A hand-colored lithograph of the SS 'Great Britain' designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel. When launched in 1843, at 322 feet, she was the largest ship in the world and the first screw propelled, oecean-going, wrought iron ship. She was initially designed for the Trans-Atlantic luxury passenger trade and could carry 252 passengers and 130 crewmembers. She ran aground in 1846 ruining her engines. Too expensive to repair, she was sold to Gibbs, Bright and Co. and was put in the high demand trade of carrying immigrants to Australia.
