PATRIOTIC CIVIL WAR DESIGNS FOR ENVELOPES AND LETTERHEADS CREATED AND PRINTED BY CHARLES MAGNUS OF NEW YORK CITY DURING THE COURSE OF THE CIVIL WAR.
New York, NY: Charles Magnus, 12 Frankfort St. nd [1860s, Magnus is listed in New York Directories at 12 Frankfort Street from 1861 to 1867]. A collection of 360 images, including several numbered sets. The majority (approx. 280) are printed in bronze or sepia ink, plus approx. 73 hand or stencil colored, and 7 in green ink. All are printed on individual envelope-sized sheets, most 3 x 5 1/2 in., but none are full envelopes. The majority are blank on verso and show no signs of mounting, some few are backed with blue, yellow, or pink paper sheets, trimmed to fit. All but a dozen or so bear the imprint of "Chas. Magnus, 12 Frankfort St., NY." At least one has a Sachse imprint, the other handful without imprint are all in the style of Magnus. All are in very good condition.
The several sets include: 1) 36 images in bronze ink, not consecutively numbered, of military hospitals, encampments and batteries; 2) 12 numbered images in bronze ink of various Civil War battles; 3) 12 numbered images in bronze ink of the "Movement of the Army from Washington to Richmond," [caption title]; 4) 11 (of 12) numbered images in bronze ink, lacking #9, of the "Battle of Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863," [caption title]; 5) 3 numbered images in bronze ink, "Long Bridge, Washington, By Moonlight," [caption title], plus copies of two hand or stencil colored; 6) 5 numbered images in bronze ink of the "Battle of Winchester under Gen. Shields," [cation title]; 7) 12 numbered images in bronze ink, "Siege and Capture of Fort Donelson," [caption title], plus copies of 8 of the 12 hand or stencil colored; 8) 12 numbered images in bronze ink, "Camp Scene, from Photograph," [caption title], plus copies of 7 of the 12 hand or stencil colored; 9) 12 unnumbered images of Maj. Gen. McClellan and his Generals, in bronze ink; 10) two unnumbered sets of 12 each, in bronze ink, of various Generals portraits, over a banner "The Union Must and Shall be Preserved," and accompanied by a full battle map of the U.S.; 11) 10 unnumbered images in bronze ink of various Generals portraits, each inset on a battle map, plus copies of all 10 hand or stencil colored; 12) 4 numbered images in bronze ink, "Battle of New Bern, NC," [caption title].
Additional images depict various Union Generals, singly or in groups; the Battle of Bull Run; McClellan's Advance on Richmond; the Engagement between the Monitor and the Merrimac; etc., many with caption titles. Item #62744
Charles Magnus, a German immigrant, was a prolific publisher of lithographed material in New York City, including maps and city views, and during the Civil War, pro- Union patriotic covers, stationery, and songsheets. He experimented with various colors of ink, including the bronze and sepia colors represented in this group, and was known for the quality of his printing techniques.
Price: $4,250.00