Invitation to the launch of the SS Great Britain to the Duke of Wellington
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Object number2014.00010
TitleInvitation to the launch of the SS Great Britain to the Duke of Wellington
DescriptionPrinted invitation to the launch of the SS Great Britain made out in manuscript to His Grace the Duke of Wellington, dated June 19, 1843.
The SS Great Britain printed invitation to the launch of the SS Great Britain featuring a woodcut of the ship by J L Marcke made out in manuscript to Wellington and bearing Wellington’s autograph draft of reply. Dated ‘Great Western Steam-Ship Office Bristol June 19th 1843. Printed on two conjoined leaves of quarto paper, with original folds. The text invites Wellington to the launch and a banquet to be given on the occasion ‘which His Royal Highness Prince Albert will honour with his presence’. It also mentions the arrangement of special trains to arrive in time for the Banquet and departures back to London after the event. Replies to the invitation were to be sent to a Captain Claxton RN. Wellington’s draft reply in his somewhat illegible hand appears to read ‘...the D of Welln to Capt Claxton...it is unfortunately impossible for the D of W to [leave ?] London...W’
Production date exact 1843-06-19 - exact 1843-06-19
Production period1800 - 1860
Object nameinvitation
Object categorypersonal record
Materialpaper
Techniqueprinted, hand-written
Dimensions
- height: 230 mm
width: 370 mm
width: 185 mm
Credit line“Accepted under the Cultural Gifts Scheme by HM Government from Clive Richards OBE DL and allocated to the ss Great Britain Trust, 2017”