Description
Duval & Hunter was a publisher of fine lithographs in Philadelphia from around 1871. The founder, Peter S. Duval, was “a pioneer in color printing” according to lithography scholar Harry S. Peters, who also asserted, “All in all, we can safely say that P.S. Duval and his group occupy one of the most important places in American lithography.” Over a period of almost 50 years, Duval and his collaborators produced high quality color prints of a range of subjects: portraits, fine art and genre paintings, military and naval subjects, views, scientific and natural history plates, government reports and advertisements. Born in France, Duval began working in Philadelphia in 1831 (in his early twenties) as a lithographer for Childs & Inman. That firm was succeeded by Duval’s partnership with George Lehman as Lehman & Duval. From 1839 to 1943, he collaborated with William W. Huddy as Huddy & Duval. He then established P.S. Duval, which became P.S Duval & Son when his son Stephen (born c. 1832) joined the company in 1858. Around 1871, the firm was succeeded by Duval & Hunter in association with Thomas Hunter. Peter S. Duval retired in 1879. In 1893 the business ceased operations and was sold by the sheriff.
References:
Groce, George C. and Wallace, David H. The New-York Historical Society’s Dictionary of Artists in America 1564-1860. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1969. pp. 199-200.
Peters, Harry T. America on Stone. U.S.: Doubleday, Doran, 1931. pp. 163-168, p. 227.
“S.D. Sollers & Co., Manufacturers of Children’s Fine Shoes, Philadelphia.” Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Online Catalog. http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/92512934/ (7 June 2013).
