G. Parsons after Samuel Walters

Collins Line USM Steamship ATLANTIC James West Commander

41.5 x 30.5 inches

This wonderful image depicts The Atlantic, one of the most prestigious steamships from the pioneering days of Trans-Atlantic travel. The American Shipping Line was started by Israel Collins and was established in direct competition with The Cunard Line. It became known as The Collins Line and after the death of Israel Collins the company was continued under the equally enthusiastic stewardship of his son Edward. In 1838 The Great Western steamship set a new record for crossing the Atlantic Ocean in only 15 days and thereby heralded a fierce competition between the two shipping lines. By the time The Atlantic made her maiden voyage in 1850 the journey time had been reduced to just over 11 days. Much to Edward Collins' elation The Atlantic set a new record by crossing from Liverpool to New York in 10 days and 16 hours thereby clipping 12 hours off the previous record! The Collins ships were, however, to prove expensive and uneconomical to run and by 1852 the company was in severe financial difficulties. Tragedy hit Edward Collins in 1854 when The Atlantic's sister ship The Arctic sank in fog off the coast of Newfoundland taking the lives of his wife and two children. Undeterred, Collins continued to strive for still faster trans-Atlantic speeds with bigger and better ships. Further disasters ensued and the company was eventually declared bankrupt in 1858. The Atlantic was sold and broken up in 1871 but it remains one of the most famous and successful ships to make the voyage between England and America.