An important recently discovered marine painting with ties to the early port of New York. This unsigned oil on paperboard mounted on canvas depicts the three masted packet ship "Amity" in full sail in open waters with the American flag off it''s stern and several ships dotting the horizon. Housed in a period carved giltwood frame with round black ball ornamentation in the four corners. Titled and inscribed along the top "the Ship Amity***/of New York **". The lack of the Black Ball Line flag in this painting possibly dates the work to the earliest period of the ships service 1816-1820. The "Amity" was built in 1816 by F. Cheeseman as a private trader until it was acquired by the Black Ball Line in 1818. She weighed in at 382 tons and measured over 106 feet. The Black Ball Line was a passenger line founded by the New York Quaker merchants headed by Jeremiah Thompson, and included Isaac White and his son William, Francis Thompson and Benjamin Marshall. All were Quakers except Marshall. The line consisted of four packet ships, the Amity, Courier, Pacific and the James Monroe. All of these were running between Liverpool, England and New York City. In operation for over 60 years, it took its name from its flag a black ball on red background. The Black Ball Line was important to early immigration through the port of New York. The Amity, which is French for friendship, was one of The Black Ball Line''s first ships. Rain or shine, blow high, blow low, one of the Black Ball liners sailed from New York for Liverpool on the first and sixteenth of each month, and for many years these were the European mail days throughout the United States. On April 24, 1824 the ship "Amity" was stranded in Manasquan, New Jersey as it ran aground in a fog. The passengers and crew were rescued, and much of the Amity''s cargo was salvaged, except for that in the lower holds which was abandoned. REFERENCE: For a similar example see Skinner August Americana 2015 Auction, lot 182. SIZE: 22-1/2" x 34-1/2". Overall: 32" x 44" CONDITION: Good, conservation by Peter Williams Museum Services, Boston, MA, with craquelure. 49932-8 al (20,000-30,000)