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Helmuth Holtz Lithograph Lettersheet of Matagord

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:112.50 USD Estimated At:450.00 - 550.00 USD
Helmuth Holtz Lithograph Lettersheet of Matagord
<B>Helmuth Holtz Lithograph Lettersheet of Matagorda Texas.</B></I> Lettersheets were very common in the 19th century because before 1855 postage was calculated based on the number of sheets in each envelope. Lettersheets were one sheet of paper, usually 21" x 8.5" and folded in half, which allowed for four pages of space to write on but was still counted as one sheet by the Postal System. Some letter sheets were decorated to give them a commercial appeal; this is one such example that features drawings of Helmut Holtz. Holtz was an artist and draftsman who produced several drawings of the Texas port towns Matagorda and Indianola. These were sent to Hamburg, Germany and lithographed by Eduard Lang. This lettersheet features the views of Matagorda township including; the church, Masonic Hall, the hotel, courthouse, residence of Col. R.H. Williams, and the country store of G. Burkhart. While lettersheets with printed images were common in the Western United States, ones from Texas are very uncommon. The lettersheet itself is in good condition but has become brittle with acid degradation. There are several small nicks and tears on the right edge and one small tear on the upper edge. The lithograph is dark and crisp and perfect for display. A wonderful piece of Texas history.