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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.
On January 13, 1840, the passenger steamer Lexington on its way from New York to Stonington, Connecticut, burned in Long Island sound. There were only four survivors from among the 150 passengers and crew members. This spectacular catastrophe was disastrous for many, but proved a boon for a young New York lithographer named Nathaniel Currier. The news of this tragedy reached New York two days later, and the next day the New York Sun came out with a broadside about the disaster which included a lithographed image of the disaster. The sensation caused by the burning of the Lexington continued for weeks, spurred on by the repeated reissued of updated versions of this broadside. One week after the first publication, a new, more accurate lithographed image appeared on the broadside, this one attributed to artist W.K. Hewitt and lithographed by Nathaniel Currier. With its correct nighttime imagery, giving it a much more dramatic appearance, this broadside kept interest in the tragedy alive. In the days before photography and television, the combination of fast reportage and a dramatic lithographed image made this Sun Extra a big success. The popularity of the broadside inspired Nathaniel Currier to take over its publication after the Sun stopped its involvement, and he issued another three versions thereafter. This is the second version, with Currier the publisher responsible for both text and image. According to Harry T. Peters, the popularity of his Lexington lithograph is what firmly established Nathaniel Currier as a financial and popular success, and allowed him to build his firm (later Currier & Ives) into the dominant American printmaking company. $3,800
L. Maurer. "'Trotting Cracks' On The Snow." Currier & Ives, 1858. Large folio. 16 1/2 x 27 3/4. Framed. C:6170.
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 Rubber. 'Put to his Trumps.'" N Currier, 1838-56. Large folio. 19 5/8 x 15 3/4. A few short repaired tears; one just into image at right. C:5247.
A wonderful images of a card game in a room at a home or tavern. Two spectators look on the intense action at the table. A print of George Washington (no doubt a Currier print) hangs over the mantle. $1,600
"Salmon Fishing." Currier & Ives, 1872. Small folio. 8 1/2 x 12 1/2. C:5370.
A popular fishing image from Currier & Ives in the small folio size. $1,250
"'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 January 11, 2010
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