Skip to main content
Advanced Search
Wreck of the LONDON
Wreck of the LONDON

Wreck of the LONDON

Maker
Date1866
Object number00004346
NameBook
MediumInk on paper, cloth covered boards, gilt
DimensionsOverall: 188 x 127 x 21 mm, 0.25 kg
ClassificationsBooks and journals
Credit LineANMM Collection
DescriptionBook by S.W. Partridge titled 'Wreck of the LONDON' describing the shipwreck of the SS LONDON in the Bay of Biscay on 11 January 1866 on its voyage from Pymouth, England, to Melbourne, Australia with a loss of 220 lives. A small piece of paper attached between flyleaf and next page inscribed with 'the author will be glad to receive any additional information from those who had friends or relatives on board, addressed care of the publisher'. Illustrated with numerous vignette engravings which include descriptions of incidents and principle characters involved in the drama of the loss of the LONDON at sea.HistoryShipwreck disasters were a very relatable event to most of the population in the 19C and the diversity of publishing forms meant that all classes of society could tread about the terrors at sea. While the working class could still only afford pamphlets, newspapers or cheap 'penny magazines" a growing middle class could invest in books. Still intended to entertain and fascinate, books published on maritime disasters and survival stories often contained artist impressions of the wreck to add further drama to the story. SignificanceThe nineteenth century public held a fascination with tales of disaster and survival. Maritime tragedy was a particular and popular topic at a time of mass immigration and trade.There were a variety of written material published about shipwrecks including manuscripts, letters, journals and diaries. They were often published with accompanying images and served as a constant reminder of the perils of sea travel.