Stevengraph of The Mersey Tunnel Railway

“The Mersey Tunnel Railway” by Thomas Stevens (STG 191). This is always a popular image, but not that easy to find. The Sprake/Darby reference has it as a 5* rarity out of a scale up to 8*. The only other version is the same image with “profuse smoke” being omitted from the steam tug. Interestingly, although this latter version is even harder o find it attracts the same 5* rating. Godden has it as a rare landscape (interesting description!). It is mounted on a B2 card with the shortened credit. It was introduced in 1888. The trade label is a 21+2, used from 1886. The silk has kept its colours well. The mount is in good order too, with a slight framing mark to the outer edge.