Historical Naval Vessels

Engravings and illustrations of various historic ships and war vessels, providing insights into maritime history and naval architecture.

Illustration of a Chinese Warship at the time of the Treaty of Tientsin. Dated 19th Century

Illustration of a Chinese Warship at the time of the Treaty of Tientsin. Dated 19th Century

The ship of Captain Cook is spared thanks to his lightning rod, while a Dutch ship is almost struck by lightning

The British Expedition to Abyssinia: H.M.S. Vigilant on the seven-fathom patch in the Red Sea, 1868. Royal Navy despatch-boat '...sending a pilot to a transport just arrived from Calcutta...She is anchored about twelve miles from Cape Shuldis, which is the nearest land. This is on the Abyssinian coast, near Amphila, sixty or seventy miles below the entrance to Annesley Bay. The Vigilant is stationed here to put pilots on board the transports from Bombay or Aden bound for Annesley Bay; which, the navigation being very intricate, is a most important duty. She is anchored close to the light-ves

The pier of Wilhelmshaven, Wilhelmshafen, in the evening, Lower Saxony, Germany, c. 1890, Europe

Engraving depicting James Davidson's Cliff Wagon being used to aid a ship wrecked at the foot of a cliff. Dated 19th Century

Engraving depicting a barge under sail in Boston. Dated 19th Century

A NORWEGIAN FISHING-BOAT

Fisherman Ewer, North Sea, East Frisia, Lower Saxony, one-master, flat-bottomed ship, occupation, hauling in net, high swell, spray, Germany, historical illustration 1880, Europe

Jean-François de Galoup, Comte de La Pérouse (August 23, 1741-1788) was a French explorer and naval officer. In 1785, the King of France commissioned La Perouse to head an expedition to explore the Pacific Ocean, to investigate whaling and fur prospects, and to establish French claims in this area. La Pérouse had admired the explorer James Cook, and wanted to continue his work. La Perouse was assigned two 500-ton ships called the Astrolabe and the Boussole. His crew of 114 included sailors, scientists, a physicist, three draftsmen, three naturalists, clergymen, and a mathematician. They left France in August, 1785. La Perouse mapped the west coast of North America in 1786, and visited Easter Island and Hawaii. His ships reached the west coast of Alaska in 1786 and did extensive mapping of the North American west coast from Alaska to Monterey, California. Next La Pérouse landed at Botany Bay (Port Jackson), Australia, before heading for the Solomon Islands. La Pérouse took the opportuni

Arrival of the 'Great Western' at New York (1838) c1895

Engraving depicting a lug-sail on a dinghy. Dated 20th Century

Traditional twin or double canoe of the Vitians, Viti Islands. Fiji, Oceania. Old 19th century engraved illustration from El Mundo Ilustrado 1879

Nordenskjold's ship, The Vega, saluting Cape Chelyuskin, the most northerly point of the old world.

Aquatint of the ships of William the Conqueror based on the Bayeux Tapestry. Print by J. A. Atkinson. Dated 1811

0990s ENGRAVING OF A TYPICAL ANCIENT VIKING DRAKKAR DRAGON LONGSHIP WITH SYMMETRICAL BOW AND STERN OARS & SHIELDS A SINGLE SAIL

The fish market in the fishing harbour of Yarmouth in 1868, England, Historic, digitally restored reproduction of a 19th century original

Engraving depicting a modern steam lifeboat, structed at Blackwall. Dated 19th Century

transport transportation navigation screw steamer ""Robert F. Stockton"" constructed 1838/1839 by John Ericson renamed into ""New Jersey"" 1840 pay off 1871 wood engraving 19th century,

Embarkation of Napoleon on board the ship Bellerophon, In July 1815 the Bellerophon brought Napoleon I from the Île dAix to Plymouth. From there he wa...

Travel and Transport Ceylon Boats at Galle Sri Lanka Copyright: xJehangirxSorabjee/DinodiaxPhotox

'Long-line fishing in the North Sea, Lying-to in a squall', 1886. From "The Graphic. An Illustrated Weekly Newspaper Volume 33. January to June, 1886"

FIGHT OFF THE NORTH FORELAND BETWEEN THE CREW OF THE PRINCE ARTHUR FISHING-SMACK OF RAMSGATE AND OF THE BOULOGNE FISHING BOAT

Historia de España. Buques de la Edad Media. Carabela. Grabado de 1872.

Sailboat on Maas River, Holland, "Classical Portfolio of Primitive Carriers", by Marshall M. Kirman, World Railway Publ. Co., Illustration, 1895

The Ships of Columbus - Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria

The Brighton Boats fishing for mackerel Date: 1847

Engraving depicting a state barge being used to dock a large boat. Dated 19th Century

Wreck of the Aberdeen steamer Stanley at Tynemouth, 1864. Engraving from a sketch by Mr. R. Watson. '...while attempting to run into the Tyne for shelter, the iron screw steam-ship Stanley struck upon the rocks called the Black Middens...From the cries that reached the shore from the stranded ship it was discovered that there were women and children aboard, and that the steamer had a deckload of cattle, sheep, and pigs...the crew could be seen through the darkness throwing these animals overboard...the schooner seemed to slide off the ledge of rocks...The cries of her doomed crew were heard

The 'Swan' of the Exe.

Water Craft Consisting of House Built on Canoe, New Guinea, "Classical Portfolio of Primitive Carriers", by Marshall M. Kirman, World Railway Publ. Co., Illustration, 1895

Old-Fashioned Chinese War Vessel, "Classical Portfolio of Primitive Carriers", by Marshall M. Kirman, World Railway Publ. Co., Illustration, 1895

Wreck of the Royal Mail Company's steam-ship RMS Rhone off St. Peter's Island, British Virgin Islands. Date: 1867

Customs junk in Tianjin, China. Old XIX century engraved Journey from Shanghai to Moscow Le Tour du Monde 1864

Engraving of a ship in a dry dock at Rotherhithe. Dated 19th Century

Her Majesty the Queen leaving Greenhithe in Kent in the Royal Yacht for Germany, 1862. '...notwithstanding the strict privacy under which it was her Majesty's desire to take her departure and the precautions adopted by the authorities to exclude all visitors from the vicinity of the place of embarkation, the railway-trains and river steam-boats poured in their thousands of visitors, and long before midday the road facing the dockyard was thronged with a multitude of her Majesty's subjects of both sexes, anxious to catch even a mere glimpse of their Queen. On the approach of the first of the

Engraving showing a large steamship, several 'lighters' and a paddle-steamer in the Pool of London, 1882. The Tower of London is visible on the right. Date: 18 November 1882

A raft on the high seas, built according to Robertson's system, 1880, Historic, digitally restored reproduction of a 19th century original, exact date unknown

Engraving of a sectional view of a floating dock in New York Harbour. Dated 19th Century

Illustration depicting an emigrant ship run down. Dated 19th Century

The flying vessel Volgh My. Draughtsman: Hendrik de Leth. Dating: 1743. Place: Northern Netherlands. Measurements: h 104 mm × w 245 mm. Museum: Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

LIVERPOOL PILOT BOATS Hoisting a pilot on board in heavy weather Date: 1857

Engraving depicting the launching of a lifeboat into the water. Dated 20th Century

Midnight in September in the Bay of Bassinsbai, part of the Arctic archipelago, Arctic, sailing ship is pulled, around 1860 / Mitternacht im September in der Bucht der Bassinsbai, Teil des arktischen Archipel, Arktis, Segelschiff wird gezogen, um 1860, Historisch, historical, digital improved reproduction of an original from the 19th century / digitale Reproduktion einer Originalvorlage aus dem 19. Jahrhundert,.

SHIPS OF WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR 1066

The 'Elise', the first steamboat travelling from England to France, is caught up in a storm at sea

An engraving depicting the relieving of the Tongue lightship at night: operation carried out by the Trinity House vessel Vestal. Dated 19th century

An engraving depicting the loss of the iron steamer Elberfeld on 22nd February 1844. Dated 19th century

Passengers in Ice craft, Germany, "Classical Portfolio of Primitive Carriers", by Marshall M. Kirman, World Railway Publ. Co., Illustration, 1895

An engraving depicting a wind carriage on the Kansas Pacific Railroad used to take men on tours to make repairs on the track. Dated 19th century

WRECK OF A SHIP, 1871

Engraving of a Chinese Junk, an ancient Chinese sailing ship design, with a sternpost rudder. Dated 19th Century

GOING TO THE BALL ON BOARD H.M.S. ARIADNE, The Royal Yacht Squadron Regatta at Cowes, UK in 1873

Venetian galley with 26 oars, oars, Venice, Italy, Historic, digitally restored reproduction from the 19th century, exact date unknown, Europe

Armchair on a boat, canoe, of the Empress Eugénie de Montijo (woman of Napoleon III), 1865, France, Historic, digitally restored reproduction of a 19t...

'THE CITY OF LONDON' ABERDEEN STEAMSHIP

Harbour scene Date: 1847

Engraving showing an emigrant ship, en route to Australia, lurching in tempestuous seas. Date: 1887

Engraving depicting a steam crane.

Civil engineering: a floating dock in Spain. Wood engraving, 1862.

slavery transport transportation Arabian dhow at a ride in the night wood engraving 1860,

Illustration depicting the P&O steamer 'Carnatic' striking a coral reef in the mouth of the Gulf of Suez. Dated 19th Century

The Wreck of the“Atlantic”. Artist: Unknown

THE AMERICAN SCHOONER DAUNTLESS

transport transportation navigation submarines submarine torpedo boat designed by by Josiah H. L.Tuck built in 1885 diving wood engraving late 19th century,

A Ship caught in a hurricane and sinking, circa 1885

THE INFLEXIBLE BEING TOWED TO HER MOORINGS. ENGRAVING 1876, UK, britain, british, europe, united kingdom, great britain, european

Illustration of the Golden Hind, an English galleon best known for her circumnavigation of the globe between 1577 and 1580, captained by Sir Francis Drake. Dated 16th Century

Engraving of a scene on the deck of a passenger liner, entitled 'Off for a Holiday', with several passengers enjoying a calm voyage. Date: 1883

Engraving depicting the 'Great Eastern' used during the creation of the Atlantic Telegraph. The men are laying the cable on board the 'Great Eastern'. Dated 19th Century

Engraving depicting Henry Greathead's design of a lifeboat. Dated 19th Century

The dangers of whaling, a whale breaches out of the water and throws a boat with a man in it into the air. Includes whaling ship, boats, flags, oars, ropes and harpoons, 1790, Norway, Historic, digitally restored reproduction from a 19th century original, Europe

'Cylindar ship Cleopatra at Westminster Bridge'

An engraving depicting a raft of timber being towed to a Canadian saw mill. Dated 19th century

Ice sailing race on the Hudson River with a steam train in the background, United States of America, illustration by Perat and Smeeton from L'Illustration, Journal Universel, No 1507, Volume LIX, January 13, 1872.

fish merchant boat, Russia, vintage engraving. fish merchant boat, Russia, vintage engraved illustration. Magasin Pittoresque 1843. Copyright: xZoonar.com/PatrickxGuenettex 10660250

transport transportation navigation sailing ship Liburnica by Frederik I King in Prussia copper engraving by Johann Georg Wolffgang (1664 - 1744) after painting by Michel Maddersteg (1659 - 1709) the royal castle Berlin,

transport transportation navigation sailing ship 16th century galleon copper engraving by Frans Huys 1565 after Pieter Bruegel,

Engraving of the Winans Ocean Steamer 'cigar' ship, launched at Ferry Bay, Baltimore, on 6th October 1858. Intended as an ocean-going vessel, she was 180 feet long and had a displacement of 350 tons, when carrying 200 tons of coal. The ship was not a great success, although the American Civil War was fairly disruptive to her career and those of her builders, the Messrs. Winans. Date: 1858

Cargo ships, cotton, convoy with cotton cargo sailing down the Ganges, 1869, India, Historic, digitally restored reproduction of an original 19th century artwork, exact original date unknown, Asia

Ajaccio port view, vintage engraved illustration. Magasin Pittoresque 1844.

Chinese Junk, 1843. Artist: J Jackson

A Raymond Moulton sailing merry-go-round in Saint-Malo, Brittany, France. Old 19th century engraved illustration from La Nature 1885

Engraving of a felucca, a small boat propelled by oars or lateen sails or both, used on the Nile and formerly more widely in the Mediterranean region. Dated 19th Century

Illustration depicting a long-boat capsizing. Dated 19th Century

Prince Albert Victor, opening the new Alexandra graving-dock at Belfast. A graving or 'dry' dock was a dock which could be sealed off with gates, enabling work to be carried out on the hull. Date: June 1st 1889

Traditional boat sailing on the Irrawaddy River, Burma, Myanmar. Southeast Asia. Travel to the kingdom of Ava, 1855 by Colonel Sir Henry Yule (1820-1889) Le Tour du Monde 1860

Steam Derrick, 1866. Artist: Unknown

Illustration depicting an American river paddle steamer 'The Carroll of Carrolton'. Dated 19th Century

Political cartoon indicates a burnt out fireproof building and an unsinkable ship (Titanic)

The Lifeboat, from the Picture by Henry Moore.

Saugor Lighthouse, off the mouth of the Hooghly, India, 1876. 'The island of Saugor, upon which stands the iron lighthouse to guide ships approaching Calcutta as they enter the Hooghly river, is situated on the east side of the navigable channel most commonly used...The lighthouse, erected on Middleton Point, was constructed in England, and was placed where it is in 1853. The Hooghly, which has seven different channels open to vessels entering from the Bay of Bengal, is about 125 miles long. It is formed by the confluence of the Bhagruttee and Jellinghee streams, two large offsets of the Gan

Drakkar. Viking longships under sail. Watercolour by Albert Sebille (1874-1953).

Harbor of Harlingen, Friesland, The Netherlands, Europe. Friesland, Dutch newspaper De Aarde en Haar volken, 1883. Le Tour du Monde 1886

The H.M.S. Victory, Nelson's flagship at the Battle of Trafalgar 1805, is illuminated a hundred years later on 21 October 1905 to celebrate the centenary of the Britains famous naval victory. Date: 28/10/1905

At Sea,--Signaling a Passing Steamer Winslow Homer (American, 1836-1910). , 1871. Wood engraving, Image: 9 1/4 x 12 1/8 in. (23.5 x 30.8 cm). International travel became relatively commonplace in the years after the Civil War when passenger steamships carried American tourists and artists back and forth across the Atlantic. These vessels also delivered thousands of European immigrants to the port cities of the United States. Here Homer recorded the midocean passing of two steamers, described in the text: Passing a ship at sea is always an exciting incident; the strange vessel, which you have never seen before, and will probably never see again, seems like an old friend to you. You watch its approach with welcoming eyes and regard it half sadly as it sweeps by and fades in the distance. American Art 1871

THE WRECK OF THE THREE-MASTED SHIP 'BENVENUE' AT SANDGATE

Horse Towing Raft in Shallows of Alleghany River, Pennsylvania, USA, Illustration, Classical Portfolio of Primitive Carriers, by Marshall M. Kirman, World Railway Publ. Co., Illustration, 1895

Engraving of the schooner 'Willem Barents' in the drift ice, during the Dutch Arctic Expedition of 1878. This expedition, commanded by Lieutenant de Bruyne, explored Jan Mayen Island, Spitzbergen, Bear Island and Novaya Zemlya between May and October of 1878. 1879

Boston Tea Party-December 16, 1773

The wreck of the Princess Alice on shore at Woolwich, being examined for the inquest. The Princess Alice paddle steamer worked on the Thames as a pleasure steamer, transporting day trippers from London Bridge. On the 3rd September 1878 whilst the Prince Alice was making its final journey of the day it collided with a coal ship, The Bywell Castle. The collision occurred when the two pilots both assumed that the other ship would give way. Over 600 lives were lost with only 69 people rescued. D

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