A Display of the United States of America. To the Patrons of Arts and Sciences, in all parts of the World, this Plate is most respectfully Dedicated, by their most Obedient Humble Servant, Amos Doolittle, New Haven Mar.h 1st 1798.

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  SKU: 24349

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• ARTIST: Amos Doolittle

• PUBLISHER: Printed & Sold by A. Doolittle New Haven Where Engraving & Roling Press printing is performed.

• MEDIUM: Copper plate engraving,

  DATE: 1788-98.

• EDITION SIZE: Image size 20 1/4 x 16 3/8"(51.4 x 42.3 cm).

• DESCRIPTION: This portrait of Washington with the seals of the original thirteen Colonies and the United States is considered one of the most important portraits of Washington produced. Hart believed the plate was engraved prior to 1788 because in the first state the representations of Rhode Island and North Carolina in Congress are left blank. However, the inscription around the portrait reads “George Washington President of the United States of America,” and Washington was not elected until 1789. In all later states the representations of Rhode Island and North Carolina in Congress are shown. <br> <br> In the first state Doolittle used James Trenchard’s awkward three-fourths-length portrait of George Washington from the Columbian Magazine of 1787. In all later states, the portrait was changed to resemble the profile portrait of Washington by Joseph Wright. Catalogue of the Engraved Portraits of Washington by Charles Henry Hart describes five states of this print. This impression is not noted but is after the last state noted (Hart #840d 1796).<br><Br> Amos Doolittle (1754-1832) One of the earliest American engravers on copper.<br><br> Doolittle was born in Cheshire, Connecticut and lived and worked the majority of his life in or around New Haven. At 12 or 13 years of age he apprenticed to Eliakim Hitchcock, a silversmith and jeweler and later set up his own shop in New Haven. It is believed that he taught himself engraving and later became a prolific producer of engraved prints, including historical scenes, bookplates, portraits, maps and biblical illustrations.<br><br> Doolittle most important prints were a set of four different views of the battle of Lexington and Concord. Doolittle was a member of the “Governor’s Guard” of New Haven, under command of Captain Benedict Arnold. Upon news of these historic battles, the unit quickly assembled and marched to Cambridge. Upon arrival there Doolittle along with the artist Ralph Earl, visited the battle sites sought out eyewitnesses and minutemen who fought the battles. He asked them what happened, where and when and recorded what he heard. Upon his return to New Haven he quickly engraved and advertised the four prints, both plain and colored. Today these prints are considered to be the only accurate visual recording of the battles and are of the utmost rarity and importance.<br><br> Other titles of importance include a view of Federal Hall, A display of the United States, A New Display of the United States, The Looking Glass and a set of four images of the Prodigal Son. He also engraved many maps, both as separates and those to be included in atlases.

• ADDITIONAL INFO:

• CONDITION: Condition is good,, save for several splits and associated short tears. Overall time toning, backed on Japan paper. Faint original handcoloring.

• REFERENCE: Charles Henry Hart, Catalogue of the Engraved Portraits of Washington, #840. Unrecorded variantt. E. McSherry Fowble, Two Centuries of Prints in America, 1680-1880, #212; Charles Henry Hart, Catalogue of the Engraved Portraits of Washington, #840.

• CATEGORIES: 18th-19th Century Subjects , Portraits , George Washington