Ladies of the Clipper Ship Prima Donna

One of my ongoing topics to research is the history of sails.  Lately, I came across these 19th century clipper ship cards, that are just too good to keep to myself.

Only the lady on the left looks remotely interested in being part of this ad campaign.  The rest look like they don’t really want you aboard their ship.

By G.F. Nesbitt & Co., printer [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons.

Same ladies, different artist?

By G.F. Nesbitt & Co., printer (http://www.flickr.com/photos/pantufla/366435480/) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

The Mariner’s Museum clipper card information relates that the Prima Donna was involved in trade with China, Japan, and the Philippines, and also was active in the United States Navy during the Civil War.

Unlike the cards above featuring respectable ladies, most of these clipper ship advertisements were printed in garish colors, with images meant to appeal to adventurous young men:

I’m not really sure what a fleeing horse and rider have to do with sailing across the Pacific….
By G.F. Nesbitt & Co., printer [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons.

Another leaping horse. Maybe this guy is late for the ship?
By G.F. Nesbitt & Co., printer [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

This horse looks like, “Wait a minute, we’re not even on land!!”
 
By G.F. Nesbitt & Co., printer [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons.

“In case of shipwreck, we carry alligators in the hold and we will ride them to safety.”
 
By G.F. Nesbitt & Co., printer [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons.

The allurements of travel.

By G.F. Nesbitt & Co., printer [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

These cultured ladies of the Prima Donna in their staid black and white must have been meant to appeal to a more settled segment of society.  I wonder if they represent actual opera singers, or maybe a ship owner’s wife and daughters.

I could look at these cards all day.  You can read more about the use and history of clipper ship cards here at the American Antiquarian Society.  This article focuses especially on images of women on the cards, and has an image from a different Prima Donna card.  And Mystic Seaport has a huge collection of these cards available digitally.

Category : Ephemera, Historic Clothing
Tags :