Amherst College, Massachusetts, with Governor Winthrop Vignette, circa 1850

This original antique steel engraving, uncolored, is lettered "AMHERST COLLEGE, MASS." The view shows a row of college buildings receding from the right: a tall stone dormitory block of four stories, then a chapel with a portico of four columns under a pediment and a square bell tower, and beyond them further plain buildings. Small figures stand on the chapel steps and on the walks. At the left large trees frame an open view across fields to a village and a line of low hills.

Above the view a small uncaptioned emblem shows a paddle steamer lettered "BOSTON" passing a harbor town, with a rowboat in the foreground. A border of curling acanthus scrolls holds two vignettes. At the lower left a crowd of Puritan men, women and children greet one another on the shore, with ships beyond and a felled tree trunk at the right, lettered "ARRIVAL OF PURITAN MINISTERS. 1633." At the lower right a seated man writes at a table while an official in a plumed hat receives Native American chiefs in feathered headdresses, with guards behind, lettered "VISIT OF INDIAN CHIEFS TO GOVERNOR WINTHROP. 1632." No artist or engraver is credited under the view. The imprint reads "J. & F. TALLIS, LONDON & NEW YORK."

It comes from Hinton's History of the United States of America, published by J. and F. Tallis about 1850. John Howard Hinton (1791 to 1873) was an English Baptist minister and author, and J. and F. Tallis were London publishers of illustrated works sold in parts around the middle of the nineteenth century. Each plate of the edition pairs a central view with an engraved border carrying small lettered scenes from American history. John Winthrop was the governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony.

A natural choice for anyone with a connection to Amherst College.

This is an original antique print, not a modern reproduction. This item is sold unframed.