1881 Western Policeman, Harvard Greek Tragedy, NYC Water Supply, Telescope — May 28
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1881 Western Policeman, Harvard Greek Tragedy, NYC Water Supply, Telescope — May 28
📜 ABOUT THIS PIECE OF HISTORY 📜
This May 28, 1881 issue of Harper's Weekly is one of the most intellectually and visually varied issues of the spring 1881 run — a swaggering Western lawman, Harvard students performing ancient Greek tragedy, the engineering marvel of New York's Croton water system, the great refracting telescope in Washington, and the working waterfront of lower Manhattan. For collectors of American Western history, classical theater history, New York City infrastructure history, Victorian science, and Gilded Age Americana, this issue is a richly rewarding primary source.
🤠 FULL FRONT PAGE — "THE MOUNTED POLICEMAN — OBJECT OF ARDENT ADMIRATION"
The full front page delivers one of the most charming and visually engaging covers of the 1881 run: "The Mounted Policeman — Object of Ardent Admiration" — a mounted lawman arriving in a Western-looking town to the obvious admiration of the local population. The image captures the romance, authority, and swagger of the frontier lawman at the height of the Wild West era with warmth and humor — a fully displayable cover of great appeal to collectors of American Western history, law enforcement history, and Victorian genre illustration.
🎭 TWO FULL PAGES — "THE OEDIPUS TYRANNUS — SCENES AND CHARACTERS FROM THE GREEK TRAGEDY AS PERFORMED AT HARVARD"
Two full pages containing six prints documenting the celebrated Harvard performance of Sophocles' Oedipus Tyrannus — one of the most remarkable theatrical events in American academic history, in which Harvard students performed the ancient Greek tragedy in the original ancient Greek language before a capacity audience. The Harvard Greek Play of 1881 was a sensation that drew national attention and sparked widespread debate about classical education, theatrical revival, and the place of ancient culture in modern American life. Six prints capturing the scenes, costumes, and characters of the production make this a primary source document of extraordinary interest to collectors of theater history, classical studies history, Harvard history, and Victorian American academic culture.
💧 DOUBLE-PAGE CENTERFOLD — "THE WATER SUPPLY OF NEW YORK"
The visual centerpiece of the issue is a sweeping double-page centerfold presenting seventeen vignettes documenting the water supply system of New York City — the Croton watershed, the great aqueduct, the reservoirs, the distribution infrastructure, and the engineering achievement that brought clean water to one of the world's largest and fastest-growing cities. The Croton water system was one of the great engineering marvels of 19th-century America, and this seventeen-vignette centerfold is a comprehensive and richly detailed primary source document of New York City infrastructure history. An exceptional piece for collectors of New York City history, Victorian engineering history, and American public works history.
🔭 "THE GREAT REFRACTING TELESCOPE AT WASHINGTON D.C."
A full-page illustration of the great refracting telescope at the United States Naval Observatory in Washington — one of the most powerful astronomical instruments in America, used to map the heavens, establish the national time standard, and conduct the scientific observations that placed America among the world's leading astronomical powers. A striking piece of American scientific history and Victorian astronomy illustration.
⚓ "THE DOCKS OF NEW YORK — THE OLD BRIDGE STREET FERRY SLIP"
A print documenting the historic Old Bridge Street Ferry Slip on the New York waterfront — a vanishing piece of the city's pre-industrial maritime infrastructure captured at the moment of its passing by the great forces of commercial modernization reshaping the harbor. A prized piece of New York City waterfront history and urban documentation.
🔍 CONDITION & TRANSPARENCY 🔍
Completeness: Complete 16-page issue.
Authenticity: Guaranteed original woodblock printing from May 28, 1881 — not a reproduction.
Condition Report: Presents well for its 144-year age. Natural toning to the newsprint consistent with age. The Western policeman front page, the Harvard Greek Play illustrations, the New York water supply centerfold, and the telescope full page are all clear and displayable.
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 — I'm happy to provide additional detail or close-up shots of any page, illustration, or area of concern before you buy.
📦 SHIPPING & PRESERVATION 📦
Housed in an acid-free archival folder with Mylar overlay to protect the 144-year-old newsprint
Flat-shipped with heavy-duty reinforcement to ensure safe arrival of the centerfold
Fully tracked for your peace of mind
🏷️ TAGS
1881 Harpers Weekly, Western Mounted Policeman Frontier, Harvard Greek Tragedy Oedipus 1881, New York Water Supply Croton System, Great Refracting Telescope Washington, Old Bridge Street Ferry Slip NYC, Harvard Greek Play 1881, New York City Infrastructure History, Victorian Science Astronomy, American Western Lawman Illustration, Croton Aqueduct History, Antique Newspaper 1881, 19th Century Americana, New York Waterfront History, Victorian Classical Theater America Sonnet 4.6
1881 Western Policeman, Harvard Greek Tragedy, NYC Water Supply, Telescope — May 28
$41.11