Sea Adventure: Running the blockade (colour litho)

Running the blockade. During the American Civil War of 1861-5, the Northern blockade of the Southern ports offered profitable opportunities for many adventurous European sailors. As the blockade got more efficient it became a difficult and dangerous job to slip through it, but there was never any lack of adventurers willing to try. Finally a special type of blockade runner was evolved in which speed, lightness and seaworthiness were combined. At this time many ideas were tried, which were hailed as wonderful inventions when generally adopted many years later. Illustration for one of a set of 50 cigarette cards on the subject of Sea Adventure, issued by Hignett Brothers in 1939.