Inscribed: “Clippers in the China Trade. To Alexander Matheson Esqre. This print of the ‘Falcon’, F. Jauncey Esq. Commander and other clippers on the China-Coast… is respectfully dedicated by his most obedient servant Edmund Fry”. Captain Jauncey surveyed where he was trading on the China Coast and published a number of charts. The ‘Falcon’ became an opium clipper in 1840 after Jardine Matheson bought her. Accordingly she (along with the other ships included in the background) flies a pennant from her maintop bearing the company house flag (white saltire on blue background).

Signed by artist as “N.M.Condy” on plate (in the extreme foreground in the waves at right).