Hancock House, Boston, Massachusetts, Bladensburgh 1814 Vignette, circa 1850

This original antique steel engraving, uncolored, is lettered "HANCOCK HOUSE, BOSTON." It shows a large stone mansion of two main stories with a hipped roof, three dormers, a balustrade along the ridge and tall chimneys. A balcony on brackets projects over the central doorway, which is reached by steps with scrolled iron railings. The house stands behind a low wall with a wooden fence, a gate with brick piers at the left and a lattice screen at the right. On the paved street in front a woman pushes a wheelbarrow, a family of three walks, and a man carries a basket on his shoulder.

Above the view a small uncaptioned emblem shows an eagle with spread wings perched on a rock. The border of knotted ropes holds two vignettes. At the lower left soldiers in shakos fight hand to hand around a wounded officer, with a fallen man and a cannonball in the foreground, lettered "ACTION AT BLADENSBURGH. 1814." At the lower right a mounted officer reviews a line of marching infantry before a building with a classical portico; its caption reads "A REVIEW". No artist or engraver is credited under the view. The imprint at the foot reads "J. & F. TALLIS, LONDON, & NEW YORK."

The sheet belongs to History of the United States of America, edited by the English Baptist minister and author John Howard Hinton (1791 to 1873) and published by J. and F. Tallis about 1850. The Tallis firm were London publishers of illustrated works sold in parts around the middle of the nineteenth century; in this edition every plate sets its steel engraved view within an ornamental border holding lettered vignettes of American history. The Battle of Bladensburg was fought in Maryland in August 1814.

A handsome architectural subject for anyone with a link to Boston.

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