Scarce c1860\'s Charles Magnus Declaration of Independence Double Lettersheet For Sale

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Scarce c1860\'s Charles Magnus Declaration of Independence Double Lettersheet

Showing minor signs of age and handling consistent with it\'s age - mostly toning along the edges. Chipping / losses - mostly at top corners. No fold creases or tears.Will display well in your collection. In good to very good condition and an excellent framing candidate.You will receive the exact example as seen in the photos.Folded, it measures approx. 8 3/8\" x 10 1/2\"

Charles Magnus, [1826-1900], was a print publisher, map dealer, bookseller and stationer working in New York City from 1850 to 1899 who issued over a thousand different letter sheets, maps, song sheets, envelopes, and separate prints. His best known works were city views and Civil War-related material. Much of his work was copied from other printmakers. He often altered or combined design elements from several sources, rarely crediting the original artist. Many of his works after 1865 were based on photographs, which he often altered, drawing in figures or re-drawing lines for clearer reproduction. His early work includes pictorial letter sheets illustrated with city views or newsworthy events such as railroad and ship disasters. The images were used repeatedly, with additions of new buildings, bridges, etc., drawn in to keep the picture current. During the 1850s he also printed and published lithographed maps, often incorporating city views and decorations similar to those in the letter sheets.

During the Civil War, Magnus produced around 700 patriotic envelopes and over 300 illustrated song sheets. He used images of allegorical figures, battle scenes, political cartoons, portraits and state emblems, frequently using the same images in different combinations. After the War, he expanded his work to include prints, games, reward of merit cards, and advertising and custom printing. Throughout his career, he relied on similar images and techniques. He continued to use the lithographic process and hand coloring even after most printers had turned to photomechanical processes.

Lettersheets or \"double sheets\" were created to comply with, yet circumvent, postal regulations that based the price charged for mailing a letter on the number of sheets of paper. The lettersheets, measuring 8.5 x 21 inches, could be folded in half, providing four pages for writing but the Post Office regarded them as one sheet of paper. Illustrations, often bird\'s-eye views or detailed street scenes of cities, were printed in a rectangular space at the top of the first page of the folio to increase their commercial appeal. Thus, lettersheets combined in one simple form an illustration of the place the letter writer was visiting, a \"work of art\" and a convenient bit of stationery. They were designed to be folded and sealed in such a way that the address could be written on the outside. (source: nysl.nysed.gov)

This will shipsecurely inside a poly sleeve with a chipboard backer inside a rigid mailer via USPS First Class mail service with a tracking number. The shipping cost for the first purchase is $5.00 and no extra cost for additional letterheads or similar flat items that can beshipped in the same package. Please contact me if you are buying multiple items over more than one day.

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