The Allen Koenigsberg Phonograph Collection
Lot 3011:
Description
An 1880’s portrait engraving of Thomas Alva Edison created by the prominent Scottish-American engraver and painter Alexander Hay Ritchie (A.H. Ritchie). It features Thomas Edison as a young man during his earlier years as an up-and-coming inventor. The engraving is most likely done from the famous 1878 Matthew Brady photograph of Edison in Washington D.C.. It is a fine-line steel engraving which was hand colored, a technique for which Ritchie was highly celebrated. Prints of this particular artwork are preserved in historical archives, university collections, and premium photo libraries like Getty Images.
Alexander Hay Ritchie (1822–1895) was a master engraver who immigrated to the United States in 1841. He became famous for his meticulous execution of portraits and historical scenes. He routinely engraved likenesses of major American figures of the era, including presidents, military leaders, and prominent pioneers of industry like Edison. The engraving is mounted behind an oval matte in an older 9” X 11” frame. The image measures approx. 6.5” tall, 4.5” wide and has some light foxing to the paper. From the Allen Koenigsberg collection.
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