In the 19th century, before photography became commonplace, newspapers and periodicals were illustrated with wood engravings. Many of the best artists of the day earned their bread and butter creating the original designs for these prints and engraving them. These minutely detailed original prints provide wonderful glimpses into the daily life of the period and provide invaluable information concerning the architectural detail of specific locations and individual buildings. In this case the main image shows the race. Vignettes include “columbia observing Harvard,” “Columbia Crew Getting Their Boat,” and “Harvard Observing Columbia.”

16 x 22 inches, sheet.
Hand colored wood engraving.
Excellent condition.
With detailed accompanying text.

A wonderful action packed original antique print of rowing on the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia. Two insets show the “Schuylkill Navy, Saluting the Victorious Crew” and “Columbia and Princeton Quarters.”

the text to this image is included on the reverse. It begins “The long-looked-for contest between the four-oared shell crews of the college club of the University of Pennsylvania, the Columbia College crew of New York, and the Princeton College crew, over the National Course of a mile and a half on the Schuylkill River, came off on the 24th ult. and, as everybody knows, resulted in a victory for the Philadelphia Boys…” the article goes on to name the rowers for the Columbia, Princeton, and Pennsylvania teams and to describe the race in detail.

10 3/4 x 15 7/8 inches, sheet.
Hand colored wood engraving.

Excellent condition with light overall patina.

According to the accompanying text, Robert Henry Forster, aka Bill, “has never been under any delusion as to the uses of a megaphone.”

Vanity Fair
was a popular weekly magazine of social, literary and political content that was published in London between 1868 and 1914. It contained articles on political, economic and social topics though as time passed political reports were de-emphasized in favor of society news and gossip. The full page color caricatures of famous men and women of the day were popular at the time and continue to be so today.  The two most famous artists who worked for Vanity Fair were “Ape” (Carlo Pellegrini) and “Spy” (Leslie Ward), but many other artists provided images for this long running series of delightful caricatures.
16 x 10 ½ inches, sheet.
Chromolithograph.
Excellent condition.

A wonderfully lively original antique print showing the enthusiastic spectators filling the grandstands on the New London River to watch the race between Harvard and Columbia as they make their way between the many other boats in the river. Insets show “Columbia Cottage”, “The Mascots’ (4 dogs), and “Coaching a Crew.”

The text on the reverse describes the course of the race and names the participants.

11 x 15 1/2 inches, overall.
Hand colored wood engraving.
Excellent condition with light overall patina.

Makes a nice pair with “The Yale and Harvard Boat-Race.”

The renowned sporting artist, A.B. Frost created this charming 4 part image or rowing on the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia.
The upper scene shows Boathouse Row in detail, “At Rest at the Island” shows spectators in boats with scullers beside them, “Caught in a Shower” shows a scene familiar to any who have participated in this sport are who have watched those who do. The bottom scene, “Regatta Day” shows teams practicing before the race.

15 1/2 x 11 inches, sheet
Hand colored wood engraving.
Excellent condition with light overall patina.

The accompanying text describes this young man, Oliver Arthur Villiers Russessl, the second Baron Ampthill who rowed for Oxford Univeristy Boat Club as “a very tall, very agreedable, and good-lookingi young ma, with a long, strong bakc, which is worth much in a boat…He has many friends who call him ‘Dick’.”

Vanity Fair
was a popular weekly magazine of social, literary and political content that was published in London between 1868 and 1914. It contained articles on political, economic and social topics though as time passed political reports were de-emphasized in favor of society news and gossip. The full page color caricatures of famous men and women of the day were popular at the time and continue to be so today.  The two most famous artists who worked for Vanity Fair were “Ape” (Carlo Pellegrini) and “Spy” (Leslie Ward), but many other artists provided images for this long running series of delightful caricatures. This image was created by Spy.
16 x 10 ½ inches, sheet.
Chromolithograph.
Excellent condition.

Vanity Fair
was a popular weekly magazine of social, literary and political content that was published in London between 1868 and 1914. It contained articles on political, economic and social topics though as time passed political reports were de-emphasized in favor of society news and gossip. The full page color caricatures of famous men and women of the day were popular at the time and continue to be so today.  The two most famous artists who worked for Vanity Fair were “Ape” (Carlo Pellegrini) and “Spy” (Leslie Ward), but many other artists provided images for this long running series of delightful caricatures.
16 x 10 ½ inches, sheet.
Chromolithograph.
Excellent condition.

This is one of the most sought after images of the 1876 Centennial Exhibition and of Philadelphia rowing. The beautifully detailed view includes throngs of well dressed spectators on the banks of the river craning their necks and peering through binoculars to get a better look at the many sculls plying the river competing in the regatta. Details at the top of the image show the boathouses of the Schuylkill Navy, the non-profit organization governing amateur rowing on the river.

15 ½ x 10 ¾ inches.
Hand colored wood engraving.
Excellent condition.