Palisade Rocks on the Hudson River, Constitution and Guerriere, circa 1850

This is an original antique steel engraving, uncolored, lettered below the view "THE PALISADE ROCKS ON THE HUDSON RIVER, WEST BANK, NEW YORK." Sheer, vertically fissured cliffs topped with trees rise along the left side and run away into the distance. At their foot a small landing with a hut, a horse and a few figures stands beside a moored sailing barge. Out on the choppy river a small sailboat heels in the wind at the right, a steamboat trails smoke in the distance, and other sails dot the horizon under a dark, stormy sky with gulls overhead.

The uncaptioned emblem above the view shows two sailing warships engaged at close range, smoke between them. Below at left, a vignette lettered "ACTION BETWEEN THE CONSTITUTION AND LA GUERRIERE, 1812." shows a frigate under sail beside a dismasted ship, men clinging to wreckage in the water. At right, "ACTION BETWEEN THE WASP AND THE FROLIC. 1812" shows two ships exchanging fire, one flying the American flag. No artist or engraver credit is lettered under the view. The imprint at the foot reads "J. & F. TALLIS, LONDON, EDINBURGH, & DUBLIN."

The plate belongs to the History of the United States of America, edited by John Howard Hinton (1791 to 1873), the English Baptist minister and author, and published by J. and F. Tallis about 1850. J. and F. Tallis were London publishers of illustrated works sold in parts around the middle of the nineteenth century, and the plates of this edition set a central steel engraved view inside an engraved ornamental border with small lettered vignettes of episodes from American history. The USS Constitution defeated the British frigate Guerriere in August 1812.

A good choice for a collection of Hudson River views or naval subjects.

This is an original antique print, not a modern reproduction. This item is sold unframed.