Timeless Intaglio Portrait Prints

This is an original 19th century hand-colored McKenney and Hall engraving of a Native American entitled "Wa-Na-Ta, Grand Chief of the Sioux, No. 74",...

This is an original 19th century hand-colored McKenney and Hall engraving of a Native American entitled "Tuko-See-Mathla, A Seminole Chief, No. 106", published by Rice, Rutter & Co. in 1865. This original McKenney and Hall engraving is presented in a cream colored mat, suitable for framing with a protective clear sleeve. The mat measures 13.88" x 11.75" and the sheet measures 10.63" x 7.38. There is minimal spotting in the periphery, but the print is otherwise in very good condition. Col. Thomas J. McKenney was Superintendant of The Bureau of Indian Affairs from 1816 until 1830. He was one of a very few government officials to defend American Indian interests and attempt to preserve their culture. He travelled to Indian lands meeting the Native American leaders. He brought with him an accomplished artist, James Otto Lewis...

"Neptune Washington" is a large contemporary lithograph by Ron Adams (1934- ), created in 1996. It depicts a muscular African-American fisherman polling his fishing boat in a river in the rain. Adams distinctive rendering of Neptune conveys his great strength, as well as the grace, fluidity and balance of his body. He is barefoot and shirtless, dressed in striped overalls with his right shoulder strap undone. A bucket of fish sits next to his left foot, while fishing line, an open tin can and a frog are seen on a wet bench in front of Neptune. A long-necked white bird (crane) sits on a log floating by in the river near the opposite shore. Ominous storm clouds are present in the background over trees, brush and rocks along the opposite river bank. The lithograph is printed on handmade deckle-edged paper and presented with a museum style floating mount in a black wood frame with a thick cream mat and glazed with UV protected plexiglass. It is signed in pencil in the right lower corner along with the date, '96. The title "Neptune Washington" is inscribed in pencil in the lower margin in the center and initials HGI are in the lower left. The initials HGI may stand for Hand Graphics Institute, which Adams founded in New Mexico. The initials rather than the usual edition number (which consisted of 70), possibly signify an artist proof or possibly a Hors-Commerce (before trade) printing. The print is in excellent condition. The frame measures 38" x 30.25" x 1.25". Ron Adams is a prominent African-American master printmaker. His detailed depictions of African-American musicians, craftsmen, folk heroes and everyday people have made him one of the top figurative artists and printmakers in the country. He has worked with and taught many other well-known artists, including Frank Stella, Charles White, John Biggers, Robert Rauschenberg and Jasper Jones...

This an original 19th century hand-colored McKenney and Hall lithographic portrait of a Native American entitled "Billy Bowlegs, A Seminole Chief", publi...

An 18th century etching and engraving entitled "Earl Sandwich Refusing to Leave His Ship While on Fire in the Battle of Sole Bay" by William Byrne (1743-1805), after a painting by Robert Smirke (1753-1845). It was published in London in 1798. The print is presented in a cream-colored mat. The mat measures 17.13" in height and 13" in width. The print is in excellent condition. Edward Montagu, the 1st Earl of Sandwich...

This framed hand-colored etching and aquatint entitled "A Great Man on The Turf or Sir Solomon in all his Glory" by James Gillray was published in London by Hanna Humphrey, 27 St. James Street on July 7th 1803. The print is signed in the plate in the lower right. It depicts a man, possibly a caricature of the racehorse breeder Sir Solomon. However, there has been some controversy about the identity of the central figure on the mound. Traditionally the man has been thought to represent John Russell, 6th Duke of Bedford...

This is an original 18th Century copper plate engraved portrait of Captain James Cook as a young man. It was engraved by J. Basire after a painting by William Hodges, published in London by W. Strahan and T. Cadell in the Strand in 1777 as the frontispiece to the official journal publication of Cook's 2nd voyage of discovery, "A voyage towards the South Pole, and round the World. Performed in His Majesty's ships the Resolution and Adventure, in the years 1772, 1773, 1774, and 1775". The journal was written by James Cook, Commander of the Resolution, which was the ship used for the voyage and William Hodges, who was the artist on board the ship. This famous image has been used in many articles and tributes to Captain Cook, including a Norfolk Island stamp celebrating his many accomplishments. This engraved head-and-shoulders portrait of Captain Cook is enclosed in an oval with the appearance of a stone border. Captain Cook is dressed in his naval dress uniform, with a topcoat over a lace shirt. The engraving is printed on watermarked laid, chain-linked paper. The sheet measures 11.5" high x 9" wide. There is some spotting, most prominently in the margins. The print is otherwise in excellent condition. Captain James Cook (1728-1779) was an English explorer, navigator, surveyor and cartographer, who dramatically changed what was known about the world through his three voyages of discovery in the 1770's. Cook's achievements are too numerous to include here, but for example, Cook charted much of the Pacific Ocean and discovered many island groups, including the Hawaiian islands, which he named the Sandwich Islands, in honor of the head of the British Admiralty and a patron of Cook's. Cook was the first European to explore the eastern coast of Australia, and he was the first to map the New Zealand coastline. He sailed farther south than any other explorer before him, disproving the belief that a huge land mass occupied the South Pole. He also explored the northwest coast of North America, including present day Alaska and adjacent portions of Russia. He proved that the Northwest Passage did not exist. Cook was an exceptional seaman, navigator and leader of men, which contributed to the success of his explorations, but also saved his ship and crew on many occasions when faced with challenges, such as storms in previously unexplored waters, like occurred in the Great Barrier Reef off the eastern coast of Australia. He is also the first to require his crew to eat citrus fruit which markedly reduced the incidence of survey, which had led to large scale illness and death during earlier ocean voyages. As outstanding as Cook's skills were, they are even more impressive since they were self-taught. Having grown up the son of a farmhand in Northern England he had only four years of formal schooling. He taught himself astronomy, mathematics and other disciplines which were helpful when he continued his education, first in the merchant marine and then in the British Navy. Cook's adventurous career came to a sudden and unfortunate end in 1779, when he was killed in a confrontation with Hawaiian natives...

This lithographic colored advertising poster entitled "Tom Sawyer Detective, A New Story by Mark Twain" was created by Edward Penfield in 1897 for Harper & Brothers. The artist's signature appears in the plate in the lower left. The poster depicts a man in a long black bathing suit sitting with his knees up, aimlessly smoking a cigarette, but looking out of the corner of his eyes at a woman in a olive green dress and tan blouse and a black hat, who sits to his left with her head propped in her left hand and a bored or concerned look on her face. The look on the faces of the couple creates an air of mystery. The title of the book is printed in red in the upper left and the issue "Harper's August" in bold letters in the lower poster. The poster promotes a new book by Mark Twain that was published initially in two issues of Harper's Monthly and also in book form by Harper & Brothers in 1896. It is a sequel to "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer", published in 1876, "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn", published in 1884, and "Tom Sawyer Abroad", also published in 1894. The plot of the book involves Tom Sawyer attempting to solve a mysterious murder. The story is told using the first-person narrative voice of his friend Huck Finn...

This an 18th century copper plate engraved portrait of Sir Francis Drake by Jacobus Houbraken, after a painting by Sir Godfrey Kneller, from "The Hea...

This is an 18th century copperplate engraved portrait of Sir Francis Bacon, Viscount St. Albans, Lord Chancellor by Jacobus Houbraken in 1738 after a p...

This is an 18th century copperplate engraved portrait of Lieutenant General Talmash by Jacobus Houbraken after a painting by Sir Godfrey Kneller, from "The Heads of Illustrious Perso...

This is an 18th century copperplate engraved portrait of Joseph Addison, Esq. by Jacobus Houbraken after a painting by Sir Godfrey Kneller, from "The Heads of Illustrious Persons of Great Britain", published in London in 1748 by John & Paul Knapton. It depicts a bust portrait of Addison in an ornamental oval. He is turned to his right, but he is looking directly at the viewer. He is wearing a dark coat over a white shirt. Below the oval are items relating to plays, music, as well as the rod of Asclepius and books lying in foreground on the right. Joseph Addison (1672-1719) was an English essayist, poet, playwright and politician. he founded The Spectator magazine with his friend Richard Steele. In 1712, Addison wrote his most famous work, "Cato, a Tragedy". It focussed on the last days of Marcus Porcius Cato Uticensis, He was dealing with issues of individual liberty versus government tyranny. The play was particularly popular in America. It is credited as an inspiration for the American Revolution. General George Washington had Cato performed for the Continental Army at Valley Forge during the winter of 1777-78. Several famous quotations from the American Revolution were inspired by passages in Cato, including: Patrick Henry's famous "Give me liberty or give me death!", inspired by Act II, Scene 4: "It is not now time to talk of aught, But chains or conquest, liberty or death.") and Nathan Hale...

This is an 18th century copperplate engraved portrait of the 17th century physician and scientist Thomas Willis, MD from "The Heads of Illustrious Person...

An 18th century engraved portrait of William Harvey, MD by Jacobus Houbraken after a painting by Wilhem von Bemmel, from "The Heads of Illustrious Pers...

A limited edition woodcut portrait of Don Quixote de la Marcha by George De Groat (1917-1995). Don Quixote is instantly recognizable due to his thin fa...

A framed hand-colored Vanity Fair caricature of a prominent 19th century English judge, Henry Charles Lopes, 1st Baron Ludlow (1828-1899) entitled "An O...

This is a very rare early 18th century old master religious themed engraving entitled "Les Mages...Trouverent l'Enfant avec Marie sa Mere, et se prosternant entere ils l'adorent Puis ouvrant leurs tresors ils tuy offrirent pour present de lor de l'encens et de la myrrhe" by S. Vale after Calmaret, published in Paris by Pierre Drevet (1663-1738). The scene depicts the Magi bowing before Jesus, who is held by his mother Mary, and bringing him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to demonstrate their adoration and respect. Winged cherubs fly overhead and a ray of light is focused on the spiritual couple. A cattle stall and buildings are in the background and a crown and scepter are dropped in the foreground, symbolically demonstrating that these nobles place Jesus above their titles and rank. Little is known about the artist Calmarat or the engraver S...

This is an original 19th century hand-colored folio size McKenney and Hall engraving of a Native American entitled "Ahyouwaighs, Chief of the Six Nat...

This is an original 19th century hand-colored folio-size McKenney and Hall engraving of a Native American entitled "To-Ka-Con, A Sioux Chief", drawn ...

This is an original 19th century hand colored McKenney and Hall engraving of a Native American entitled "Thayendanegea, Great Captain of the Six Nations, N...

This is an original 19th century hand-colored McKenney and Hall engraving of a Native American entitled "Wa-Kawn, A Winnebago Chief, No. 83 (The Snake)", published by Rice, Rutter & ...

This is an original 19th century hand-colored McKenney and Hall engraving of a Native American entitled "Foke-Luste-Hajo, A Seminole Chief, No. 84", published by Rice, Rutter & Co. i...

This is an original 19th century hand-colored McKenney and Hall engraving of a Native American entitled "Not-Chi-Mi-Ne, An Ioway Chief, No. 91", published by Rice, Rutter & Co. in 1865. This original McKenney and Hall engraving is presented in a cream colored mat, suitable for framing with a protective clear sleeve. The mat measures 13.88" x 11.75" and the sheet measures 10.63" x 7.38. There is a spot in the lower left margin and tiny faint spots in the periphery, but the print is otherwise in very good condition. Col. Thomas J. McKenney was Superintendant of The Bureau of Indian Affairs from 1816 until 1830. He was one of a very few government officials to defend American Indian interests and attempt to preserve their culture. He travelled to Indian lands meeting the Native American leaders. He brought with him an accomplished artist, James Otto Lewis...

This is an original 19th century hand-colored McKenney and Hall engraving of a Native American entitled "Waa-Pa-Shaw, Sioux Chief, No. 97", published by Rice, Rutter & Co. in 1865. ...

This is an original 19th century hand-colored McKenney and Hall engraving of a Native American entitled "Lap-Pa-Win-Soe, A Delaware Chief, No. 71", published by Rice, Rutter & Co. in...

AThis is an original 19th century hand colored McKenney and Hall engraving of a Native American entitled "Young Mahaskah, An Ioway Chief, No. 80", published by Rice, Rutter & Co. in 1865. This original McKenney and Hall engraving is presented in a cream colored mat, suitable for framing with a protective clear sleeve. The mat measures 13.88" high and 11.75" wide and the sheet measures 10.63"high and 7.38" wide. There a few faint spots in the periphery of the print, but it is otherwise in very good condition. Col. Thomas J. McKenney was Superintendant of The Bureau of Indian Affairs from 1816 until 1830. He was one of a very few government officials to defend American Indian interests and attempt to preserve their culture. He travelled to Indian lands meeting the Native American leaders. He brought with him an accomplished artist, James Otto Lewis...

This an original 19th century hand-colored folio-size McKenney and Hall engraving of a Native American entitled "Kee-She-Waa, A Fox Warrior", drawn b...

A superb 18th century engraved portrait of George Savile, Marquis of Halifax, Plate 82 in "The Heads of Illustrious Persons of Great Britain", written by...

This is an etched portrait of a pensive woman wearing a detailed cloth head scarf by George Woolliscroft Rhead (1854-1920). It may be entitled "A Fisher Wife", but this can not be co...

This is a hand-colored portrait of John Tillotson, Archbishop of Canterbury, engraved and etched by the Dutch master of portraits Jacobus Houb...

This is a hand-colored engraving by Robert White (1645-1703) after a painting by Abraham Blooteling (or Bloteling) (1634–1690) entitled "The Effigies of the Right honorable: Thomas B...

Vanity Fair color chromolithograph caricature of Rev. Edgar Sheppard "A Great Marrier" by Spy (Leslie Ward) March 14, 1904 from the "Clergymen" series....