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Lot 271D

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SMITH, John Rubens. [A South East View of] Mercha

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[Philadelphia: J. R. Smith, c. 1837-1840]. Aquatint printed in colors and hand-finished (370 x 540 mm). Condition: very light toning to extremities, one short closed tear to right margin. "Sanderson was one of Philadelphia's most prominent hoteliers during the 1830s and 40s, owning several inns, including some in partnership with his son. In the coming decades, lithography was to become the almost universal choice for advertising prints. The use of the more costly method of aquatinting for these prints was quite unusual. In commissioning Smith to produce this pair of prints, Sanderson must have intended to convey as part of his message the quality of his hotels" (Wohl Collection). Snyder identifies this version of the aquatint, titled merely Merchant's Hotel, as a proof. Versions with the complete title have been struck from the plate at a modern date. very rare and desirable image. Snyder, MOA 185.

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