2 REVOLUTIONARY WAR PRINTS OF AMERICAN SOLDIERS AND HALF-PAY NAVAL OFFICERS.

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/10/2024

1) [Two Revolutionary War American soldiers]. "Portrait & Uniform of An AMERICAN GENERAL." [AND] "A real representation of the Dress of An AMERICAN RIFLE-MAN", copperplate line engraving on laid paper, 9 x 13 in. (view), within later frame. This print was published as a double-plate in Barnard's "New, Comprehensive and Complete History of England (London, 1783), but there is no fold line or indication of this coming from that book--rather, it appears to be a plate strike intended for individual sale. [with] 2) Attributed to Thomas Rowlandson. "HALF PAY OFFICERS. Published Jany. 1st. 1786 by S. Fores, at the Caracature Warehouse, No. 3, Picadilly." Etching and aquatint on laid paper, 6 1/2 x 8 3/4 in. (view) with 4 x 6 5/8 in. platemark., within glazed, 19th century wooden frame. Following the 1783 Treaty of Paris that ended the American War, the Royal Navy and British Army were put on the peacetime establishment, with a serious reduction in commissioned vessels and regiments either disbanded or reduced in strength, placing many officers without employ and put on temporary or full retirement with "half pay." A rare print with no prior auction records and only one other copy located at the Yale Center for British Art. From their catalog entry, the following is abstracted: "Attribution to Rowlandson from unverified data in local card catalog record. Not in the Catalogue of prints and drawings in the British Museum." CONDITION: No. 1 Very good, with uniform light toning to paper, the engraving lines strong and crisp; not laid down; No. 2 very good, with very light toning, one foxing spot in left margin and partial bleed-throughs of red sealing wax in the lower corner marginal areas, not affecting image; not laid down.