Advertisement for Michell & Croasdale, successors to G.W. Ridgeway & Co., dealers in Sperm, Whale, Lard & Tanners Oil, Candles, Rice &c.
Hand-colored lithograph after a 1835 aquatint by J. Hill from a sketch by C.B. Hulsart entitled "Capturing a Sperm Whale". The titular animal is atop turbulent waters at the centre of the image. A harpooneersman on a whaleboat attacks from the right; there are already two harpoons on this side of the whale, gushing blood. The whale is also spouting blood. A boat is capsizing over the tail of the whale and men are being tossed into the ocean. At right, the whaling ship waits in the background, with another whaleboat to its left. On the horizon at far left another ship is visible. Printed in the lower margin is the following text: "Mitchell & Croasdale, successors to G.W. Ridgway & Co., dealers in sperm, whale, lard, & tanners oil, candles, rice, &c. No. 30 nth [North] wharves, above Arch St. Philadelphia." "Lith. by W.H. Rease, N.E. cor. 4th & Chestnut St."
