Who is the engrsaver who signed theh Napoleon portrait published by
Max Williams Company, 306 Fifth Avenue as indicated in the print.  In
what year was the print published and sold ND FOR WHAT YEARS WAS THE
wILLIAMS cOMPANY IN BUSINESS?  Other products known?  The signer's
surname appears to end withthese letters:-d-u-a-r-d.

---

Request for Question Clarification by huntsman-ga on 01 Jul 2002 19:02 PDT

lulubonne,

Since we can't see this artwork firsthand, you will need to give us
some more details:

1. Do you know for certain that it is an actual engraving and not a
mechanical reproduction? If you examine it with a magnifying glass and
see a dot-matrix ink pattern (similar to this
http://www.philaprintshop.com/images/collotyp.jpg), then it is a
reproduction and not an engraving.

2. Where and how is "Max Williams Company" indicated on the artwork?
Is it printed or hand-written? Exactly what is the full text?

3. Are there any other letters, words, or numbers on the artwork
(front and back)? Where and what are they?

4. How do you know this artwork is from the 19th century (1800-1900)?

5. How do you know the subject is Napoleon? Is he standing, sitting,
riding a horse, etc.? Is he alone? Indoors or outdoors? What is in the
foreground and background?

6. What is the overall size of the artwork (across the outer edges),
including any plain paper borders?

7. What is the size of the art area alone (without the borders)?

8. Is the artwork in color, or only in black & white? If it is in
color, are the colors cleanly separated into sharply defined areas or
layers, or do they blend gradually and smoothly into one another (like
a watercolor)? Do the colors have a dot-matrix pattern as noted in
Question #1?

9. The signature letters "duard" might be "Eduard". Giving it your
best guess, what does the full signature appear to be? Is the
signature a smooth line of ink, or does it have a dot-matrix pattern?

10. Is the paper thick and matte (dull), or thin and glossy?

Thank you,
huntsman

---

Clarification of Question by lulubonne-ga on 08 Jul 2002 08:15 PDT

1.This is a real engraving not a print press copy.  I removed the item
from
its damaged frame and had it reframed because the quality of the image
was
good enough for a wall decoration.

2. Above the image to the left the following is printed outside the
image in
a very small "script" type font "Published by the Max Williams
Company, 306
Fifth Avenue, New York".

3.In the center below the image is printed the imperial seal" A wreath
of
laurel leaves enclosing the capital letter N, topped with a tiny
crown.  No
other words or numbers except engraver's? signature

4. I date it about 1895 because the Williams Company is gone and there
was
a Napoleon vogue in the US at that time.  I have worked in my research
with the
print curator at our art musem and tour findings follow:  The image is
not
original, but a copy of an oil painting by the Paris artist Henri
Felix
Emmanuel Philippoteaux (1815-1884).  He found another woodcut copy of
this
portrait by an artist named Johnson in the January, 1895, edition of
Century
magazine.  Mr. Stevens,the curator tells me it was a common practice
to
dupicate paintings this way in the infant days of photography.

5.  The above convinces me that my portrait is Napoleon.  The image is
of
head and shoulders only.  He seems to be seated indoors alone.  The
oil painting shows a little more of his upper body and he seems to be
holding a military cap.  Mr. Stevens and I have learned the subject is
dressed in the uniform of a lieutenant colonel of the Corsican
artillery.  This is was
in Napoleon's earlier life and it is the picture of a young man.  The
image is an oval set in a rectangle 10 by 12-1/2 inches on a sheet of
paper at
least 12 by 15 inches.  The seal under the face is slightly bigger
than 1
square inch

8.  The image on the paper is in black ink.  There is NO color.  The
paper
is not pure white but ivory in color with a matte surface not shiny.

9. The signature is hand signed not printed.  I too considered the
name
Eduard but ther are too many letter for it to be that. I do think the
name
whatever it is could be of French origin.  The paper question has
already
been answered.  From the number of inquiries I have made over more
than 2o
years, I don't think my engraving proved to be a very big seller
accounting
for even fewer surviving copies,  If you send me your e-mail address i
can
FORWARD the only person I contacted who could duplicate my portrait. 
It may
be a photo of the original oil.  This person operates a Napoleon
webpage
but does not know where his picture comes from.

---

Request for Question Clarification by huntsman-ga on 08 Jul 2002 18:56 PDT

lulubonne,

Thank you for your detailed reply.

Obviously you and Mr. Stevens have already done extensive research on
the engraving. I may not be able to add substantially to your
findings, but I will investigate and get back to you.

huntsman

---

Request for Question Clarification by huntsman-ga on 13 Jul 2002 14:23 PDT

Lulubonne,

I'm still on the trail, but I thought you might like to see what I
have uncovered so far.

huntsman

--------------------

The Philippoteaux Painting -

I found a source which offers a high-definition digital scan of
Philippoteaux's original painting of Napoleon.

Done properly, this image might make an interesting companion piece to
your engraving. A high-definition digital image can reproduced on
archival paper (with high-quality inks) by a fine art digital printer.
Perhaps Mr. Stevens knows of such a printer in your area: you might
want to talk to them about this idea before purchasing the image.

The image source is in France:

The Photo Agency of the Réunion des Musées Nationaux (RMN) 
[The French National Organisation of Art Museums}
http://www.photo.rmn.fr/us/index.htm

An explanation of their image services (and contact information) is
given here:

http://www.photo.rmn.fr/us/f_presentation.htm

To place an RMN image order from the United States or Canada, you will
have to contact their representative:

Art Resource Inc.
536 Broadway, 5th floor
New York, NY, 10012
Tel: 212-505-8700
Fax: 212-505-2053
Email: requests@artres.com
Home page: http://www.artres.com
RMN info: http://www.artres.com/rmnpage.htm

Here is RMN's listing of Philippoteaux's painting:

Agence Photographique de la Rèunion des Musèes Nationaux
[Napoléon Bonaparte by Philippoteaux]
http://www.photo.rmn.fr/us/bi/search.vep?aur_offset_rec=1&titre=Napol%E9on%20Bonaparte%20&rpp=9&artiste=Philippoteaux

Museum:  Châteaux de Versailles et de Trianon 
Collection:  Peintures  [Paintings]
Title:  Napoléon Bonaparte en uniforme de lieutenant-colonel du
premier bataillon de la Corse en 1792
Artist:  Philippoteaux Félix-Henri-Emmanuel (1815-1884) 
Date:  1834 
Technique:  huile sur toile [oil on canvas]
Height:  0.800 [meter?]
Width:  0.650 [meter?]
Key Words:  portrait 
Photographer:  Arnaudet ; J. Schormans 

An enlargement of the same painting is on another Web site:

Napoleon 1er
http://perso.club-internet.fr/ameliefr/P2.html

- Napoléon Bonaparte en uniforme de lieutenant colonel 
du 1er Bataillon de la Corse en 1792
- par Henri-Félix-Emmanuel Philippoteaux 
- (1815 - 1884), daté 1834
- Musée du Château de Versailles 

--------------------

Napoleonic Symbols - 

From your description, the engraving's "imperial seal" is similar to
this:

Monogram "N" on a cannon
http://www.napoleon.org/en/gallery/pictures/files/Monogram_quotNquot_on_a.asp

The crowned "N" appears again on the necklace of the Légion d'Honneur
(that Napoleon wore at his coronation):

Napoleon I
Coronation
http://www.napoleon.org/en/gallery/pictures/files/napoleon_bust.asp

BTW, clothes certainly do make the Emperor:

Napoleon I in his coronation robes
http://www.napoleon.org/en/gallery/pictures/files/napoleon_costume_sacre.asp

Apparently, the official seal had additional elements:

Official Website of the Office of the French President
The Institutions - The symbols of the Republic  - The Seal
http://www.elysee.fr/ang/instit/symb4.htm

"Napoleon adopted a seal depicting the typical motifs of the Empire
(bees and the imperial crown)."

Napoleon.Org
The Symbols [interactive illustration]
http://www.napoleon.org/en/essential_napoleon/symbols/index.asp

"The Bee -

Symbol of immortality and resurrection, the bee was chosen so as to
link the new dynasty to the very origins of France. Golden bees (in
fact, cicadas) were discovered in 1653 in Tournai in the tomb of
Childeric I, founder in 457 of the Merovingian dynasty and father of
Clovis. They were considered as the oldest emblem of the sovereigns of
France."

"The Crown and the Imperial Mantle -

The escutcheon stands out from the imperial cape which is similar to
that used by the peers of France. Scarlet velvet spread with bees, and
bordered with grape clusters, gold fringes, the cape is lined with
ermine and is held in place by the crown made of eagles with raised
wings alternating with arcs, the whole topped with a globe bearing a
cross."

---

Request for Question Clarification by huntsman-ga on 27 Jul 2002 13:48 PDT

Request for Question Clarification

Lulubonne, 

Try as I might, I have not been able to find out who engraved your
Napoleon portrait, or in what year the print was published.

I have found some historical information about the Max Williams
Company and other art pieces offered by them.

This will be my last clarification as I have run out of productive
leads. I hope the additional information and sources noted below will
help you find more specific answers about your Napoleon engraving.

Thank you,
huntsman

--------------------

Max Williams Company History -

I contacted the history department at the New York Public Library and
asked for any information about the Max Williams Company:

   The Irma and Paul Milstein Division
   United States History, Local History and Genealogy 
   E-mail Reference Service
   http://www.nypl.org/research/chss/lhg/emailfrm.html

The library searched several "Trow's City Directories" for New York
(http://www.famousamericans.net/johnfowlertrow/) and found some
listings for Max Williams Company (MWC). Using their listings and
various online references, it's possible to create a partial timeline
and address history:

   1893 - MWC listed in Trow's NYC directory as an engraver.
          Their address is given as 1 East 31st Street.

   1894 - MWC publishes a limited edition woodcut portrait of Daniel
          Webster (by artist Frank S. King).

   1904 - MWC produces color lithographs of NYC views. 

   1907 - Currier & Ives goes out of business. MWC purchases several
          original C&I "Clipper Ship" lithographic stones.  

   1912 - MWC reprints several of the "Clipper Ship" originals by
          Currier & Ives.

   1918 - MWC exhibits clipper ship and whaling artifacts, scrimshaw,
          prints, paintings, and ship models at "Madison Avenue, at
46th
          Street, opp. Ritz-Carlton Hotel, New York."

   1919 - MWC holds first annual exhibition of ship models.

   1920 - MWC listed in Trow's NYC directory as an engraver and etcher
          with business address at 538 Madison Avenue. Home address
          listed as 166 Lefferts Place, Brooklyn.

   1921 - MWC listed again in Trow's NYC directory, with same
occupation
          and addresses as in 1920.

   1925 - MWC listed in Trow's NYC directory as an engraver and etcher
          with address at 538 Madison Avenue. No home address given.

The address on your Napoleon engraving is "306 Fifth Avenue". From the
addresses and dates noted above, I'm guessing that MWC was probably at
the Fifth Avenue address between 1894 and 1918. I wish I could be more
precise, but I have not found any direct references linking the Fifth
Avenue address to a specific date.

For more historical information on the Max Williams Company, you may
want to contact:

   The New York Historical Society
   2 West 77th Street
   New York, NY 10024
   Tel: 212-873-3400 (press "0")
   Email: not available
   Web: http://www.nyhistory.org/

--------------------

Max Williams Print Pricing -

For an accurate estimate of the value of your Napoleon engraving, you
should contact an experienced and certified appraiser. There are
several national appraisal organizations that can help you:

   American Society of Appraisers
   555 Herndon Parkway, Suite 125
   Herndon, VA 20170
   Tel: 703-478-2228
   Fax: 703-742-8471
   Email: asainfo@appraisers.org
   Web: http://www.appraisers.org
   Find: http://www.appraisers.org/findappraiser/

   Appraisers Association of America, Inc.
   386 Park Avenue South, Suite 2000
   New York, NY 10016
   Tel: 212-889-5404
   Fax: 212-889-5503
   Email: aaa1@rcn.com
   Web: www.appraisersassoc.org
   Find: http://www.appraisersassoc.org/directory/search.cfm

   International Society of Appraisers
   Riverview Plaza Office Park
   16040 Christensen Road, Suite 102
   Seattle, WA  98188-2929
   Tel: 206-241-0359
   Fax: 206-241-0436
   Email: isahq@isa-appraisers.org
   Web: http://www.isa-appraisers.org
   Find: http://www.isa-appraisers.org/database/ISA_form.html

   National Institute of Appraisers
   P.O. Box 69301
   Los Angeles, CA  90069-0301
   Tel: 800-676-2148, 213-289-1148
   Fax: 310-659-1492  

Although I did not find a direct price reference to your Napoleon
engraving, there are some examples online that can give you a rough
idea of what MWC prints might be worth.

When Currier & Ives went out of business in 1907, MWC purchased six
"large folio" (larger than 14" x 20") lithographic stones depicting
various clipper ships. In 1912, MWC issued restrikes from these C&I
stones using thinner paper, somewhat lower printing quality, and less
intense colors:

   Identifying an Original Currier & Ives
   http://www.currierprints.com/Reproductions.htm 

Although clearly worth less than the original C&I prints, the MWC
restrikes are worth more than mechanical reproductions. The C&I
clipper ship restrikes by MWC could be valued from $1200-$1800 each,
depending on their condition. These may be worth more than your
Napoleon engraving for several reasons:

   - They are restrikes from original Currier & Ives stones.
   - They are larger than your Napoleon engraving.
   - They are hand-colored. 

Print ("folio") size and subject matter affect the value of Currier &
Ives prints, and relatively speaking, might apply to Max Williams
prints as well. You can see a more detailed discussion of these
factors here:

   American Historical Print Collectors Society
   Currier & Ives FAQ
   http://www.ahpcs.org/Library/curquer.htm

I found one online example of MWC prints for sale:

   George Glazer Antiques
   http://www.georgeglazer.com/maps/newyorkmaps/welcke.html

   [images of prints]

   Fifth Avenue From 42nd Street, Looking South 
   Fifth Avenue From 42nd Street, Looking North 
   Color printed lithographs 
   Max Williams, New York: 1904 
   South: 17 x 23.5 inches, sheet, 
   North: 20 x 24 inches, sheet 
   Both: 15 x 20 inches, image 

   $4,800, the pair  

Again, these prints are considerably larger than your Napoleon
engraving and are hand-colored. Their historical American subject
matter also increases their value.

--------------------

Other Items from the Max Williams Company -

Many public libraries have the "OCLC FirstSearch" databases
(http://FirstSearch.oclc.org) available either in-house or online. My
city library offers OCLC FirstSearch online, and I used it to find the
following books noted below. The titles for each book contain a
description of the various items offered by the Max Williams Company
at one time or another.

FYI, the search I used was:

   WorldCat Database Advanced Search Terms
   Keyword: max   [Index: publisher]  
   Keyword: williams   [Index: publisher]
   Year: 1850-1950

Search Result #1 -

   Title: Illustrated catalogue of implements and relics of the New
          England whale fishery, rare prints and paintings of clipper
          ships and whaling, frigates and sea battles and an 
          interesting collection of ship models: including part 1 of 
          the collection of the late John Starin. 
   Corp Author(s): Max Williams.  
   Publication: New York : Max Williams, 
   Year: 1918 
   Description: 30 p. : ill. ; 24 cm. 
   Language: English 
   SUBJECT(S)  
   Descriptor: Whaling in art -- Catalogs. 
               Ships in art -- Catalogs. 
               Nautical paraphernalia -- Catalogs. 
               Scrimshaws -- Catalogs. 
               Ships models -- Catalogs.  
   Named Corp: Max Williams -- Catalogs.  
   Note(s): "Now on view and to be dispersed by Max Williams, Madison
            Avenue, at 46th Street, opp. Ritz-Carlton Hotel, New York,
            May 10th, 1918." 
   Class Descrpt: LC: G545.2 
   Other Titles: Catalogue of the Starin collection, part 1 
   Document Type: Book 
   Entry: 19980211 
   Update: 19980211 
   Accession No: OCLC: 38422173 

Search Result #2 -

   Title: Catalogue of the first annual exhibition of ship models by
          contemporary masters of the very honorable and ancient art
          craft 
   Author(s): Teall, Gardner.  
   Corp Author(s): Max Williams.  
   Publication: New York : Max Williams, 
   Year: 1919 
   Description: [24] p. : ill. ; 24 cm. 
   Language: English 
   SUBJECT(S)  
   Descriptor: Ship models -- Exhibitions.  
   Class Descrpt: LC: VM298 
   Other Titles: First annual exhibition of ship models by
contemporary
                 masters 
   Responsibility: with an introduction by Gardner Teall. 
   Document Type: Book 
   Entry: 20000310 
   Update: 20000310 
   Accession No: OCLC: 43611428 

Note that the above books are at the following library:

   Trinity College Library
   Hartford Connecticut
   Web: http://www.trincoll.edu/depts/library/

You could contact them for more information, but they are closed for
construction until September 2, 2002.

In answering my email request, the New York City Public Library found
a third WorldCat entry:

   Title: Portrait of Daniel Webster
   Author(s): King, Frank S.
   Publication: New York; Max Williams,
   Year: 1894
   Description: woodcut.; 37.2 x 30.2 cm.
   Language: N/A
   SUBJECT(S)
   Named Person: Webster, Daniel, 1782-1852 -- Portraits.
   Note(s): This edition limited to 200 proofs signed by the artist.
            From a contemporary charcoal drawing.
   Material Type: 2-D image (ngr); Picture (pic)
   Document Type: Visual Material
   Entry: 19860523
   Update: 19940531
   Accession No: OCLC: 13637209

This confirms that Max Williams Company was publishing limited edition
portraits at least as early as 1894.

--------------------

References - 

Currier & Ives restrikes by the Max Williams Company:

   Currier and Ives Original Prints
   Identifying an Original Currier & Ives
   http://www.currierprints.com/Reproductions.htm 

   Vintage Prints
   Identifying Original Currier & Ives Prints
   http://www.vintageprints.com/helpdesk/identify.htm

Estimating the value (folio size, subject matter, etc.) of Currier &
Ives prints:

   American Historical Print Collectors Society
   Currier & Ives FAQ
   http://www.ahpcs.org/Library/curquer.htm

General print information:

   American Historical Print Collectors Society
   http://www.ahpcs.org/links.htm

   The Currier and Ives Foundation
   Links Page
   http://www.geocities.com/scurrier/links.htm

   Museum of the City of New York 
   Currier & Ives, Printmakers to the American People
   http://www.mcny.org/currierives/currier.htm