A whole plate negative. A starboard broadside view of the passenger/cargo steamship Africa (1865) at moorings in Gravesend Reach, River Thames. She is a single funnelled screw driven steamship with an auxiliary brig rig having two yards on each mast. She has a clipper bow with a black figurehead and decorative trailboards including the name Africa. Her stern is of the counter type, also with decorative scrollwork. She appears to be flying the Italian mercantile ensign. Men on board ahead of the mainmast are working with a small boat alongside from which a cloud of white powder is coming. Tilbury is in the background. The negative is damaged by damp, especially the bottom corners.