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ποΈ HARPER'S WEEKLY Β· January 20, 1877
Sixteen Pages Β· New York
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A historically packed issue published in the final days of Cornelius Vanderbilt's life β his full front-page portrait appears just days before his death β alongside dramatic coverage of the Ashtabula Bridge disaster, New York snow scenes, and the 1876 Centennial Carriage Exhibit.
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πΌοΈ THE FRONT PAGE
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π° FULL FRONT PAGE β PORTRAIT OF CORNELIUS VANDERBILT
The full front page is a portrait of Cornelius Vanderbilt β the Commodore, founder of the Vanderbilt dynasty and the wealthiest man in America. Published in the very last weeks of his life, this portrait appeared in Harper's Weekly just before his death on January 4, 1877. A remarkable piece of Gilded Age history β the last major portrait of America's richest man while he still lived, published by the nation's leading illustrated newspaper. A significant collectible for Vanderbilt, railroad, and Gilded Age history enthusiasts.
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π THE ASHTABULA DISASTER
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π₯ TWO FULL PAGES β "THE ASHTABULA DISASTER"
Two full pages documenting the catastrophic Ashtabula Bridge disaster of December 29, 1876 β one of the deadliest railroad accidents in American history, in which a bridge over the Ashtabula River in Ohio collapsed under a passenger train, killing 92 people. The wreckage caught fire, making rescue nearly impossible. Published just three weeks after the disaster, these illustrations are primary documents of one of the great American railway tragedies β a significant collectible for railroad history and Ohio history enthusiasts.
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βοΈ NEW YORK IN THE SNOW
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π FULL PAGE β "IN THE SNOW β CLEARING THE STREET RAILWAY TRACKS IN NEW YORK"
A full-page illustration of New York City street railway workers clearing snow from the tracks β a vivid document of Gilded Age urban life and the tremendous labor required to keep the city moving through a Victorian winter.
π FULL PAGE β "IN THE SNOW β HOMELESS"
A powerful full-page illustration of homeless figures in the snow β a sobering social document of poverty and homelessness in Gilded Age New York. A significant piece of Victorian social history and urban documentary illustration.
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πΌοΈ ADDITIONAL ILLUSTRATIONS
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π FULL PAGE β "THE CENTENNIAL β CARRIAGE EXHIBIT"
A full-page illustration from the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition β the great American world's fair celebrating the nation's 100th birthday β focused on the carriage exhibit. A significant piece of Centennial history.
π§ TWO-THIRDS PAGE β "THE PLAYMATES"
A warm and charming two-thirds page genre scene of children at play.
π€ FOUR QUARTER-PAGE PORTRAITS
Four portraits of prominent political figures:
Β· The Hon. S.J. Randall β Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives
Β· The Hon. Lucius Robinson β Governor-Elect of New York
Β· The Hon. Smith Ely, Jr. β Mayor-Elect of New York City
Β· The Hon. John Kelly β the new boss of Tammany Hall, Tweed's successor
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π CONDITION
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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.
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π DETAILS
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Publication Β·Β·Β·Β·Β·Β·Β·Β· Harper's Weekly
Date Β·Β·Β·Β·Β·Β·Β·Β·Β·Β·Β·Β·Β·Β·Β· January 20, 1877
City Β·Β·Β·Β·Β·Β·Β·Β·Β·Β·Β·Β·Β·Β·Β· New York
Item Number Β·Β·Β·Β·Β·Β·Β·Β· 174106
Pages Β·Β·Β·Β·Β·Β·Β·Β·Β·Β·Β·Β·Β·Β· Sixteen pages Β· No supplement
Format Β·Β·Β·Β·Β·Β·Β·Β·Β·Β·Β·Β·Β· Illustrated folio newspaper
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π¦ SHIPPING & PRESERVATION
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β’ Housed in an acid-free archival folder with Mylar overlay to protect the 148-year-old newsprint
β’ Flat-shipped with heavy-duty reinforcement
β’ Fully tracked for your peace of mind
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π SEO TAGS
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1877 Vanderbilt Portrait, Ashtabula Disaster, Snow Homeless NY β Jan 20
$36.93