Picturesque America

Picturesque America is a two-volume set of illustrated books filled with information and engravings of various American scenes. The books were published between 1872-74 by D. Appleton and Company of New York. The volumes contain a total of nine hundred wood engravings and fifty steel engravings based on paintings of nineteenth century American landscape painters.

The engravings were made by John J. Harley, Joseph S. Harley, W. H. Morse, William James Palmer, Frederick William Quartley, James H. Richardson, and the collection was edited by poet and journalist William Cullen Bryant.

This set of books is important not just for it’s amazing printmaking work, but because it provided a tour of nineteenth century America that helped Americans regain a sense of national identity, and promoted tourism.

“As the first publication to celebrate the entire continental nation, it enabled Americans, after the trauma of the Civil War, to construct a national self-image based on reconciliation between North and South and incorporation of the West.” ~Sue Rainey

This work was published and delivered by subscription. Once complete it was bound into volumes. Engravings could be colored by request.

Dimensions: Overall: 13 3/8 “x 10 1/4″ x 3/16”