"The Great Eastern Polka” Framed Duet Sheet Music

This was performed with the greatest success in the Burlesque of Aladdin at the Strand Theatre, by Charles Coote Junior." A genuine Victorian music sheet with an illustrated cover, published in London by Hopwood & Crew. Brunel's Ss Great Eastern steamship, by far the largest vessel of its day, was launched in 1858. Hoping it would prove to be an asset on the voyage to Australia, the ship became known as the 'Unlucky Ship': two people died in the process of its complicated launch, and it was damaged on its maiden voyage. In the end it was employed on the route to New York, and eventually became a cable-laying vessel. It was fitting that a music sheet should be published to celebrate. This remarkable vessel. The library hubs in their listings date this sheet to c1860, one daring to suggest 1859. The lithographer was Richard Childs, a prolific artist of the 1860s who sadly succumbed to alcoholism.