Koellner, Augustus. “Camp Kosciusko. Reading, PA. May 19th, 1842”

Augustus Koellner (1812-1906).  “Camp Kosciusko.  Reading, PA.  May 19^th, 1842.” 

From The United States Military Magazine.  Philadelphia: Huddy & Duval, 1842.  7 ¾ x 11 1/8 (image).  Lithographed by A. Koellner.  Excellent original hand color.  Two soft diagonal creases bottom left hand corner and one right hand margin all not affecting image.  Light sun toning to paper in margins.  Else, very good condition.   Very rare.  A/A

This rare print depicts a militia encampment in Reading, Pennsylvania nineteen years before the start of the Civil War.  The encampment was located along Mount Penn which can be seeing on the right hand side.  The militia units attending included: Reading Troop; National Troop; Schuylkill County Cavalry; Hamburg Troop, Reading Artillerists; Hamburg Artillerists; Washington Legion, Washington Grays; National Light Infantry, National Grays; Harrison Guards; Berks County Rifle Rangers; Bernville Riffle Grays.  A total of twenty-six corps with over eight hundred men attended the week long gathering which was reviewed by General Winfred Scott and his staff.   

The rare and fascinating magazine entitled, The United States Military Magazine and Record of all the Volunteers, together with the Army and Navy, was published in Philadelphia by Huddy & Duval from 1839 to 1842.  Volume I dealt with volunteer companies, volume II with the exploits of the United States Army & Navy, and volume III with more volunteers.  Issues were sold either colored for $1.00 or plain for 50 cents.  One way pictures were obtained and issues sold was, “Any company sending correct sketch of their corps, endorsed by commanding officer, can be inserted in the magazine by taking fifty colored plates at the established price, or one hundred plain.  The same privilege is extended to Officers of the Army and Navy, where likenesses are taken.  Colored plates 50 cents; plain 25 cents.”  (From cover of Jan. 1841 issue, quoted in Drepperd, p. 180).