Historical information

These prints include large sailing ships that were also referred to as Clippers and Tall Ships. These ships were used to transport cargo and passengers across the world in the 19th century. They were powered purely by harnessing the wind. It could take three to four months to sail in this manner from England to Australia. On many occasions the ships were wrecked, often close to their destination, through errors of navigation.

The method of production of the original images is over a century old.

The Melbourne publisher of this portfolio book, Newcraft Publicity, describes the contents as follows-'

Magnificent Clipper Ships:
Clipper ships in the line of sail make the most romantic and spectacular pictorial chapter of marine history. This collection depicting early clippers and other types of sailing ships were originally fine engravings on wooden printing blocks used in newspapers a century ago. They were taken directly from the original newspaper prints, and reproduced in enamel inks to provide a choice of fine line prints suitable for framing.

LIST OF PRINTS-

The New Australian Clipper "BLUE JACKET"
The Clipper Ship “CHRYSOLIER”
The “GAUNTLET” Clipper Ship
The New American Clipper “GREAT REPUBLIC”
The Clipper Ship “GUIDING STAR”
New Emigrant Ship “HESPERIDES” for the South Australian Line
Capt. Beatson’s Expedition in search of Sir John Franklin – the “ISABEL”
The Black Ball Line Clipper Ship “JAMES BAINES”
The “MERCHANT PRINCE” – Australian Clipper
The White Star Line Clipper Ship “MORNING LIGHT”
The Aberdeen Clipper Built Barque “PHOENICIAN”
New Australian Clipper Ship the “ROYAL FAMILY”
The “SOVEREIGN OF THE SEAS” American Clipper
The New Iron Clipper Built Ship “TAYLEUR” for Australia
H.M. New Frigate “THETIS”
The American Clipper Ship “WITCH OF THE WAVE”

ABOUT THE PUBLISHER-

The Newcraft Publicity was a Melbourne business that operated in the 1960s at 243 Collins Street, Melbourne.

Significance

This portfolio book of clipper ship prints is historically significant as it shows an important part of Australia's history, It includes some of the shipping lines famous in the 19th century for transporting passengers and goods to Australia.

The prints are also significant for their origin in the carved wooden blocks used a century ago for creating images for the newspapers of the time.

Book is also significant from being one of a limited edition of books produced. There are copes in both the Victorian State Library and the National Library of Australia.

Physical description

The Line of Sail is a portfolio of sixteen fine line, black and white prints on paper. The subject is clipper ships. The covers are paper-covered card, coloured a strong blue with white line images and text. The image side of the pages has a sheen, the back is matt. Each print has a caption. The top of the book is stapled and bound with grey tape.
Produced by Newcraft Publicity, Melbourne.
Limited Edition - Copy Number 086.

Inscriptions & markings

Stamped on front cover "086"