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From 1834 to 1907 the firm of Currier & Ives provided for the American people a pictorial history of their country's growth from an agricultural society to an industrialized one. For nearly three quarters of a century the firm provided "Colored Engravings for the People" and in the process became the visual raconteurs of nineteenth-century America. Some of the finest artists of the day were engaged by the firm to produce a variety of prints, including images of newsworthy events and prints depicting every subject relating to American life: sports, games, home life, religion, entertainment, views of cities, and so forth. Charming and colorful, these are wonderful examples of the work of "America's printmakers."
We have a large inventory of original prints by Nathaniel Currier and Currier & Ives. A small selection is illustrated below and a text only listing of our complete inventory is also available. If there is a particular print or type of print which you are seeking, please feel free to contact us so that we can keep you informed of their availability.
A word about condition: Most Currier & Ives prints that you will find on the market are not in stable condition and will deteriorate over time. Such inherent instability is exacerbated over the life of the print by acidic framing materials, like wood backing or wood-pulp matting. Even if the print currently shows no signs of waterstains, foxing, or significant browning, the paper is still acidic and as such will deteriorate, more and more visibly, over time: any print which has been in contact with an acidic environment will be itself acidic. This fact is important to bear in mind when purchasing Currier & Ives prints. They can be deacidified, but this is an added expense and should be factored into the 'purchase price' of the print. For this reason, we take special care to deacidify and otherwise conserve the Currier & Ives prints in our inventory. When you purchase these prints from us, you have a print which is stable and will last indefinitely, assuming it is properly treated henceforth.
A sample of Currier & Ives prints.
If you have questions about Currier & Ives prints.
Go to page with history and discussion of the Currier & Ives firm.
Go to page with a complete listing of our current inventory of Currier & Ives prints.
One of the most dramatic of Currier & Ives' loved winter scenes. $8,700
A.F. Tait. "Brook Trout Fishing. 'An Anxious Moment.'" Currier & Ives, 1862. Large folio. 18 1/2 x 27. Very light shadow from old mat, and very light spot in lower margin. Otherwise, very good condition. Lower publisher imprint trimmed at bottom; 1 3/4" margins top & sides; 1 1/2" at bottom. C:703. New Best 50: #38.
A.F. Tait did many of the most famous and desirable of the Currier & Ives sporting scenes, including this terrific fishing print. $18,000
"An Anxious Moment. 'A three pounder sure'" Currier & Ives, 1874. Medium folio 14 x 18 3/8. Paper lightly toned. Else, very good. C:241.
The Tait large folio fishing print was so popular that Currier & Ives came out with a slightly smaller, medium folio print that is a very close copy just over a decade later. $5,200
L. Maurer. "The Life of a Fireman. The Race,-'Jump her boys, jump her!'" N. Currier, 1854. Large folio. 17 x 25 7/8. C:3519. Original Best 50: #34. Wide margins.
One of the popular 'Life of a Fireman' series. $4,300
Go to more prints from this series
"Holidays In The Country. Troublesome Flies." Currier & Ives, 1868. Large folio. 15 3/4 x 23 3/4. Good margins. Very good condition. C:2838.
A rare and beautifully worked genre scene. The image shows the inside of a barn, with animals and farm implements scattered about. A farmhand is being woken up by a group of little boys who have tickled him with some hay. This unsigned image well captures the environment of a 19th century American farm, though idealized and with some implicit racisim from the period. $4,800
On of the most charming of series of Currier & Ives' prints, these four portraits are of the seasons personified, each decked out in appropriate flora and dress. $1,200
"'A Full Hand.'" By "F.C." Currier & Ives, 1884. Small folio. Vignette, ca. 13 1/4 x 10. Repaired tears at edges. C:2204.
A delightful cartoon showing a father with four children in his "full hand." $475
Christopher W. Lane with D.H. Cresswell & C. Cades. A Guide To Collecting Currier & Ives. Philadelphia, 2001. Paper. A basic guide which discusses the nature of Currier and Ives prints and the issues involved in collecting them. $8.00
Go to complete listing of Currier & Ives prints
If you have questions about Currier & Ives prints.
Go to history and discussion of the Currier & Ives firm
Go to list of Currier & Ives reference books
For further information call, write, fax or e-mail to:
8441 Germantown Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19118 USA
(215) 242-4750 [Phone]
(215) 242-6977 [Fax]
PhilaPrint@PhilaPrintShop.com 
©The Philadelphia Print Shop, Ltd. Last updated July 1, 2008
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