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Daniel Powers Whiting. Army Portfolio... No. 1 [all published]....
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Description
Extremely Rare Complete Suite of Views Comprising One of the Primary Visual Records of the Mexican-American War
Daniel Powers Whiting. Army Portfolio... No. 1
[all published]. [New York: G. & W. Endicott, 1847].FIRST EDITION, PRESENTATION COPY, inscribed on front upper wrapper in ink, in an unidentified hand: "Presented by Johnson Whiting." Folio (23.625" x 18.625"; 600 x 472 mm). 5 fine lithographed plates on toned grounds, printed on heavy Arches paper. Original printed brown wrappers. Housed in a modern quarter morocco slipcase.
Extremely rare complete suite of views comprising one of the primary visual records of the Mexican-American War.
This set of views constitutes one of the primary visual records of the Mexican-American War. The portfolio was issued with either colored or uncolored plates (as here). Whiting's views are considered some of the more accurate, rare, and desirable eyewitness depictions of U.S. occupation of Mexico. As is sometimes pointed out, however, the lithographers at times changed Whiting's originals, not always for the best. In the case of the first plate (Monterey, | As seen from a house-top...), for example, a soldier dressed in an outmoded uniform has apparently been added in the front ground and two boys leisurely amuse themselves on the rooftop from which the view is taken. These alterations are usually credited to Charles Fenderich, who transferred Whiting's original to the stone. Despite such problems, this view--and all of Whiting's views--are considered extraordinarily accurate. The prints were executed using the latest lithographic techniques available at the time.
Ron Tyler in his preliminary study of nineteenth-century Texas lithographs compares the quality of Whiting's work to that of Audubon. Having graduated from West Point in 1832, Whiting (1808-1892) was a career military officer who served not only with Taylor in the Northern Campaign during the Mexican-American War but also in the Civil War and later in the West. He apparently was released from all other duties during the U.S. invasion of Mexico so that he could work on taking the views. The rarest lithographs of the war." (Ron Tyler). Though Whiting's prints are very rare, it may be that some of the Mexican lithographs of the war are more fugitive. Apparently according to Whiting family tradition, the work was limited to no more than 24 sets (see Goodspeed's of Boston: The Month at Goodspeed's Book Shop, vol. XXI, nos. 2-3, Nov-Dec. 1959, p. 43). Although Whiting originally intended to continue the series beyond five plates, the original drawings for the additional plates were supposedly lost aboard a steamboat that sank in the Mississippi. Plate 2 has a note at the end of the key stating that the Texas Rangers composed part of the U. S. military force. Plate 3 is the second state of the plate (in No. 4 of the key Village spelled correctly, rather than misspelled "Villag."
Extremely rare: According to online auction records, only two other copies have appeared at auction over the past sixty years.
Plates:
1. "Monterey, As seen from a house-top in the main-Plaza, (to the west.) October, 1846." Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1847 by D. P. Whiting in the Clerks Office of the District Court of the Southern District of New York. G. & W. Endicott Lit. N.Y. [below neat line at left]: D. P. Whiting, Del. Caft. (sic) 7th Inf. [numbered key to locations to left and right of title] [lower right]: No. 1. of a Series. New York. Lithograph on light grey ground (view of Monterrey looking toward Saltillo, taken after U.S. occupation of the city).
2. "Heights of Monterey, from the Saltillo road looking towards the City. (from the West.) Worth's Division" (sic) moving into position under the guns of the enemy, after the action of "St. Jeronimo", on the morning of 21st. Sepr. 1846." Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1847 by D. P. Whiting in the Clerks Office of the District Court of the Southern district of New York. | G. & W. Endicott Lit. N. York. [below neat line at left]: D. P. Whiting Capt. 7th Inf. [below neat line at right]: On Stone by F. Swinton. [numbered key to locations to left and right of title] [lower right]: No. 2. New York. Lithograph on light grey and olive green ground (battle scene in Monterrey with U.S. troops on the march).
3. "Valley towards Saltillo, from near the base of "Palace Hill," at Monterey. (Looking to the S. West.)". Entered according to act of Congress in the year 1847 by D. P. Whiting in the Clerks Office of the district Court of the Southern district of New York. G. & W. Endicott Lit. N.Y. [below neat line at left]: D. P. Whiting Capt. 7th Inf [below neat line at right]: On Stone By C. Parsons [numbered key to locations to left and right of title] [lower right]: No. 3. New York. Lithograph on light slate grey and olive green ground (view with column of troops).
4. "Monterey, from Independence Hill, in the rear of the Bishop's-Palace. As it appeared on 23d. September, 1846. (Looking East.)". Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1847 by D. P. Whiting in the Clerks Office of the district Court of the Southern District of New York. G. & W. Endicott Lith. [below neat line at left]: D. P. Whiting Del Capt. 7th Inf [below neat line at right]: On Stone By F. Swinton [numbered key to locations to left and right of title] [lower right]: No. 4. New York. Lithograph on light slate grey and olive green ground (view with column of troops
5. "Birds-eye view of the Camp of the Army of Occupation, |Commanded by Genl. Taylor. Near Corpus Christi, Texas; (from the North) Oct. 1845." Entered according to act of Congress in the year 1847. by D. P. Whiting in the Clerks Office of the district Court of the Southern district of New York. [below neat line at left]: D. P. Whiting Capt. 7th Inf Del [below neat line at right]: On Stone By C. Parsons [numbered key to locations to left and right of title] Lithograph on light slate grey and mauve ground (tents and encampment on beach).
Condition: Wrappers rebacked in tan paper, some light wear and mild staining. Plates professionally restored with some discreet repairs to small marginal tears or creases. Two plates (Nos. 2 & 3) with very pale dampstaining (mostly visible on versos), minor marginal toning, light soiling or pale spotting on some plate versos, lower corner of margin on No. 2 with two hard creases archivally reinforced on verso.
References: Peters, American on Stone, 175; Streeter Sale 275.
Auction Info
2023 December 2 The Ted Lusher Texas History Collection, Part One Signature® Auction #6281 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
December, 2023
2nd
Saturday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 1
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
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