Framed albumen print photograph of the København by Marius Hoffgard of Copenhagen, 1920s

An original framed albumen print of the København, the world's largest sailing ship when she was launched in 1921. Photograph by Marius Hoffgard of Copenhagen (embossed stamped signature to mount card). Framed by by Vilh. Larsen. The photograph is within a gilt wooden frame with glass. Undated, but clearly 1920s.

The København was a Danish five-masted barque, celebrated as the world's largest sailing ship at the time of her launch in 1921. Constructed by Ramage & Ferguson in Leith, Scotland, she served primarily as a naval training vessel for the Danish East Asiatic Company, completing nine voyages and two global circumnavigations between 1921 and 1928.

On her tenth voyage, the København departed Nørresundby, Denmark, on 21 September 1928, bound for Buenos Aires, Argentina, with 75 individuals aboard, including 45 cadets and 26 crew members. After unloading cargo in Buenos Aires, she set sail for Melbourne, Australia, on 14 December 1928, without any cargo. The last confirmed communication was on 22 December 1928, when the Norwegian steamer William Blumer received a radio message stating "all is well" from a position approximately 900 miles from Tristan da Cunha. Subsequent attempts to contact the København were unsuccessful, and the ship was never heard from again.

In April 1929, the Danish East Asiatic Company dispatched the motor vessel Mexico to Tristan da Cunha, where residents reported seeing a large five-masted ship with a broken foremast on 21 January 1929. Despite extensive searches by the Mexico and the British Royal Navy, no trace of the København was found mastermariners.org.au. In 1935, reports emerged of whitened skeletons and a wrecked ship's boat found in the desert, believed to be remnants of the København Trove. Additionally, in 2012, divers discovered a wreck near Tristan da Cunha that some speculated could be the missing ship, prompting interest from the Danish government and the East Asiatic Company.

Despite these findings, the fate of the København remains one of maritime history's enduring mysteries.

Approximate dimensions (the frame): 343mm high x 405mm wide x 30mm deep.

Photograph size: approximately 170mm high x 225mm (7" x 9").

Weight approximately 952g (unpacked).