wood engraving from Harper's Weekly. The print, titled "The International Yacht Races - The Start at The 'Scotland' Light-ship, Monday, September 7," was originally drawn by prominent marine artist M.J. Burns and published in the September 19, 1885 issue.

This beautifully detailed piece captures the bustling scene at the start of the International Yacht Races, depicting steamships, sailboats, and a densely packed crowd of spectators eager to watch the event.

Product Specifications

• Frame Dimensions: 22" x 19"

• Print Area Dimensions: 14" x 10"

• Additional Dimensions: 20" x 17" x 4" x 3" (Please note: these may reflect shipping or interior frame measurements)

• Publication: Harper's Weekly (September 19, 1885)

• Artist: M.J. Burns

Historical Context: The 1885 America's Cup & September 7

The artwork captures the thrilling atmosphere of the 1885 America's Cup.

• The 1885 challenge matched the American defender Puritan against the British challenger Genesta.

• On Monday, September 7, 1885, Puritan and Genesta made an attempt to race.

• The course was the New York Yacht Club course, and the event became an incredible marine pageant.

• A massive fleet of yachts and excursion boats came out to see the race.

• Almost everything that could float was present, including large steamers, ferry boats, and sailing craft, packed with an estimated 100,000 spectators.

History of the "Scotland" Lightship

The Scotland Lightship was a famous maritime fixture and a crucial marker for late 19th-century America's Cup races.

• In 1866, the steamer Scotland collided with the schooner Kate Dyer.

• After the collision, the Scotland took on water, and the captain purposefully ran the ship aground on a sandbar.

• Within days, the ship sank entirely underwater, creating a hazardous, barely visible obstacle for navigating vessels.

• To mark the submerged wreck, a lightship named the "Wreck of Scotland Lightship" was stationed at the spot beginning in 1868.

• Two years later, the sunken steamer was moved to deeper waters, and the lightship was temporarily removed.

• However, mariners had grown so reliant on the lightship's presence at the site that they successfully demanded its return.