1871 Harper's Weekly β€” Thomas Nast Tweed, Wagon Train West, "Saved from the Wreck," Dec 23

1871 Harper's Weekly β€” Thomas Nast Tweed, Wagon Train West, "Saved from the Wreck," Dec 23

$40.40
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1871 Harper's Weekly β€” Thomas Nast Tweed, Wagon Train West, "Saved from the Wreck," Dec 23

1871 Harper's Weekly β€” Thomas Nast Tweed, Wagon Train West, "Saved from the Wreck," Dec 23

$40.40
1871 Harper's Weekly β€” Thomas Nast Tweed, Wagon Train West, "Saved from the Wreck," Dec 23 πŸ“œ ABOUT THIS PIECE OF HISTORY πŸ“œ This December 23, 1871 issue of Harper's Weekly β€” complete with its rare holiday supplement β€” is a collector's showcase combining Thomas Nast political cartooning at its most biting, a stunning Western frontier scene, and one of the most dramatically powerful double-page supplement engravings ever published in the illustrated press. For collectors of Thomas Nast, Boss Tweed history, American Western expansion, Victorian illustration, and Gilded Age Americana, this Christmas week issue delivers on every page. 🎨 FULL FRONT PAGE β€” "THE FOUNDLING" The cover presents a full front-page engraving of "The Foundling" β€” a tender and emotionally resonant scene of a man huddling a baby discovered abandoned at a doorstep. A compelling human interest image chosen for the Christmas week issue, speaking directly to themes of charity, compassion, and the holiday spirit that Harper's Weekly championed throughout the Gilded Age. πŸ—³οΈ THOMAS NAST β€” "THE DEAD BEAT" β€” BOSS TWEED CARTOON A full-page Thomas Nast political cartoon titled "The Dead Beat" delivers one of his characteristically devastating portraits of Boss Tweed β€” the notorious Tammany Hall political boss whose corruption Nast single-handedly exposed through a relentless campaign of illustration in Harper's Weekly. By late 1871 Tweed's empire was crumbling under the weight of public outrage that Nast's cartoons had done more than any editorial to ignite. This cartoon stands as a primary document of one of the most consequential uses of political illustration in American history. An exceptional piece for collectors of New York history, political cartoon history, and the Tammany Hall era. 🌡 "PILGRIMS OF THE PLAINS" β€” WAGON TRAIN WEST A terrific near-full-page print depicting "Pilgrims of the Plains" β€” a wagon train camp on a westward journey across the American frontier. Richly detailed, this engraving captures the drama, hardship, and determination of westward expansion at its peak, with an inset view on page 13 extending the visual narrative. A prized image for collectors of American Western history, frontier Americana, and 19th-century illustration. βš™οΈ "THE EXPERIMENTAL BOILER CAMP AT SANDY HOOK" Several scenes document the experimental boiler testing operations at Sandy Hook β€” an early record of industrial and military testing on the New Jersey coast, of interest to collectors of naval and industrial history. πŸ“° THE SUPPLEMENT β€” "SAVED FROM THE WRECK" β€” A MASTERPIECE OF VICTORIAN ENGRAVING This issue includes its complete holiday supplement β€” a rare survival that dramatically elevates the collectibility of this already outstanding issue. The crown jewel of the supplement is the double-page engraving "Saved from the Wreck" β€” among the most visually powerful prints ever published in Harper's Weekly's supplement pages. The image shows a young woman with wild, flowing hair clinging with fierce determination to rope rigging above the wreckage of a ship, rendered in sweeping, dramatic woodblock tones of deep black and gray. A skeletal form and the chaos of destruction frame the composition below her, while above, a rescuer reaches desperately from the rigging. The technical mastery of the engraving β€” the contrast of light on the young woman's face against the surrounding darkness, the taut tension of the ropes, the suggestion of storm and sea β€” makes this a displayable work of genuine artistic achievement. One of the most memorable supplement prints of the entire Harper's Weekly run. The supplement text pages contain: "Poor Miss Finch" β€” a serialized installment of the celebrated Victorian novel, continuing the holiday season's most popular literary entertainment for Harper's Weekly subscribers "Lord Kilgobbin" β€” by Charles Lever, another major serialized Victorian novel running simultaneously, reflecting Harper's Weekly's commitment to the finest literary content of the era The supplement advertising pages include a remarkable Gilded Age holiday marketplace: Weber Piano-Fortes β€” best pianos made, 607 & 611 Broadway Chickering & Sons β€” piano-fortes, 11 East 14th Street J.W. Johnson β€” shirts, 14 East 14th Street Litell's Living Age Dooley's Yeast Powder β€” 1,000 sold by grocers B.A. Newell β€” holiday presents, house coats, robes de chambre Magic Lanterns and Stereopticons β€” holiday gifts Guanaco Umbrellas β€” Bergmann & Co., 30 to 36 Park Place Asphalt Roofing Felt Shot-Gun for $10 Charles W. Hassler β€” Railroad Bonds Cleveland Herald β€” S. River White Chicago of Destruction β€” dramatic news feature advertisement Dr. Kennedy's Hair Tea β€” growing thin or falling out C.G. Gunther's Sons β€” seal sacques, black and silver foxes, novelties Carbolic Salve πŸ” CONDITION & TRANSPARENCY πŸ” Completeness: Main issue with complete supplement included, including the "Saved from the Wreck" double-page engraving. Pages show binding holes from original bound volume, typical for Harper's Weekly held in library or personal bound collections. Authenticity: Guaranteed original woodblock printing from December 23, 1871 β€” not a reproduction. Condition Report: Presents well for its 154-year age. Natural toning. The "Saved from the Wreck" supplement engraving is bold, clear, and fully displayable. The Nast Tweed cartoon, front page Foundling engraving, and Pilgrims of the Plains print are all clear and sharp. Binding holes present along inner margins as visible in photographs. I photograph every page of every issue so you can inspect the condition closely before purchasing. Please review all images carefully and don't hesitate to ask any questions β€” I'm happy to provide additional detail or close-up shots of any page, illustration, or area of concern before you buy. πŸ“¦ SHIPPING & PRESERVATION πŸ“¦ Housed in an acid-free archival folder with Mylar overlay to protect the 154-year-old newsprint Flat-shipped with heavy-duty reinforcement to ensure safe arrival of the supplement centerfold Fully tracked for your peace of mind 🏷️ TAGS 1871 Harpers Weekly, Thomas Nast Boss Tweed, Tammany Hall Cartoon 1871, Pilgrims of the Plains Wagon Train, Saved from the Wreck Engraving, The Foundling 1871, Victorian Christmas Illustration, Sandy Hook Boiler Experiment, Poor Miss Finch Serial Fiction, Lord Kilgobbin Charles Lever, Gilded Age Christmas, Antique Newspaper 1871, 19th Century Americana, Harper's Weekly Supplement, Victorian Engraving DisplayablePlease always include in the condition that I take pictures of every page so indirect carefully and ask questions5:41 PMGot it! I'll add that to every listing going forward. Here is the updated condition section you can paste into any listing:

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