1868 Asselineau View of Le Havre, France

This is a visually striking 1868 Léon Auguste Asselineau view of the port and city of Le Havre, France. This panorama reveals the port of Le Havre on a windy day with rough seas. There are ships of several different types coming and going from the port, including purely steam ships, vessels like the one in the middle that could employ both steam and wind power, because it has smokestacks and rigging for sails, large sailing ships, and small fishing boats. This view also shows the standing of Le Havre among ports, not only in France, but in all of Europe. Le Havre was the second largest port in France, behind Marseille. Its importance is shown here by the presence of not only French flags, but also American, Japanese, and Greek flags.

This view was drawn and lithographed by Léon Auguste Asselineau in 1868.