Deaf and Dumb Asylum, Philadelphia, with Floating Church Vignette, circa 1850

This is an original antique steel engraving, uncolored, lettered below the view "DEAF AND DUMB ASYLUM, PHILADELPHIA." The view shows a large, plain two story building, its front a portico of six tall columns under a broad pediment, with a long side elevation and chimneys on the roof. A horse and chaise drive along a fence at left, a man pushes a barrow, and figures stand by the steps. A great tree frames the right side, its branches arching over the scene, and a man stands among short posts in the foreground.

Above the view, the emblem vignette shows a shield bearing a ship, supported by two rearing horses, with an eagle above and a ribbon lettered "VIRTUE LIBERTY & INDEPENDENCE". Two small scenes are set into tall ornamental panels at the lower sides: at left a church with a tall spire built on a floating hull, captioned "FLOATING CHURCH PHILADELPHIA."; at right a tall obelisk inside a railing, captioned "BATTLE MONUMENT BUNKERS HILL" No artist or engraver is credited under the view. The imprint at the foot reads "J. & F. TALLIS, LONDON & NEW YORK."

The plate comes from History of the United States of America, edited by John Howard Hinton (1791 to 1873), the English Baptist minister and author, and published by J. and F. Tallis about 1850. J. and F. Tallis were London publishers of illustrated works sold in parts around the middle of the nineteenth century. The plates of this edition set a central steel engraved view inside an engraved ornamental border with small lettered vignettes of episodes from American history, as here. The Bunker Hill Monument is a granite obelisk in Charlestown, Massachusetts.

The open composition, with the tree framing the building, suits a study or library wall.

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