Rare Flags - Antique American Flags, Historic American Flags

At the time when George Washington took command of American forces in 1775 at the outset of the American Revolution, he was virtually unknown outside the colonies, and even within the colonies he was but one of many patriots supporting the cause. By the time of his death in 1799, less than 25 years later, he was known throughout the western world for his primary leadership role in establishing the United States of America. During this time, portrait artists flocked to Washington to paint his likeness, and engravings of Washington were published far and wide. Some of the earliest engravings look nothing like Washington because the artists and engravers had no image of him to base their likeness on; thus they simply made his likeness up. Others engraved from paintings of Washington by John Trumbull or Charles Willson Peale, who themselves made multiple copies of their paintings. Engravers copied other engravings, and thus there are groupings of early Washington engravings that are based on a particular early subject, such as those after Charles Willson Peale or Edward Savage.

By the 19th century, collectors began to collect and catalog the engravings of Washington, organizing them based on their rarity and the lineage of their likenesses. Scholars such as William Spohn Baker and Charles Henry Hart published books in the late 19th century that describe the examples they were aware of, assigning reference numbers to them. Today, prints of Washington are referenced by these numbers, such as "Hart 81" or "Baker 34". They also approximated their scarcity, with annotations such as "rare", "very rare", or "exceedingly rare". Washington engravings that date to his lifetime, between 1775 and 1799, and the year of mourning in 1800, are especially sought after and difficult to locate.

Below are several examples of rare 18th century and early 19th century George Washington engravings held in the Rare Flags collection.

General Washington. London Pub'd April 11, 1788 by E. Hedges No. 92 Cornhill. After Charles Willson Peale's 1776 portrait. Listed in the Hampton Carson Collection of engraved portraits of General Washington as No. 64, "of the greatest rarity"; Baker No. 44, but unknown to Baker because the address was cut down, "rare"; Hart No. 52.

After: Charles Willson Peale

Engraver: Edward Hedges

Location: London

Year: 1788

Reference: Carson No. 64; Hart No. 52; Baker No. 44

George Washington engraving by Amos Doolittle

Gen. General Washington. Commander in chief of the Armies of the United States. Born Feb 11th 1732 O.S. Died December 17th 1799 After Joseph Wright. Published as the frontispiece to "The Majesty and Morality of created Gods Illustrated and Improved" by Benjamin Trumbull, published in New Haven, Connecticut, 1800. Baker No. 81, "extremely rare"; Hart No. 145. Carson No. 145

After: Joseph Wright

Engraver: Amos Doolittle

Location: New Haven, Connecticut

Year: 1800

Reference: Carson No. 145; Hart No. 145; Baker No. 81

George Washington engraving by Grainger after Robertson

Geo. Washington. W. Grainger Sculpt, Published as the Act directs Oct. 25, 1794 By H. D. Symonds Paternoster Row. After Archibald Robertson. George Washington is President of the United States at this time, and is depicted in civilian dress. Baker No. 164; Carson No. 338E; Hart No. 806. Baker and Hart list this print as belonging to a book, "View of the United States. By W. Winterbottom. London, 1795". The dimensions of the prints cited by Baker and Hart are small, indicating that they were only aware of the book printed versions of the Grainger prints. This is a very rare full sheet printing with original wide margins, 14" x 10" unknown to Hart or Baker.

After: Archibald Robertson

Engraver: W. Grainger

Location: London

Year: 1794

Reference: Carson No. 338E; Hart No. 806; Baker No. 164

George Washington, Esqr. President of the United States of America. From the Original Picture Printed in 1790 for the Philosophical Chamber, at the University of Cambridge, in Massachusetts. Published Feb'y. 7, 1792 by E. Savage. No. 29 Charles Street, Middx. Hospital. Published by Edward Savage, who is also the portrait artist for this likeness. Scholars are not certain if Savage actually engraved the portrait, or if an unnamed London engraver assisted or engraved the plate. Hart No. 214; Baker No. 116 "very rare"; Carson No. 240. This print is a superb impression with full, wide margins.

After: Edward Savage

Engraver: Edward Savage

Location: London

Year: 1792

Reference: Carson No. 240; Hart No. 214; Baker No. 116

George Washington, Commandant en Chef des Armees Americaines, Ne en Virginie en 1733. Se trouve a Paris, chez Aug. De St. Aubin, Graveur du Roi et de sa Bibliotheque, actuellement rue Therese Bute St Roch et a la Bibliotheque et chez Mr Cochin, Aux Galleries du Louvre A. P. D. R. After Charles Willson Peale. Engraved by Augstin St. Aubin, published by Nicolas Cochin, circa 1780. Baker No. 31 "rare"; Carson No. 46; Hart No. 48.

After: Charles Willson Peale

Engraver: Augustin St. Aubin

Location: Paris

Year: Circa 1780

Reference: Carson No. 46; Hart No. 48; Baker No. 31

General Washington. Painted by John Trumbull Esqe. Engraved by T. Cheesman. London. Published Augt. 1, 1796, by A. C. De Poggi. No. 91, New Bond Street. After John Trumbull. This engraving was supervised by Trumbull while he was in London along with John Jay to negotiate treaties with the British. Upon his return, Trumbull gifted a copy of the engraving to Martha Washington, which still hangs in the entryway to Mount Vernon to this day. This engraving matches the description of Hart 104, but differs from the examples cited in Baker and Carson in that this has a date of August 1, 1796, whereas other examples have different dates, no date, or no publisher information. (see Baker No. 141; Hart No. 104, 105; Carson Nos. 279, 280, 281, 282, 283)

After: John Trumbull

Engraver: Thomas Cheesman

Location: London

Year: 1796

Reference: Carson 279, 280, 281, 282, 283; Hart No. 104, 105; Baker No. 141)

G. Washington President of the United States, The Battle of Prague A Favorite Sonate For The Piano Forte With Accompaniments, Boston Printed & Sold by Graupner No. 6 Franklin St. After Joseph Wright. A very rare complete set of sheet music dedicated to George Washington. Baker noted that "only one impression has come under the notice of the writer [Baker]" and that the engraving of Washington is "from the Etching by Wright". Hart No. 153a, where Hart notes that the engraving is the same as Hart No. 153 which is a separate non-sheet music strike of this Washington engraving, accompanied by a manuscript note that it was engraved by an S. Wetherbee. Not listed in Carson.

After: Joseph Wright

Engraver: Samuel Wetherbee

Location: Boston

Year: Circa 1810

Reference: Baker No. 82; Hart No. 153a

GEN.RL WASHINGTON. After Joseph Wright. This scarce engraving of Washington was unknown to Baker, and documented by Hart as Hart No. 158. One example of the type appeared as Lot 103 from the Whelen Collection sale in 1909, noted as "extremely rare". Lot 148 of the Mitchell Collection sale in 1906, also noted as "extremely rare". Lot 184 of the Holden Collection sale of 1910 lists the engraving as "scarce" and attributes the engraving to being printed in Edinburgh in 1791, without further details.

After: Joseph Wright

Engraver: Unknown

Location: Edinburgh

Year: Circa 1791

Reference: Hart No. 158

George Washington Engraving by James Heath 1800

GENERAL WASHINGTON. After Gilbert Stuart. The Lansdowne Portrait, depicting George Washington as President. Engraved by James Heath, this engraving was contentious in the day because Heath made the engraving shortly following the death of George Washington in 1799, and published it without the permission of Gilbert Stuart, the artist, who planned to publish his own engraving of the portrait and was enraged that Heath's engraving predated his own. The Stuart painting from which Heath made his engraving was in the collection of The Marquis of Lansdowne, given as a gift by wealthy Philadelphia merchant and patriot William Bingham.

After: Gilbert Stuart

Engraver: James Heath

Location: London

Year: February 1, 1800

Reference: Baker 250, Hart 285.


	GENERAL WASHINGTON. After Joseph Wright. This is another variant of Joseph Wright's 1791 engraving of George Washington, which was published very shortly after the original by Wright. It was published by Isaiah Thomas and Ebenezer Andrews in the March, 1791 issue of the Massachusetts Magazine, indicated by the "Massa Mag" head line. Samuel Hill, known for his quality engravings, many of which were published in the Massachusetts Magazine, is the likely engraver of this print. Eighteenth century handwriting, in fine script below the image, personalizes the engraving by adding "G[e]orge Washington" (sp). Baker lists the engraving as "rare", without an engraver identified. After: Joseph Wright Engraver: Samuel Hill (Likely) Location: Boston Year: March, 1791 Reference: Baker 77, Hart 143, Wick 28.

	GEO. WASHINGTON ESQ^R. Late President of the United States of America. From an original picture in the possession of J. Seban. [i.e. Sebastian] De Franca Esqr of Devonshire Place to whom this plate is dedicated by his obliged humble servt. Robt. Cribb / / C.G. Stuart pinxt. ; W. Nutter sculpt. This fine stipple engraving by William Nutter is based on Gilbert Stuart's famed Athenaeum portrait of Washington. Stuart's original painting, made in the presence of Washington, was left incomplete, but Stuart used the original to paint many other copies of the portrait, including the first copy which he presented to George and Martha Washington. This is the finest early engraving of the portrait, published in London in January, 1798, during Washington's lifetime. Baker lists the engraving as "rare", the Whelen Collection as "very rare". The engraving was also printed in color. After: Gilbert Stuart Engraver: William Nutter Location: London Year: January 15, 1798 Reference: Baker 294, Hart 428 (First State).

	GEO. WASHINGTON ESQ^R. George Washington Eqer. General en Chef de l'Armee Englo Ameriquaine nomme dictateur par le Congres En Fevrier 1777. : George Washington Eqer. General and Commander en Chief of the Continental Army in America. The byline of the printer reads D'Apres l'Original de Champell [sic] Peintre de Williambourg Capitale de la Virginie. In 1777 a fictitious rendition of George Washington, attributed to an unidentified painter named "Alexander Campbell" was engraved and circulated. There is no record of a painter or draughtsman by the name of Alexander Campbell in Williamsburg at this time. Regarding the drawing of Washington that Campbell is credited as having "Drawn from the Life", Washington himself wrote: "Mr. Campbell, whom I never saw to my knowledge, has made a very formidable figure of the Commander-in-chief, giving him a sufficient portion of terror in his countenance." An example of the Alexander Campbell rendition of George Washington on horseback was printed in Nuremburg. This engraving of Washington flanked by battle flags was likely engraved and printed in Paris, France, with Washington's pose derived from the Nuremberg print. Several sources attribute the print's origin to Paris, and writing in French dating to circa 1815 on the back of this print is a strong indication that the print did originate in France. Sources variably date the engraving to as early as 1777, and as late as 1780, making this a very early Revolutionary War era rendition of Washington. Baker lists the engraving as "extremely rare", the Whelen Collection as "extremely rare". After: Alexander Campbell Engraver: Unknown Location: Likely Paris Year: 1777-1780 Reference: Baker 59

	His Excellency GEORGE WASHINGTON Liet. Gen^l. of the Armies of the UNITED STATES of America. Dedicated to Commodore John Barry and the Officers of the Navy and Army of North America. Although the original of this engraving was attributed as being painted by F. Bartoli, though this artist is unknown. The plate of this engraving was originally engraved by David Edwin, and was dedicated to "the lovers of their country and firm supporters of the Constitution", and was published in Philadelphia circa 1798 [Hart 788]. A later issue changed to the engraver to J. Galland and changed the dedication to Commodore John Barry, in the 1802-1810 period, and was printed "By John McElwee" [Hart 789]. A third variant erased John McElwee and substituded "By Ferrai & Dupin, Baltimore" [Hart 789a]. Finally, a fourth variant (this example), erased "By Ferrai & Dupin, Baltimore" completely, and is believed printed circa 1880 [Hart 789b]. After: Gilbert Stuart Engraver: J. Galland Sculp., F. Bartoli Pinx. Location: United States Year: 1798, 1802-1810, 1880 Reference: Baker 228, Hart 789b.

	Lived respected and Fear'd---Died Lamented and rever'd. Philadelphia Published by Pember [& Luzarder], 1800. This very rare mourning engraving was hastily published in Philadelphia in 1800 very soon after the death of George Washington on December 14, 1799. One of a pair of engravings published by Edward Pember and James Luzarder, along with a companion engraving, "G. Washington in his Last Illness". Based on Wendy Wick's research, handkerchiefs based on this pair of engravings were imported from Scotland and advertised in newspapers by July 24, 1800, indicating that these engravings were made early in 1800. The first state of this engraving featured a Wright-type portrait of Washington while the second state (this example) featured a Stuart-type portrait. Baker noted just one impression at the time of his writing. One example is present at Winterthur. After: Gilbert Stuart Engraver: Unknown Location: United States Year: 1800 Reference: Wick 72, Baker 408, Hart 644, Fowble 206

	GENERAL WASHINGTON. Parson's Genuine Edition of Hume's England, Engraved for J. Parsons, Paternoster Row, May 1795. This engraving, after Joseph Wright, is a fine depiction of Washington in uniform, made for publication in London. This particular engraving has very wide margins and was not cut down for distribution in a book or periodical. Although the engraver has not signed the engraving, Baker attributes the engraving to W. Evans. After: Joseph Wright Engraver: W. Evans Location: London Year: 1795 Reference: Baker 86, Hart 149

	WASHINGTON, A Loosjes Pz Excudit, 1793. H Roosing Sculpt, Rotterdam. This variation of Joseph Wright's portrait and engraving of Washington was printed in 1793, during the first year of Washington' second term as President of the United States. This is another of the European engravings after the Wright portrait engraved and published in the 1790s. Baker lists this engraving as "very rare"; Whelen and Carson collections list the engraving as "rare". After: Joseph Wright Engraver: Roosing Location: Rotterdam Year: 1793 Reference: Baker 94, Hart 170, Whelen 98, Carson 159.

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