Currier & Ives Best 50

[ History | Current listing ]

History

In 1932 a jury of twelve Currier & Ives experts and collectors selected a group of what they considered to be the "Best 50" large folio Currier & Ives prints. For fifty days running, these prints were illustrated and described in the New York Sun. This publicity created much interest, and subsequent newspaper sales, so that the following year the "Best 50" small folio prints were also selected (four medium folio prints were included in this list). These two lists created an instant market for the 100 prints chosen and the lists have been reprinted in almost every general book on Currier & Ives published since.

In 1988 a new, more democratic process of selecting the "Best 50" was sponsored by the American Historical Print Collectors Society (AHPCS). "The Best 50 - Revisited" was begun by a panel of experts who selected the "Top 100" of both large and small folio prints. These prints were then presented in a ballot to the entire membership of the AHPCS, which then selected the "New Best 50" large and small folio prints. A handsome book, Currier & Ives. The New Best 50 (available from our bookstore) was published in 1990 with all the new "best" prints illustrated in color and with an analysis of the differences between the original and new lists. Listings of the Original Best 50, Top 100, and New Best 50 are included as appendixes in this guide.

The prints from all four lists are very collectible and usually command a premium price. They are all wonderful prints, generally considered to be the best of the Currier & Ives oeuvre. While among the over 7,500 original Currier & Ives prints there are many others that are just as wonderful, there is always an added value in acquiring one of these "Best 50" prints.

Current listing

Large folio:

L. Maurer. "The Life of a Fireman. The Race,-'Jump her boys, jump her!'" N. Currier, 1854. Large folio. 17 x 25 7/8. C:3519. Original Best 50: #34. Wide margins. $4,300

A.F. Tait. "The Cares Of A Family." N Currier, 1856. Large folio. 18 5/8 x 23 7/8. C:814. Original Best 50 #44. $5,500

A.F. Tait. "The Cares Of A Family." N Currier, 1856. Large folio. 18 5/8 x 23 7/8. Another example, with two repaired tears, each ca. 1" into image; expertly repaired. Some light mottling to good margins, and surface abrasion in title area. Otherwise, very good condition and overall, attractive appearance. C:814. Original Best 50 #44. $3,800

A.F. Tait. "Brook Trout Fishing. 'An Anxious Moment.'" Currier & Ives, 1862. Large folio. 18 1/2 x 27. Very light shadow from old mat, and very light spot in lower margin. Otherwise, very good condition. Lower publisher imprint trimmed at bottom; 1 3/4" margins top & sides; 1 1/2" at bottom. C:703. New Best 50: #38. $18,000

George H. Durrie. "Autumn in New England. Cider Making." Currier & Ives, 1866. Large folio. 14 5/8 x 25 1/4. Superb color, wide margins, and excellent condition. C:322. Original Best 50: 31; New Best 50: 18.

One of the most popular landscape prints, Durrie's classic New England scene. An excellent example of this rare print. $22,000

Small folio:

"Bass Fishing." Currier & Ives, 1857-72. Small folio. 8 x 12 1/2. Repaired tear in margin; just touching neat line. New Best 50: #37. C:376. $1,450

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Set of "American Homestead: Autumn, Winter, Spring, Summer." Currier & Ives, 1868-69. Ca. 8 x 12 1/2. C: 169-172. Complete set of four-all in the New Best 50. Summer with crease in image. $3,700

"American Homestead Winter." Currier & Ives, 1868. Small folio. 8 x 12 1/2. In period frame. C:172. Original Best 50: #23; New Best 50: #5. $1,700

"Skating Scene - Moonlight." Currier & Ives, 1868. Small folio. 8 x 12 1/2. C:5546. New Best 50: #19. $2,100

"A Home On The Mississippi." Currier & Ives, 1871. Small folio. 8 1/2 x 12 1/2. C:2876. Rubbed spot on publisher imprint at left and a few short repaired tears in margins. New Best 50:#25. Appears on the label of Southern Comfort. $1,100

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