Scenes of the Primitive Forest of America - photo 1
Scenes of the Primitive Forest of America - photo 2
Scenes of the Primitive Forest of America - photo 3
Scenes of the Primitive Forest of America - photo 4
Scenes of the Primitive Forest of America - photo 5

Scenes of the Primitive Forest of America

Lot 42
16.06.2023 16:00UTC -05:00
Classic
Sold
$ 40 320
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUSA, New York
Archive
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Archive
ID 965103
Lot 42 | Scenes of the Primitive Forest of America
Estimate value
$ 40 000 – 60 000
Scenes of the Primitive Forest of America
George Harvey, 1841
HARVEY, George (1800-1878). Harvey’s Scenes of the Primitive Forest of America, at the Four Periods of the Year, Spring, Summer, Autumn & Winter, Engraved From His Original Paintings, Accompanied by Descriptive Letter-Press. London: George Harvey & Ackermann & Co., 1841.

Very rare set of George Harvey's four seasons, in original wrappers. "Harvey, an English artist who resided in the United States for many years, was intrigued by what he felt to be the unique nature of American light. He proposed publishing a portfolio of forty lithographs depicting 'Atmospheric Landscapes.' Four of these were to show 'Epochs of the Year,' while the other thirty-six would illustrate points in the day from misty dawn to moonlit midnight ... Sadly, only the first part of this wonderful project, that showing the seasons, was published as the present work. The luminous hand-colored lithographs fulfill Harvey's vision of the distinctive slant of light in the American forests" (Pictured to the Life). Harvey's proposal for each of the 40 lithographs, describing specific weather in specific places (e.g. "Cirrus cloud changing to Cumuli, Kenyon College, Ohio") is detailed on the back wrapper of the present volume.

Washington Irving edited the text. Having immigrated to the United States when he was 28, Harvey would work in Ohio, Michigan, and Boston before settling down in Hastings-on-Hudson near New York City. Two of the scenes depicted here are set in Ohio, one in Upper Canada, and one in the West. According to Abbey, only the London issue of this work had the additional pictorial title-page and dedication to Queen Victoria; this copy has a letterpress title, but not an additional pictorial one. Abbey 652; America Pictured to the Life 7; Bennett, p. 52 (“exceedingly rare”); Deák 469-72; Sabin 30772.

Folio (485 x 375mm). Letterpress title, dedication, preface, and descriptions of each plate. Four hand-colored lithographed plates, printed on thick paper, by W.J. Bennett after paintings by Harvey, each with Harvey's copyright blindstamp in top margin. Original wrappers (inconspicuous repairs/reinforcement to wrappers, mostly to left margin of upper wrapper, backstrip renewed with cloth); modern chemise and full morocco clamshell box.Harvey, George
Irving, Washington
Ohio
Place of origin:Northern Europe, Europe, United Kingdom
Auction house category:Printed books
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
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16.06.2023
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