The Fall of Richmond, VA, on the night of April 2, 1865
- Card type
- Lithograph
About this postcard
The scene shows Richmond, Virginia, burning on the night of April 2, 1865. Flames and smoke fill the sky above the city, and a long wooden bridge on stone piers crosses the river, crowded with people, animals, and wagons fleeing the burning capital. Church spires and a classical porticoed building stand among the rooftops on the far bank. The date marks the Confederate capital's evacuation, when fires set during the withdrawal spread through the business district. Currier & Ives's lithograph presents the event as a panoramic night view.
Postcard Details
No address detected
Postcard record
| Publisher | Mayer Post Card Co. |
|---|---|
| Series | S-33886-2 |
| Condition | Very good |
| Place mentioned | Richmond, VA |
| Publisher | Mayer Post Card Co., Roanoke, VA |
| Notes | Thin white margin visible at the edges; coarse color lithograph/screen reproduction of an older print. Back printed caption: "THE FALL OF RICHMOND, VA. on the Night of April 2nd, 1865. Lithograph by Currier & Ives, folio edition." Back printed as a divided post card: "POST CARD / Address" and "PLACE STAMP HERE"; publisher "Published by Mayer Post Card Co., 2234 Maiden Lane, Roanoke, Va."; series "S-33886-2"; color credit line "Color courtesy Valentine Museum." No postmark; unused. Divided back; white border; other texture; modern reproduction; light edge wear. |
Cite this card
The Fall of Richmond, VA, on the night of April 2, 1865, postcard, c. 1915. PostalPast Collection. https://postalpast.com/postcard/the-fall-of-richmond-va-on-the-night-of-april-2-1865. Accessed November 2, 2026.