1898 Frederic Remington "Bloody Ford" San Juan Creek, Ada Rehan Dec 24
$38.88
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🗞️ HARPER'S WEEKLY · December 24, 1898
Complete Issue · New York
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A historically exceptional Christmas Eve issue — a double-page centerfold by Frederic Remington of the field hospital at the Bloody Ford of San Juan Creek, held in the permanent collection of the Museum of Fine Arts Houston; Ada Rehan as Portia in The Merchant of Venice; portraits from the National Academy of Design; Congress opening; and a Cold Christmas greeting between America and England. One of Remington's most powerful and least-known Spanish-American War works, in a complete original issue.
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🎨 FREDERIC REMINGTON — "FIELD HOSPITAL AT THE BLOODY FORD"
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🏥 DOUBLE-PAGE CENTERFOLD — "FIELD HOSPITAL AT THE 'BLOODY FORD' OF SAN JUAN CREEK" — BY FREDERIC REMINGTON
The showpiece of the issue and one of Remington's most powerful and least-celebrated Spanish-American War works — a double-page centerfold depicting the field hospital established at the Bloody Ford of San Juan Creek during the Battle of San Juan Hill on July 1, 1898. The Bloody Ford was one of the two notorious death traps of the San Juan battle — a narrow crossing of San Juan Creek where Spanish rifle fire raked the exposed American troops funneling through the bottleneck. More than 400 men became casualties at the Bloody Ford and its companion "Hell's Pocket," with 85 killed at those two points alone. The field hospital established at the creek's edge treated the wounded under fire, as Spanish bullets even struck Red Cross workers carrying the injured. The Museum of Fine Arts Houston holds this work in its permanent collection, cataloged as "Field Hospital at The 'Bloody Ford' of San Juan Creek, December 24, 1898, Wood engraving on newsprint, 91.1430.267" — Remington's original wood engraving published in this exact issue. This work is also offered for sale as a fine art reproduction by Meisterdrucke and other major print publishers, confirming its status as a recognized work of art. Published by Harper's Weekly on Christmas Eve 1898 — nearly six months after the battle — this centerfold is Remington's meditation on the human cost of the war he had witnessed firsthand, a counterpoint to the victory celebrations that had dominated the preceding months. An original print held in a museum collection — not a reproduction — in a complete original issue.
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🎭 ADA REHAN — THE MERCHANT OF VENICE
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🎭 HALF PAGE — "ADA REHAN AS PORTIA IN THE TRIAL SCENE OF 'THE MERCHANT OF VENICE'"
A half-page illustration of Ada Rehan — the most celebrated American stage actress of the Gilded Age — in her most famous role as Portia in Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice. Rehan was the leading lady of Augustin Daly's company and her Portia was considered the definitive interpretation of the role in the English-speaking world. Henry James, George Bernard Shaw, and Oscar Wilde all wrote admiringly of her performances. This illustration is a primary document of the golden age of American theater and one of its greatest stars. A significant piece of American theatrical history.
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🖼️ INSIDE THE ISSUE
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🖼️ FULL PAGE — "FROM THE LOAN EXHIBITION OF PORTRAITS AT THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF DESIGN"
A full page of portraits from the National Academy of Design's loan exhibition — a vivid document of American portraiture and art history at the close of the 19th century, when the Academy's exhibitions were the most prestigious in American art.
🏛️ TWO FULL PAGES — "THE FIFTY-FIFTH CONGRESS — SCENES IN WASHINGTON AT THE OPENING OF THE SESSION"
Two full pages of scenes from the opening of the 55th Congress in Washington — a primary document of American legislative history, capturing the Congress that had declared war on Spain and would ratify the Treaty of Paris ending it.
🤝 HALF PAGE — "AMERICA AND ENGLAND IN THE LAST CENTURY — A COLD CHRISTMAS GREETING"
A half-page illustration of the relationship between America and England across the 19th century — a pointed piece of Anglo-American diplomatic and cultural history on Christmas Eve, as the two nations were experiencing an unprecedented warmth in relations following British support during the Spanish-American War.
📬 FULL FRONT PAGE — "CAST LOOSE AND PROVIDE"
A full front-page illustration — a vivid Christmas Eve image evoking the naval tradition of "cast loose and provide," capturing the spirit of independence and self-sufficiency that defined the Gilded Age.
👤 QUARTER PAGE — "WILLIAM BLACK"
A small portrait of William Black — the popular Scottish novelist whose sea stories and romantic fiction were widely read in America. A piece of Victorian literary history.
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📋 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 — 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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📌 DETAILS
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Publication ········ Harper's Weekly
Date ··············· December 24, 1898
City ··············· New York
Format ············· Illustrated newspaper, complete in 24 pages
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📦 SHIPPING & PRESERVATION
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• Stored in an acid-free protective bag and flat-shipped in a padded envelope with heavy cardboard reinforcement
• Fully tracked for your peace of mind
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🔍 SEO TAGS
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1898 Frederic Remington "Bloody Ford" San Juan Creek, Ada Rehan Dec 24
$38.88