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View, Massachusetts, Northampton, Smith College, Richard Rummell, Antique Print

$950

Richard Rummell (1848-1924) (after)
Smith College, Northampton, Mass.
W. T. Littig & Co., New York: 1st Quarter 20th Century
Hand-colored gravure
13 x 27 inches, image
17.25 x 30 inches, overall
25.5 x 38.5 inches, silver leaf frame
$950, framed

Bird’s-eye view of the Smith College campus in Northampton, Massachusetts. The red-brick buildings and surroundings are depicted on what appears to be a sunny day in early autumn. Price includes the frame.

Product description continues below.

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.

Additional information

Century

20th Century