The explosion of the United States Steam Frigate Missouri, at Gibralter [sic], Aug. 26th, 1843 To Captn. Sir George Sartorius and the Officers of the H.M.S. Malabar--this print is respectfully dedicated by their obedient servant, Edmund Fry / / drawn by E. Duncan, from a sketch made on the spot by Lieut. G.P. Mands, T.G. Dutton lith.; Day & Haghe lithrs. to the Queen.

Alois Senefelder, the inventor of lithography, introduced the subject of colored lithography in 1818. Printers in other countries, such as France and England, were also started producing color prints. The first American chromolithograph—a portrait of Reverend F. W. P. Greenwood—was created by William Sharp in 1840. Chromolithographs became so popular in American culture that the era has been labeled as "chromo civilization". During the Victorian times, chromolithographs populated children's and fine arts publications, as well as advertising art, in trade cards, labels, and posters. They were also used for advertisements, popular prints, and medical or scientific books.