This hand-coloured lithograph by ‘W. B.’ depicts the port side of the 350 ft (93m) four-masted American clipper, Great Republic (1853). She is shown in this vignette on a starboard tack in a brisk wind, sailing over a dark, racing sea. A jib and staysail are hoist at the bowsprit. Each of the first three masts (fore, main and mizzen) have four square sails set and a reefed topmost sail. A gaff-rigged spanker and spanker topsail is set on the fourth (jigger or spanker) mast. Two flags fly to aft from the rigging: the American flag (Stars and Stripes) at the stern and a house flag (blue with red stripe) from the top of the main mast. Another square-rigged ship may be seen sailing in the distance, under the Republic's bow. On Boxing Day 1853 she caught fire and burnt to the waterline. After her reconstruction her size was somewhat reduced.