The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (Level) 10" Historical Staffordshire Plate Enoch Wood and Sons Shell Border with Circular Center

Circa 1825-1828: Enoch Wood & Sons produced dark blue historical Staffordshire transferware of American scenes in the two decades following the War of 1812 as a way to rekindle England's trade relationship with the United States. Their shell border with circular center series consists of American and Canadian views, and one of the most desirable scenes in today's market is the B & O Railroad plate with the level view. Both the level and incline views of the Baltimore and Ohio Railiroad plates were manufactured to commemorate the beginning of the railroad's construction in 1828 and thus were made prior to trains being used in America, thus making these views truly futuristic! As Jeffrey B. Snyder notes in Historical Staffordshire: American Patriots and Views: "this would explain the presence of an engine that never ran the American rails." This example is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, or repairs and very minor expected usage marks visible only when the plate is tilted toward the light.