Harpers Ferry, Junction of the Shenandoah and Potomac, Pocahontas, circa 1850

This is an original antique steel engraving, uncolored, lettered below the view "HARPERS FERRY." with the line "JUNCTION OF THE RIVERS SHENANDOAH & POTOMAC." in italic capitals beneath. The view looks along a broad, still river between steep wooded cliffs. At left a broken dead tree stands on a rocky slope where a small figure sits; at right tall trees overhang the bank and a dead stump rises from the shore. In the distance, low hills with a few white buildings at the water's edge close the view, and two small sailing boats sit on the river under a pale sky.

The uncaptioned emblem above the view shows a Native American man crouching in tall grass and reeds, a long gun beside him. Below at left, "POCAHONTAS INTERCEDING FOR THE LIFE OF CAPTAIN SMITH. 1606." shows a warrior raising a club over a prone man while a young woman kneels to shield him, watched by a group of Native Americans. At right, "MASSACRE OF THE SETTLERS BY THE INDIANS. 1622." shows an attack on colonists before a log house, with fallen settlers and others firing muskets at right. The dates are as engraved. No artist or engraver credit is lettered under the view. The imprint at the foot reads "J & F. TALLIS, LONDON, EDINBURGH & DUBLIN."

The plate belongs to the 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, and 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. The right vignette refers to the attack on the English settlements in Virginia by the Powhatan peoples in 1622.

A calm river landscape suited to a collection of Virginia or Potomac views.

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