Horseshoe Fall, Niagara with the Tower, after Bartlett, Antique View, circa 1840

The Horseshoe Fall at Niagara with the tower at its brink, an original antique steel engraving, uncolored, circa 1840. The English caption reads "THE HORSE SHOE FALL, NIAGARA.- WITH THE TOWER.", and it is repeated in French, German and Dutch below.

The rapids race across the plate toward the curving edge of the Horseshoe Fall, which drops away on the right in a wall of water and spray. A round stone tower stands on the rocks at the brink, reached by a long plank walkway on which several visitors stand, one of them waving from the end. Wooded heights with buildings close the far side of the gorge at the upper right. In the foreground three men sit on a rocky bank among fir trees and broken stumps, and two more figures stand at the right.

The plate is lettered "W. H. Bartlett:" at lower left and "R. Brandard:" at lower right, with the number "16" below the center of the image. The further captions read CHUTE DE HORSE SHOE, À NIAGARA, AVEC LA TOUR., DIE HALBMONDFÖRMIGE CASCADE, BEI NIAGARA, NEBST DEM FORT. and DE PAARDENHOEF: (NIAGARA-VAL); MET HET BELVEDERE. The imprint at the foot reads "London, Published for the Proprietors, by Geo: Virtue, 26, Ivy Lane"

The sheet comes from a dealer's album rather than from a bound set. The plate belongs to the engraved views of North America after drawings by William Henry Bartlett, issued as American Scenery and published by George Virtue at 26 Ivy Lane, London. The tower, known as Terrapin Tower, stood at the edge of the fall off Goat Island from 1833 until it was taken down in 1873.

Even age toning. Handling soiling along the bottom and right edges. Slight wear at the top right corner. Minor edge wear, shallow nicks along the top.

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