A coloured aquatint depicting the Dutch steamship 'Curacao' cruising through still waters with steam billowing from her funnel. Two men stand on a pier to the right pointing out to her. 'Curacao' was the first steamship to cross the Atlantic. She was built in Dover in 1825 by Messrs. J. H. & J. Duke. She was intended to trade between Britain, America and the West Indies for the Colonial Steam Navigation Company, London, but on completion in 1826 she was sold to the Dutch and became the first steamship of the Dutch Navy. 'Curacao' crossed the Atlantic several times between 1827 and 1829 transporting passengers, mails and freight from Antwerp to the Dutch colony of Curacao. She remained in the Dutch navy until 1848.