Momberger, William “Niagara Falls”

William Momberger.  “Niagara Falls.”  From Gallery of Landscape Painters--American Scenery. 

New York: William Pate & Co., 1869.  9 x 13 1/2 (vignette).  Engraved by Robert Hinshelwood.  Full margins.  Uncolored as issued.  Fine condition.

The process of steel engraving first made its impact with the small, octavo topographical engravings that appeared in such works as Willis’ American Scenery and Hinton’s History and Topography, both issued in the first half of the nineteenth century.  By the second half of the century, some publishers used this medium to produce more elaborate topographical prints, and amongst the best series of this sort was William Pate’s American Scenery.  This large portfolio contained medium folio sized steel engravings by various American engravers after the paintings of a number of famous American landscape artists.  Not only were the sources of top quality, but the engraving work is excellent, making these some of the finest steel engraved views ever produced.