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Chicago Illustrated

Lot 29
16.06.2023 16:00UTC -05:00
Classic
Starting price
$ 40 000
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUSA, New York
Archive
The auction is completed. No bids can be placed anymore.
Archive
ID 965128
Lot 29 | Chicago Illustrated
Estimate value
$ 40 000 – 60 000
Chicago Illustrated
James W. Sheahan & Louis Kurz, 1866
CHICAGO – SHEAHAN, James W. (1824-1883), text, and Louis KURZ (1833-1921), artist. Chicago Illustrated. Chicago: Jevne & Almini, 1866. [Wrapper title.]

"'Chicago Illustrated' captured the spirit of an American city of the Gilded Age as Birch had captured that of Philadelphia in 1800"—America Pictured to the Life

The very fine Nebenzahl set of this unparalleled portrait of pre-fire Chicago. First edition in original monthly parts, prospectus laid in. The lithographed views by Austrian-born Louis Kurz depict Chicago's bustling streets, major transportation sites, and prominent architecture. Otto Jevne and Peter M. Almini were partners in a Chicago decorating firm specializing in ornamental painting who in 1865 joined three lithographers, including Kurz, to form the Chicago Lithographing Company. The text was written by James W. Sheahan, a former Democratic newspaper publisher and journalist who worked for the Chicago Tribune.

The complete portfolio was originally intended to consist of 25 parts; however, only these 13 were completed. They each contain four tinted lithographed views "of the Public Buildings, Churches, important thorough-fares, of the River and Harbor, of the Lake Park and Great Central Depot, and other objects and points of interest." The parts were issued, at $1.50 per fascicle, between January 1866 and January 1867. Although the project was never completed, the fifty-two images produced provide fascinating documentation of pre-fire Chicago, and rank among the finest American city portraits. The former Director of the Chicago Historical Society, Paul M. Angle, considered Chicago Illustrated "outstanding for several reasons" including that it "was written, drawn, and published by Chicagoans, and is the best source for the physical appearance of the city that the Great Fire destroyed in 1871" (Antiques, Jan. 1953, 61). America Pictured to the Life 23; Chicago Ante-Fire Imprints 1047; Howes J-108 ("d"); Sabin 12623.

13 parts, oblong folio (295 x 365mm). 52 tinted lithographic plates and accompanying text (scattered very few freckles, text leaves a bit toned from offsetting, a light stain in third plate of April part). One-page prospectus (disbound) laid in to Part One. Original pictorial lithographed wrappers (minor wear/repairs to backstrips); the lower wrappers with letterpress descriptions, except for Part One; modern quarter morocco clamshell box (worn). Provenance: Kenneth Nebenzahl (bookplate to slipcase, his sale Christie's New York, 10 April 2012, lot 32).Chicago
Kurz, Louis
Sheahan, James
Auction house category:Printed books
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
20 Rockefeller Plaza
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16.06.2023
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