Currier & Ives Lithograph - 'A Midnight Race on the Mississippi'

This item is a framed lithograph titled 'A Midnight Race on the Mississippi', a famous 19th-century scene originally published by the firm Currier & Ives. The print depicts two iconic steamboats, the 'Natchez' and the 'Eclipse', racing at night. The scene is illuminated by a full moon and the glowing sparks and thick smoke billowing from the twin stacks of the vessels. The color palette features deep blues and blacks of the night sky, contrasted with the white of the riverboats and the warm yellow reflections on the water. The piece is housed in a classic gold-gilt and black wooden frame with a cream-colored mat. Regarding condition, there are visible signs of aging including some foxing (small brown spots) and minor water staining along the bottom margin near the title. The paper shows general toning consistent with age, though the colors within the central image remain relatively clear. This style of lithography reached its peak in the mid-to-late 1800s; while this appears to be an older print, it may be a late-19th to early-20th-century reproduction depending on the paper type and lithographic process used. The detail in the rigging and the atmospheric quality of the smoke indicate high-quality craftsmanship typical of the original artist, Thomas Worth. The overall presentation is classic, though the matting appears contemporary compared to the print.