[BROADSIDE] The Thames Tunnel, Wapping to Rotherhithe

London: Teape & Son, 1840. Single sheet, printed recto only. 40cm x 27xm. Some light creasing from folding, slight area of dampstain to lower left margin, a modicum of soiling, small clowed tear to upper edge and a couple of areas of very shallow chipping. A very good example, with wide margins, of a broadside that is more usually seen cropped.

Produced by Teape and Sons, using their original woodcuts; depicting a transverse view of the tunnel running under the Thames, a perspective view of the tunnels running side by side (notably showing horse traffic, something that was not permitted once the tunnel had opened), and view of Marc Brunel's "Shield"; the compartmentalised mobile excavation gallery that allowed the digging of the tunnel to progress with an unprecedented degree of safety. Teape re-used these woodcuts on a number of pieces regarding the tunnel, and they were additionally used by later printers in their publications. The Brunel tunnel was built between 1825 and 1843, being at various points a foot tunnel, a shopping street and novelty venue, before eventually becoming part of the London Underground network after its sale into the rail industry after 1860. An interesting piece of British industrial history.