Collection: Currier & Ives

From 1834 to 1907 the firm of Currier & Ives provided for the American people a pictorial history of their country's growth from an agricultural society to an industrialized one. For nearly three quarters of a century the firm provided "Colored Engravings for the People" and in the process became the visual raconteurs of nineteenth-century America. Some of the finest artists of the day were engaged by the firm to produce a variety of prints, including images of newsworthy events and prints depicting every subject relating to American life: sports, games, home life, religion, entertainment, views of cities, and so forth. Charming and colorful, these are wonderful examples of the work of "America's printmakers.” 

A word about condition: Most Currier & Ives prints that you will find on the market are not in stable condition and will deteriorate over time. Such inherent instability is exacerbated over the life of the print by acidic framing materials, like wood backing or wood-pulp matting. Even if the print currently shows no signs of waterstains, foxing, or significant browning, the paper is still acidic and as such will deteriorate, more and more visibly, over time: any print which has been in contact with an acidic environment will be itself acidic. This fact is important to bear in mind when purchasing Currier & Ives prints. They can be deacidified, but this is an added expense and should be factored into the 'purchase price' of the print. For this reason, we take special care to deacidify and otherwise conserve the Currier & Ives prints in our inventory. When you purchase these prints from us, you have a print which is stable and will last indefinitely, assuming it is properly treated henceforth.