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1834 Hand-Colored Broadside Engraving titled THE PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:500.00 USD Estimated At:800.00 - 1,000.00 USD
1834 Hand-Colored Broadside Engraving titled THE PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES
Political
1834 THE PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES Hand-Colored Engraving
1834-Dated, Hand-Colored Broadside Engraving titled, “THE PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES.”, copyright by George P. Morris, published by George P. Morris, engraved by J. W. Casilear, New York, Choice Very Fine.
This rare and ornate 1834 Hand-colored Engraving is produced in a Broadside style, measuring 10.5" x 13.75" with wide full margins, printed on heavy wove period paper stock. Its black and white steel engravings featuring lifelike handsome illustrated Portraits of Presidents George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, John Quincy Adams, and Andrew Jackson. 1834 Copyright by George P. Morris is printed in the lower margin. Text below the image reads, in full:

“THE PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. FROM ORIGINAL AND ACCURATE PORTRAITS, PAINTED & ENGRAVED FOR THE NEW YORK MIRROR. - DESIGNED BY ROBERT W. WEIR. - ENGRAVED BY J. W. CASILEAR. - ENTERED ACCORDING TO THE ACT OF CONGRESS FOR THE YEAR 1834 BY GEORGE P. MORRIS IN THE CLERK'S OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT COURT OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK.”

The ornate design shows Seven Presidential Portraits with frames in Golden-yellow surround a pier-table with a large mirror behind it, reflecting a Statue of the Goddess of Liberty, and surmounted by the American Heraldic Eagle with Banners. The small inset steel engravings are by J. W. Casilear; and are placed upon a background designed by Robert W. Weir, which contains fine perpendicular lines and a Damasque style pattern. One small archival verso repair to small closed edge tear.

Robert Walter Weir (1803-1889), was a New York native who devoted himself to painting at an early age. He joined the staff of the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1834 as a teacher of drawing, and remained on its faculty until 1876. John William Casilear (1811-1893), of New York City, began his career in the 1820s working under engraver Peter Marshall. Although he worked as an engraver through the 1850s, he is most famous for his landscape paintings. His work is displayed at several of the most prestigious museums in the country, including: The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York; and the National Gallery of Art. This is the only example we have been able to track that has its original Hand-Color. Overall, a wonderful rare historical Broadside Engraving that is colorful and nice for display.