Lot 174: Thomas Mann Baynes (1794-1854) - Important pair of

Thomas Mann Baynes (1794-1854) - Important pair of coloured lithographs - "View of the Canterbury and Whitstable Railway from over the tunnel, taken on the Opening Day, May 3rd 1830" - Showing panoramic view of the city with grounds gathered on banks to foreground and numerous figures in coaches on railway, some carrying flags, and "View of the Canterbury and Whitstable Railway from Church Street taken on the Opening Day, May 3rd 1830" - Showing locomotive "Invicta" and filled carriages with Whitstable to background, each 10.5ins x 16.5ins, printed by C. Hullmandel, and published by Henry Ward, 14 Sun Street, Canterbury, each signed in ink to bottom right corner by Robert Stephenson, in modern gilt moulded frames and glazed

Note : The Canterbury & Whitstable Railway opened in 1830 and was the first public passenger railway in the world and the first to carry passengers by steam. However, there was only one single track. Locke & Dixon were engineers under the direction of George Stephenson. Robert Stephenson & Co made the locomotive "Invicta" which hauled two trains at the opening. After the sale of "Invicta" in 1839, the line was worked by stationery engines before experiments were made with the "Atmospheric system. The Canterbury & Whitstable Railway was purchased by the South Eastern Railway in 1853 and the line closed in 1931. Robert Stephenson attended on the Opening Day and was a guest of honour at the dinner for over 150 people held at the Kings Head Hotel, Canterbury. Mr Robert Stephenson wrote on 6th May 1830 "I returned from Canterbury on Tuesday. The opening of the Canterbury Railway went off remarkably well without a single mishap". #Provenance : Sold at Phillips, London, November 7th 1977, lot 70, as part of the collection of the Late Andrew Underwood, sold by The Canterbury Auction Galleries - "The Canterbury Sale" - Tuesday, 5th November 2002, lot 183