Civil War Union Gun Boats Shelling Harrisons Landing Virginia Antique Print

Description

Antique Print Description
This is an original engraved print titled,
"The Gun-Boats "Galena" And "Mahaska" Shelling The Rebels At Harrison's Landing, July 1, 1862. -Sketched By An Officer Of The Navy. "
It was published in a Civil War era Harper's Weekly, July 26, 1862. Read a portion of the descriptive text, below. You may be interested in
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Title:
The Gun-Boats "Galena" And "Mahaska" Shelling The Rebels At Harrison's Landing, July 1, 1862. -Sketched By An Officer Of The Navy.
Publisher:
Harper's Weekly
Medium Used:
Wood Engraving
Year:
July 26, 1862
Size:
Print measures: 4.5" x 14"
Condition:
Excellent
Description:
Original Authentic Civil War Era Antique Print
From the Harper's...THE GUN-BOATS "GALENA" AND "MAHASKA
On page 470 we illustrate the performance of "THE GUN-BOATS 'GALENA' AND 'MAHASKA'" during the fight of July 1st. Our picture is from the pencil sketch of an officer on board one of our vessels. He writes:
"Having cleared the James River up to Fort Darling and the obstructions, the gun-boats, on account of the high banks and their inability to operate or occupy far inland, have been obliged to hold merely what they had attained, to await the co-operation of the army. On Tuesday Let the latter, having been two days in its retreat, had come out on the James River. Here, at a point near Turkey Island, our rear-guard were enabled to make a stand, being most effectually covered in their retreat by the gun-boats. Here the enemy were twice repulsed and several pieces of artillery taken, the shells from the 9-inch Columbiads, and 100-pounder rifled guns of the boats, after a flight of frequently two or three miles, dropping and exploding in the midst of the enemy's lines. Our shots were mostly directed by signals made from the top of the house in the middle of the background, and answered from our top-mast by an officer of the army signal corps."
Frequently Asked Questions
Are those odd lines on the image a
defect in the print?
Antique prints often have faint vertical or horizontal lines visible. Rather than a defect, they are a fascinating historical artifact of the popular engraving process employed by newspapers at the time of the Civil War? During the war, newspaper publishers needed a method where they could get the illustrations produced by newspaper artists in the battlefield to the American public as quickly as possible.
To do this, the illustration was divided into sections usually two inches square. Double page prints were divided into as many as 40 sections. The section was traced onto a wood block. Engravers cut into the wood with various tools creating a mirror image of their section of the illustration. The blocks were then screwed together, recreating the original illustration. This would then be inked and stamped onto the newsprint. The lines on the image above are a result of where the blocks of wood were joined together.
Will my antique print deteriorate?
Before 1870, newspapers were not made from wood pulp as they are today. Instead, they were printed on a sturdy paper made by pulping linen rags. These rags came from clothing and ship sails. Because this kind of paper contains very little acid, your antique print could easily retain its appearance for many years into the future, if handled properly.
Why do people purchase antique prints and maps?
Antique prints and maps portray a moment in history. Because they represent a broad range of subjects, they are particularly useful when looking for a unique gift. Interior design has become a huge market for antique prints. From small framed botanicals to large Civil War maps, from large framed old city views to a collection of framed Harper's satirical cartoons, antique prints provide a world of design possibility. If properly framed, antique prints and maps can be preserved for many decades.
Is this item really authentic or just a reproduction?
You can have confidence that the item you purchase is guaranteed to be an original and not a modern day reproduction of any kind.
Can I return an item I purchase?
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