SALE 1867 Godey's Fashion Plate Engraving with early frame - FREE U.S.A. POSTAGE

Antiques : Accessories : Prints,Engravings : Civil War Era : Fashion Prints : Godey

 

Here is an antique fashion print entitled "Godey’s Fashions For February 1867." It is in a narrow wooden frame that is old and certainly may be original.

This is a 140-year-old, original hand-colored antique engraving -- it is NOT a reproduction. It belonged to my great aunt (who, being born in 1873, likely inherited it from her mother, or possibly her grandmother). It apparently was taken from an issue of “Godey’s Lady’s Book,” a magazine published for women by Louis A. Godey of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for 48 years between 1830 and 1878.

The Lady's Book is best known for the hand tinted fashion plate that appeared at the start of each issue. Additionally, Godey included poetry, articles by popular authors and engravings by prominent artists. (An interesting note is that Sarah Hale, author of “Mary Had A Little Lamb,” edited Godey’s Lady’s Book from 1837 to 1877.) The magazine was expensive for the time – $3.00 per year.

Godey’s fashion illustrations were carefully followed by American women who enjoyed keeping up with the latest fashions and styles.

This one shows several ladies in bustled dresses, the central figure dressed in a beautiful blue. It is in allover good condition, with the exception of a significant crease down the center – obviously it was folded at one time.

We do not know much about the framing work and are not sure whether the very plain frame is original, or whether the engraving was framed some years after it was printed. The frame is not new (having been on the wall at Auntie’s house for at least the last 60 years that we can vouch for); but we hesitate to open it, because it is sealed on the reverse by the framer under a paper cover. It is possible someone decided to frame an old engraving many years after it was made, and we will guarantee the engraving is original, but not being framers, we can’t date the framing work.

DIMENSIONS: Frame: 9-7/8 inches wide x 11-3/4 inches long; print 8-7/8 inches wide x 10-7/8 inches long.

Item ID: 2007-140