Back in the 1850’s, when gold fever was setting the world in motion, getting to California first was of paramount importance. The available routes for gold-seekers, known as Argonauts, were all fraught with danger; you had to choose your poison.  Each route held dire risk, and besides the economic considerations, the choice often came down to how you as an individual wanted to die! Around “the Horn”, Argonauts faced the fearsome storms and icy seas at the tip of South America. A shorter route went through Panama, but that way involved slogging through tropical jungles and fetid swampy towns over-run with fatal disease. Lastly, there was the overland route, by wagon train through deserts, mountains and hostile tribes. Fast, sleek Clipper Ships made the danger seem glamorous! The shipping companies out of New York capitalized on that glamour, and produced these lovely advertisements to attract customers and cargo to their swift ships. These cards are rare and highly valued now, but once they were handed out to adventurers on the streets of New York.