A quarter plate size salted paper print. A view from aft of the main mast on the port side of the quarterdeck looking forward on the 80-gun Second Rate, three-decker HMS Superb (1842). HMS Superb was part of the Experimental Squadron sent to sea to test the Symonds designs against earlier warship designs.

Two men (possibly officers) are leaning on the pin rail at the base of the main mast. The ghostly outline of a man can be seen to the left of the lefthand ship's boat. The ship's boats are covered with canvas protection. The breeches of three of the portside 32-pounder (8ft 6 inch) guns can be seen on the left. In the distance is the foremast and the bowsprit.

Reverse has been annotated in pencil by Admiral Ballard in 1934: 'Looking towards the bows from the quarterdeck of Superb in 1845. Showing boom boats stowed three [underlined] abreast and main mast 4ft thick.'

It is not certain who took the photograph, as both Talbot and Henneman, acting as his assistant, were on board at the time. (See article 'Talbot and Henneman, Mount Edgcumbe and Plymouth Dockyard Images' by Michael Grey in "The PhotoHistorian", Autumn 2014). Talbot and Henneman had arrived at Mount Edgecumbe by 20 September and Calvert Jones wrote to Talbot on 1 October 'You were fortunate in having such capital subjects as the experimental squadron and I shall be most anxious to see a specimen.' [BL, LA45-133].