America On Stone
A selection of nineteenth-century popular lithographs

[ Lithographic Stones | Reference books ]

Pages for specific lithographic publishers

Popular American Lithographs

All The following prints are nineteenth-century American lithographs published as decorative art for the general public. They were intended to be hung in the home, work place, or places of leisure such as taverns and clubs. All are in very good condition, except as noted

Genre

"Life and Age of Man / Life and Age of Woman." Chicago: George Cram, 415-417 Dearborn Street, ca. 1885-1890. 28 3/4 x 24. Chromolithograph. Lightly varnished; mounted on varnished maple rollers. Very good condition.
With up-to-date costumes and timely hairdos, the timeless subject of life's cycle appears in George Cram's "Life and Age of Man / Life and Age of Woman." Widespread since the advent of the printing press, visual reminders of life's fragility were especially popular with Victorian Protestants, a largely Anglo, Calvinist group whose beliefs centered on God's sovereignty and man's weakness. Through mourning jewelry and post-mortem portraits, they expressed both awareness of human mortality and belief in eternal life. Like the portraits, the "Life and Age of Man" print could be framed to decorate a parlor or bedroom wall; on rollers (as seen here), it might serve as a teaching tool for a classroom or Sunday school.
Cram's "Life and Age of Man" "is identical in composition to those published by firms like Currier & Ives earlier in the nineteenth century (which likewise drew on European precedents)" only time-sensitive details changed. Military uniforms, ladies' hairdos, and costume silhouettes were altered to appeal to the style-conscious middle class, who would have been the likely viewers/consumers of a fashionable reminder of an eternal theme.
George Franklin Cram (1842-1928) is best known as a map and atlas publisher whose earliest atlas is recorded with a date of 1875. According to Phillips-LeGear, Geographical Atlases in the Library of Congress, Cram was at the Dearborn Street address during the years cited above. The firm continues today. In America on Stone, Harry Peters lists only one other print by Cram which was titled "The Destruction of Chicago . . . the First Picture Published in Chicago after the Fire." He saw one copy of the Chicago view and evidently never saw this one. A very scarce interpretation of one of the most popular themes in Western print culture. $1,600
"American Winter Scene." Philadelphia: Joseph Hoover, 1867. 18 1/2 x 26. Original hand color. A few minor blemishes, but overall very good condition. $1,600
"A Sail! A Sail!" No publisher given. Original hand color. Vignette, ca. 12 x 9. Four lines of verse, ending "But nothing can conquer a firm Yankee heart!" Very good condition. $475
"The First Ride." No publisher given. 11 7/8 x 7 1/2. Original hand color. Very good condition. $135
"Look At Papa." New York: J. Baillie and New Bedford: J. Sowle. 12 x 8 1/2. Original hand color. Light water stain at bottom. Otherwise, very good condition. $130
"Morning Prayer. 'God Bless Pa Pa.'" Philadelphia: William Smith. Vignette, ca. 12 x 8 1/2. Original hand color. Very good condition. $75
"Our Pet in Danger." New York: T.W. Strong. 8 x 11 1/4. Original hand color. Some marginal blemishes. Overall, very good condition. $150
"Single." New York:Sarony & Major. 11 7/8 x 8 1/2. Original hand color. Narrow margins, top and sides. OTherwise, very good condition. $175
"The Sisters." New York: James Baillie, 1845. 11 7/8 x 8 5/8. Original hand color. Short repaired tear in title area and other very minor marginal blemishes. Overall, very good condition. $125
"Soldier's Adieu." New York:" J. Baillie. 11 1/4 x 8 5/8. Original hand color. Trimmed to image at top and narrow margins else. Otherwise, very good condition. $100
"The Soldier's Return." New York: J. Baillie. 12 x 8 1/2. Original hand color. $150
"Wait your turn." No publisher given. Ca. 11 1/4 x 10. Original hand color. Very good condition. $135
"The White Plume." Philadelphia: C.G. Childs, 1830. "On Stone C.G. Childs Lithr." Small folio lithograph on tissue measuring 11 3/4 x 9 on heavier sheet 13 1/4 x 9 1/2. Some spotting along top of sheets. Very good condition and appearance. $350
"The Young Chief." No date nor publisher. Vignette, ca. 12 x 9. Original hand color. The quality and coloring are like those of a Currier & Ives print, but this title is unlisted in standard sources. $135

Portraits & Names

Portraits of Individuals:

"L. Kossuth." New York: T.W. Strong. Vignette, ca. 12 3/4 x 9. Original hand color. Very good condition. $250
"Rev. Father Mathew. The Apostle of Temperance." New York: T.W. Strong. 11 1/2 x 8 3/4. Original hand color. Paper toned and a couple repaired tears. Otherwise, very good condition. $125
"Major General Winfield Scott." New York: T.W. Strong. Vignette, ca. 12 x 9. Original hand color. Very good condition. Denver. $325
"Franz Sigel. Maj. Genl. U.S.A." Cincinnati: Ehrgott & Forbriger, ca. 1862. Vignette, ca. 12 1/2 x 9 1/2. Very good condition. $275
Go to list of other Civil War portraits by Ehrgott & Forbriger
"Diana Vernon." Philadelphia: ThomasInlaidr. Vignette, ca. 12 1/2 x 9 1/2. Original hand color. Very good condition. $175

Generic Portraits:

"The Pride of The West." Drawn by N. Sarony. New York: Sarony & Major. 12 x 8 1/2. Original hand color. Very good condition. Denver. $175
"The Sailors Wife." New York: J. Baillie, 1847. 11 1/2 x 8 1/4. Original hand color. Very good condition. $175

Names:

"Abigail." New York: N. Currier. 12 x 8 1/2. Original hand color. Very good condition. $150
"Ann." New York: N. Currier. 11 3/4 x 8 1/8. Original hand color. Very good condition. $150
"Little Charles." Boston: Haskell & Allen. Vignette, ca. 12 x 8 3/4. Some surface war, but generally good appearance. Subscriber bonus print for The Home, published in Cleveland, Ohio. $75
"Little Daisy.". No publisher given. Vignette, ca. 12 1/4 x 10 1/2. Original hand color. Subscriber bonus print for Young Folks Gem, published in Wadsworth, Ohio. $125
"Eliza." New York: J. Baillie. 11 1/2 x 8. Original hand color. Very good condition. $150
"Little Emma." Boston: Haskell & Allen. Vignette, ca. 13 x 10. Some light blue tinting. Subscriber bonus print for The Home, published in Cleveland, Ohio. $110
"Fannie." New York: Currier & Ives. Vignette, ca. 12 3/4 x 9 1/2. Original hand color. Very good condition. $150
"Fanny." New York: N. Currier. Vignette, ca. 10 1/2 x 9. Original hand color. Very good condition. $115
"Isabelle." Hartford: Kellogg & Comstock and Buffalo: Ensign & Thayer. 11 7/8 x 8 1/2. Original hand color. Top right corner of margin replaced. Otherwise, very good condition. $150
Go to page with other prints by the Kelloggs
"Julia." New York: Currier & Ives. 13 1/2 x 8 3/4. Original hand color. Very good condition. $150
"Margaret." Philadelphia: R. Magee. 11 7/8 x 8 3/4. Original hand color. $150
"Mary Ann." Hartford: E.B. & E.C. Kellogg and New York: Kelloggs & Thayer and Buffalo: D. Needham. 11 3/4 x 8 1/2. Original hand color. Very good condition. Stock number 172. $150
"Sarah." New York: Currier & Ives. Vignette, ca. 10 1/2 x 9. Original hand color. Repaired marginal tears and minor surface wear. Attractive appearance. $125
"Susan." New York: T.W. Strong. 11 5/8 x 8 3/4. Original hand color. Very good condition. $125

Scenes & Views

"The Farmers Home, Winter." New York: Thomas Kelly. 8 1/4 x 12. Original hand color. $650
"Forest Scene Summer." Chicago: G.F. Cram. 7 7/8 x 12 1/4. Original hand color. $175
"Scene On The Deleware [sic]." Boston: Haskell & Allen, ca. 1850. 8 1/4 x 13. Original hand color. A wonderful view of the upper Delaware River, along the Pennsylvania/New Jersey or perhaps Pennsylvania/New York border. $750
"Summer Scene in the Country." Philadelphia: J. Kelley & Sons, 1866. 17 1/2 x 24 7/8. Original hand color. A few short, repaired tears. $800
"Trotting Cracks of Philadelphia Returning from The Race at Point Breeze Park, having a brush past Turner's Hotel, Rope Ferry Road, Philadelphia, 1870." Philadelphia: H. Pharazyn, 1870. 16 1/2 x 27 1/2. Original hand color. Marginal tears and some chips; one tear and small hole in title area. All expertly conserved. Overall, very good condition and appearance. $2,800

Sporting

"Snipe Shooting." New York: Fisher & Carpenter 8 & 9 Baxter St., circa. 1870s. Lithograph with hand coloring (17 3/4 x 23 1/2 image) plus full margins. Slight water stains and repairs along center vertical area. Archival backing for strength. Overall pleasant appearance. Peters, America on Stone, p. 188.
Men and dogs hunting birds in an early Spring landscape. The willow trees along the creek bank are beginning to sprout foliage, thus giving the birds less than their usual cover. The picture artfully shows the stages of loading, firing, and fetching. A fine hunting print. $450
"Nettie." No publisher given. 9 1/4 x 13. Original hand color. Margins somewhat uneven. $250
"Woodcock Shooting." No publisher given. 8 x 12 7/8. Original hand color. Trimmed to image at sides. Title remounted in lower margin. Still, good image. $140

Marine

"Midnight Race on the Mississippi." Boston: Haskell & Allen. 8 3/8 x 13. Original hand color. Narrow margins. Very good condition. $750

Religious

"The Deluge." New York: Sarony & Major. 8 1/4 x 12 1/2. Original hand color. Very good condition. $285
"The Expulsion From Paradise." New York: J. Baillie. 8 x 12 1/4. Original hand color. Very good condition. $225

Disasters

"Awful Conflagration of The Steam Boat Lexington in Long Island Sound." No publisher given, 1840. 6 1/2 x 11 1/2. Close margins, but complete. $575

Historical:

"Genl. George Washington. The Father of His Country." Hartford: Kellogg & Comstock, New York: George Whiting, and Buffalo: D. Needham. Ca. 12 x 9. Original hand color. Very good condition. $325
James S. Baillie. "Napoleon and Son." New York: J. Baillie, 1845. Small folio. Lithograph. Full original hand color. Very good condition. $175
"Battle of Sierra Gordo, April 17th & 18th 1847, Between Genl. Scott and Santa Anna. Capture of Santa Anna's Carriage, Cash, Papers, Dinner & Wooden leg." New York: J. Baillie, ca. 1847. 7 7/8 x 12. Light spots in margins, else very good condition. $600
"The Last Call." Boston: Bufford's Print Publishing House, ca. 1862. 11 x 7 3/4. Margins with some creases, old tears and spotting. Good overall appearance. Denver. $425

Miscellaneous:

"Inconvenience of Wearing Coffee Bag Skirts." No publisher given, but same print as one issued by J. Baillie in 1848. 12 x 8 1/2. Original hand color. Very good condition. Cover illustration of Imprint, Volume 14; Number 2. $275
"The Prodigal Son Receiving His Patrimony." Boston: Joseph Ward. 11 3/4 x 8 1/4. Original hand color. Very good condition. $185
"Family Register." New York: J. Baillie. 1846. 8 3/4 x 12 3/8. No names inserted. Some light discolorations in lower left, else very good condition. $250

Lithographic Stone:

These stones are fascinating for the print or ephemera aficionado. Limestone blocks polished flat and smooth on one or two sides, each with several images or text blocks from which prints would have been made.

Lithographic stone With chip at one corner. $85

Reference Books:

Marshall R. Berkoff. Currier & Ives - The New Best 50. Milwaukee, 1991. Cloth. Color illustrations of 100 prints-- the large and small Best 50 selections by a jury. With an essay "Comparison of the Original and New Best 50 Currier & Ives" by Christopher W. Lane. $30.00
Alexandra Bonfante-Warren. Currier & Ives: Portraits of a Nation. New York, 1998. Cloth. A very nice new general reference book on Currier & Ives. With a good general history of the firm and discussion of all the types of prints they issued, combined with over 100 color illustrations, this is a good book for anyone just getting interested in prints by "Americas Printmakers." $19.95
Gale Research. Currier & Ives, A Catalogue Raisonné. Two Volumes, slipcased. Detroit, 1984. Cloth. The most comprehensive and scholarly listing of known Currier & Ives prints. Essential for the serious collector. $250.00
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
Bryan F. Le Beau. Currier & Ives: America Imagined. Washington, 2001. Cloth. A fascinating cultural history of the hugely prolific and influential print publishers whose images both reflected and influenced the country’s view of itself. $29.95
Sally Pierce with Catharina Slautterback and Georgia B. Barnhill. Early American Lithography. Images to 1830. Boston, 1997. Paper. A scholarly catalogue co-produced by the Boston Athenaeum and the American Antiquarian Society, surveying the formative period of American lithography. $24.00