Kurz & Allison Chromolithograph of Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg

Type

Framed Chromolithograph Print

Age

1850-1899

Original Or Reproduction

Antique original

Own a literal museum piece! This is a 19th Century chromolithograph from Kurz & Allison depicting Pickett's Charge during the Battle of Gettysburg. The history behind this piece is described on the Wikipedia page for Kurz & Allison under the Civil War print series: https://offerup.com/redirect/?o=aHR0cHM6Ly9lbi53aWtpcGVkaWEub3JnL3dpa2kvS3Vyel9hbmRfQWxsaXNvbiNDaXZpbF9XYXJfcHJpbnRfc2VyaWVz. The original, much larger print was produced in 1884 and based on the Gettysburg Cyclorama. Kurz & Allison then made these smaller consumer prints in the following years. This copy came into my family's possession in the early 20th Century. My great-grandfather restored a damaged corner and put the print in its current wormwood frame at his shop in Wenatchee in the 1950's. This is one of the original, 19th Century chromolithographs directly from Kurz & Allison themselves, NOT one of the smaller 1960's commemorative reprints marking the centennial of the Civil War you typically see for sale today. You can also read more about it here on the Saint Louis University Museums website: https://offerup.com/redirect/?o=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2x1LmVkdS9zbHVtYS9leGhpYml0aW9ucy92aXJ0dWFsLWV4aGliaXRpb25zL2NpdmlsLXdhci1pbWFnaW5lZC1yZWFsLnBocA== The Battle of Gettysburg was Kurz & Allison's very first chromolithograph. It depicts Pickett's Charge, featuring General Armistead leading his brigade to what's commonly referred to as the high-water mark of the Confederacy, where they broke through Union lines at a bend in the wall before Armistead was shot from his horse, as seen in the middle of this print. There's a Wikipedia page for that, too! https://offerup.com/redirect/?o=aHR0cHM6Ly9lbi53aWtpcGVkaWEub3JnL3dpa2kvSGlnaC13YXRlcl9tYXJrX29mX3RoZV9Db25mZWRlcmFjeQ== Kurz & Allison notably included Black participants in their depictions of the Civil War, which was unusual at the time. In this scene, they put a Black man front and center helping carry a wounded Confederate soldier among a group of captured POWs. I tried showing notable aspects of the chromolithograph as well as damage in my attached photos here. It appears the print was rolled up or folded at some point, creating lines and creases, and there are a couple tears at the edges. Colors are still surprisingly vibrant, though the glass used in this frame is a bit reflective and slightly frosty, which made taking clear pictures difficult. Given the condition, I'm only asking $175. This is not only a piece of American history, chromolithographs were cutting-edge at the time and a technological step forward in color printing, so this is a piece of scientific and artistic history as well. Get in touch if you want it to be yours!