Tuesday Treasures Special Edition: Antique Prints - January 20, 2026

 After buying two antique prints, these steel engravings, both included here today as well, I took a look at the ages of my antique prints.  You hear the word antique tossed around a lot, but what does it really mean?  It depends.

 In the U.S., according to the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act of 1930, antiques are items at least 100 years old. Standards of value and insurance, and U.S. Customs use this definition.  
With some exceptions, the UK follows the same 100-year rule, while some European Union countries use 50 years, and even 25 for certain categories.
China requires government authentication for items over 100 years old before export. 
So, if you're in the U.S., an antique is simply an item at least 100 years old.
A few of my favorite prints are from the 1930s and 1940s, but they are not antique, only vintage. Vintage is 40-99 years old.   Retro refers to new items made in an old style, reproductions that are not old themselves, and carry no historical value. Collectible is a broad term for items less than 100 years old, but valued due to rarity, craftmanship, or just plain popularity.

These are my true antique prints. 

Two from the 1700s. 

c1784
A Man of Kamtschatka Travelling in Winter
from Captain James Cook's A Voyage to the Pacific Ocean, his third voyage.  I bought this over 20 years ago on eBay for $26.00. It was only listed as "c1790 engraving of Eskimo with sled dogs."  It looks better than this, the glass blurred the details and there's a reflection.

1785 

Another from Cook's third voyage, 
Un Opossum de la Terre Van-Diemen (Tasmanian Opossum) from the French edition of A Voyage to the Pacific Ocean.  A bit water damaged and warped, but under $1 at a yard sale.

1800s - early 1900s

1834

Dieppe, a port town in Normandy, France, is a steel engraving. Goodwill $4.31

1834
Dog of the North American Indians from The Naturalist's Library, Vol. X, Mammalia 

Probably the Plains Indian Dog, whose unique genetic lineage is extinct.  Today's Native American Indian Dog are the result of modern breed revival attempts, with the aim of recreating the look and temperament of the originals.  However the original DNA signature was completely lost with the arrival of the Europeans.

This engraving was purchased, along with two other dog prints (seen below), in a shop in Portobello Market, London, when I was in 8th grade.  Yes, I liked dogs back then too!

1834

The Harrier is also from Portobello Market.

c1840
Dunluce Castle (Ireland), a steel engraving.  Goodwill $4.31 

1862 
La Mode Illustrèe (French fashion magazine) It was found behind another print I bought at a thrift store.

early 1870s

Interior of the Albert Hall - St. Vincent de Paul $3 

1871 

Westminster Abbey from St. James Park, about 1749 - St. Vincent de Paul $3

 

1880 -1890 
Frost Breaking is a steel engraving, a Portobello Market buy.

1884 

Black Chat - a hand-colored lithograph from A History of Birds of Europe, by Henry Eeles Dresser.  250 prints were made, some for loose-leaf portfolios, others to include in custom leather bindings for wealthy subscribers.  St. Vincent de Paul 75¢

1885 - 1889

10 lithographs from Souvenir of Scotland - its Cities, Lakes, and Mountains, published by T. Nelson and Sons -  St. Vincent de Paul, 10 for $2.00  The entire book has 120 prints, and is available online for a few hundred dollars. 

1885 

Six of a series of lithographs © Brig. Genl S. B. Holabird, Qr. Master Genl. with art by H. A. Ogden. Commissioned for the U.S. War Department as official reference plates documenting the evolution of American military uniforms. - Goodwill Bins at 10¢ pound glass price.

This one is my favorite.

XXI 1851 - 1854 ENGINEER  FOOT-RIFLES  DRAGOON (MUSICIAN)  LIGHT  INFANTRY 

XXVIII 1888 OFFICERS  CAVALRY & ARTILLERY  CADETS U.S.M.A. ETC. [FULL DRESS]

top left: VIII 1796 - 1799 INFANTRY  MUSICIANS

top right: X 1799 - 1802 COMMANDER  IN CHIEF  &  STAFF

bottom left: XXX 1872 - 1881 OFFICERS & ENLISTED MEN  CAVALRY  ARTILLERY  INFANTRY  [FULL DRESS]

bottom right:  XXVII 1861 - 1866 CAMPAIGN UNIFORM  FIELD  LINE & NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS AND PRIVATES

1888 

The Highland Keeper's Daughter, from Art and Artists of Our Time, by Clarence Cook -  steel engraving on wove paper - a present to myself off eBay.

I'll leave it with this small print from 1915, part of the huge artwork haul at one of the city wide sales last year.  I paid less than $1 for each piece (even for the signed Dali lithograph! Not just signed in the plate, which is just part of the print, but signed in pencil in the border.)

After some confusing research, I believe I have it straight.  The image of the angel was printed in 1915, in England, at the Pear Tree Press.  Columbia University acquired the Pear Tree Press holdings in the early 1930s, and archival procedures for their Rare Book & Manuscript Library was established the same year.  Markings such as catalog numbers or ownership labels were commonly added during cataloging, which explains the information on the back of mine.

I put it in a thrifted double mat and thrifted frame.

I do have a few more from the 1900s, but I've already shared too many!