Dear copper4444,
Concerning the possible value of the print, you are lucky. On 28 July
2001, the Detroit News featured an article about four patriotic
prints that had been discovered in an old house, all of them printed
by Brown and Bigelow of St. Paul, Minn., and signed as by J.R. Rosen,
Boston, and A.E. Hilton. Among those prints, there also was the "Bill
of Rights" with portraits of Patrick Henry and Presidents James
Madison and Thomas Jefferson, just as you described. A photo shows
that Bill of Rights print, with the personification of Justice over
the text. So I have no doubt that your print and the one mentioned in
the article are the same.
Appraiser Lawrence DuMouchelle, of the DuMouchelle Galleries in
Detroit, said the prints are possibly about 70 years old and and
estimates the value at auction at about $100 for the four. That means,
one single print might very well be worth about $25, depending on its
condition.
To read the full original article, please follow this link:
http://www.detnews.com/2001/decorating/0108/07/e08-256082.htm
The Detroit News: Patriotic prints were worth the struggle with
basement spider webs, by Joan Behrmann
And I managed to find out even more. The graphic studio that designed
the original artwork of those prints, including yours, does still
exist. It's the J. R. Rosen Studio in Boston, established in 1913.
They still offer reprints of their old patriotic print designs,
however your Bill of Rights with the Presidents' portraits is not
among the available items. But you may want to contact the studio in
case you are interested in finding out more about the date your Bill
of Rights print was designed by them:
J.R. Rosen Studio
110 W. Squantum St.
N. Quincy, MA 02171
--
Phone: 1-617-479-5880
Fax: 1-617-479-3587
E-Mail: rosenstudio@msn.com
Website 1: http://www.jrrosenstudio.com/
Website 2: http://www.patrioticprints.com/
Sources:
2become1 Weddings: Calligraphy
http://www.2become1weddings.com/links/calligraphy.html
Sophie's Garage: Declaration of Independence by Rosen & Hilton
http://www.sophiesgarage.com/Declaration%20of%20Independence%20by%20Rosen%20&%20Hilton.htm
Roland Myers, "Gettysburg Address" Discussion forum posting (16 Nov
2003) at antique-forum.com
http://www.antique-forum.com/antiques/Gettysburg_Adress_130679.html
Search terms used:
"j r rosen" boston
://www.google.de/search?hl=de&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&newwindow=1&q=%22j+r+rosen%22+boston+&btnG=Google+Suche
"a e hilton" "j r rosen"
://www.google.de/search?hl=de&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&newwindow=1&q=%22a+e+hilton%22+%22j+r+rosen%22&btnG=Google+Suche
I hope that this information proves helpful.
Best regards,
Scriptor |