Description
W.T. Littig & Co. was a New York publisher, principally known today for its bird’s-eye views of colleges and private secondary schools. Most of the known examples today depict colleges in the Northeastern United States, with some others of institutions in the South and Midwest. They were printed as sepia gravures from watercolor paintings by landscape painter Richard Rummell (1848-1924) and then hand-colored. Panoramic bird’s-eye views were apparently Rummell’s specialty — he also published a view of Philadelphia and one of New York City which appeared as the frontispiece to King’s Views, New York (1905). Nobody knows how Rummell attained the necessary altitude to draw these views since airplanes were just being developed; perhaps he rode up in a hot air balloon. A few other W.T. Littig college views were drawn by H.D. Nichols. The artist for this Smith College view is not noted on the print.
Condition: Generally very good with the usual light overall toning and edge wear. Light crease (possibly a printer’s crease) to upper margin, extending slightly into image.