Riddle “Battle of Niagara.” [Battle of Lundy’s Lane-War of 1812] From "The Port Folio"

Major Riddle.  “Battle of Niagara.”  [Battle of Lundy’s Lane-War of 1812].  From The Port Folio. 

September, 1815.  Aquatint and engraving by William Strickland.  3 7/8 x 7 1/2.  Stauffer: 3059. Three small holes under title.  Else, very good condition.  

The Port Folio was a new type of American magazine, “Devoted to Useful Science, the Liberal Arts, Legitimate Criticism, and Polite Literature.”   It was a product of the new century, appearing first in January 1801.  It began as a weekly issue until 1809, when it became monthly until its demise at the end of 1827. The Port Folio contained numerous engraved illustrations, including a number depicting events of the War of 1812.  These engravings of current happenings on the battle front would have been fascinating to the readers at the time.  They also give us a privileged contemporary view of those battles fought over a century and a half ago.  One of the war images was this excellent view of the battle of Niagara.  The Niagara Frontier was an important region during the War of 1812 and this is one of the rare contemporary prints of action there.  This image shows a battle, also called the battle of Lundy’s Lane, fought on July 25, 1814.  The battle was bloody and ended in a draw.  This is a fascinating and rare print of the action.