05-22-2017 05:11 AM
I found this while cleaning out my mom's storage unit - it is a book? porfolio? - It is a folder type exterior with inserts of 4 etchings, a description page before each etching, a page/insert describing the etching process, and a title page with each etching's name + 'Copyright 1887 W.W. Davis' on the back of it.
It is titled Etchings of Bar Harbor by H.R. Blaney. It's dated 1887 and each etching is pencil signed by Blaney. Goggling it shows individual etchings in museum's possesion - I can't find this book/porfolio anywhere.
Is it really from 1887 (I didn't know they would individually pencil sign their work back then)?
Was it made for sale/Is it rare?
Any hel with this would be greatly appreciated - I'm wondering if I should keep together or frame each seperately?
Thanks!
05-22-2017 05:14 AM
Here is the description page that comes before each etching & then the etching
05-22-2017 05:36 PM
There are a few listings for the book online but no real descriptions so it's hard to tell if they are like yours or are reprints with reproduced etchings. I found no listing on Worldcat, but here is a link to the website showing an auction sale of 3 of the etchings framed, but you will need to ask someone with a subscription to get the sale price. The framed etchings were most likely detached from the same book as you have, which was probably published in a very limited edition.
http://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/henry-robertson-blaney-american-b-1855-three-314-c-zgfvg65m2d
05-23-2017 08:37 AM
Here is the description of the book on World Cat
http://www.worldcat.org/title/etchings-of-bar-harbor/oclc/84654410&referer=brief_results
There is an ex-librray listed by one seller on the main selling sites for around $25.00.
05-23-2017 08:48 AM - edited 05-23-2017 08:49 AM
The author also did etchings of Old Boston which includes 35 etchings. The asking price for this work is between $40-90.
HIs work, The Golden Caribbean, is selling for the same price as the Boston book.