About the Work
The Crampton locomotive was the fastest passenger train locomotive in Europe during the 1850s – its distinctive giant drive wheel, positioned behind the boiler, is beautifully captured in this stunning display piece. J.F. Cail & Cie was one of the most significant French engineering firms of the 19th century, and this specimen No. 27 from 1854 was part of the museum collection in Compiègne. The 1964 Braun & Co. edition is a museum-quality glossy reproduction featuring exceptional color quality, which now holds collectible value in its own right.
Collector Interest
For railway enthusiasts in France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, and the USA, the Crampton locomotive is an iconic model from the early railway era—comparable to the Adler or the Rocket. Its decorative presence, museum provenance (Compiègne), and the well-documented Braun & Co. publication make this piece equally attractive to collectors of vintage French technological history and railway memorabilia. Perfect for an industrial loft, an office, or a railway collection.
Provenance
The label on the back tells the story precisely: This chromolithograph was published in 1964 by Les éditions Braun & Co. in Paris, based on an original from the Musée National de Compiègne. The original work depicts the legendary Crampton locomotive No. 27, built in 1854 by J.F. Cail & Cie in Paris—one of the fastest steam locomotives of its era. Framed in a gilded frame with a mat, this piece is ready to hang and awaits the opportunity to enrich an office wall or a salon with its industrial historical flair.
Inscriptions
Bildunterschrift: 'LOCOMOTIVE A VOYAGEURS 1846.' — Lokomotivschild: 'J.F. CAIL & Cie / 1854 A PARIS N: 27 / SYSTEME CRAMPTON' — Rückseitenetikett: 'Locomotive à Vapeur 1846 / Type Crampton (Cail) / Chromo lithographie 50,6 x 79,6 cm. / Musée National de Compiègne / Les éditions Braun & Co. Paris 1964'
