Authentic 1864 Currier & Ives Hand-Colored Lithograph "The Lightning Express Trains – Leaving the Junction"

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Description

An authentic hand-colored Currier & Ives lithograph titled "The Lightning Express Trains – Leaving the Junction," after F. F. Palmer, … Read more An authentic hand-colored Currier & Ives lithograph titled "The Lightning Express Trains – Leaving the Junction," after F. F. Palmer, published in 1864 by the legendary New York printmakers Currier & Ives.

This dramatic composition captures the excitement and technological optimism of America's expanding railroad era. A powerful steam locomotive charges toward the viewer while a second train departs in the distance, illustrating the speed, industry, and ambition that defined nineteenth-century America.

Originally issued in 1864, the print is engraved after the work of celebrated railroad artist Frances Flora Bond Palmer (F. F. Palmer), whose railway scenes are among the most admired images produced by Currier & Ives.

The original hand coloring beautifully highlights the locomotive's crimson cowcatcher, polished brass details, billowing steam, and the surrounding landscape, bringing remarkable life to one of Currier & Ives' most celebrated transportation subjects.

Presented in a handsome vintage walnut frame with gilt liner, this impressive large-scale lithograph remains an exceptional statement piece for a library, study, office, or collector of Americana and railroad history.

Artist: Currier & Ives After F. F. Palmer

Published New York, 1864

Medium: Original hand-colored lithograph on paper.

Dimensions: Overall framed size: 35" W × 24½" H

Condition: Good antique condition consistent with age.
Age-appropriate toning and scattered foxing visible primarily within the margins. Vintage walnut frame with expected wear consistent with its age. Presents beautifully and retains outstanding visual impact.

Please review all photographs carefully, as they form part of the description.

Styles:
Americana
Traditional
Victorian
Industrial
Railroad Memorabilia
Library
English Country

Materials:
Hand-colored lithograph
Paper
Glass
Walnut frame
Wood

Colors:
Black
Cream
Walnut
Crimson
Olive
Brass
Ivory

Historical Significance:
Published during the height of America's railroad expansion, The Lightning Express Trains – Leaving the Junction celebrates one of the defining achievements of the Industrial Revolution. Currier & Ives became known as "America's Printmakers," producing images that documented everyday life, historic events, landscapes, sporting scenes, and the rapid growth of transportation throughout the nineteenth century.

Railroad subjects by Currier & Ives remain among the firm's most enduring and collectible works, prized by both Americana collectors and interior designers for their historical importance and dramatic visual appeal.

Designer Notes:
This exceptional lithograph creates a commanding focal point in a traditional library, executive office, mountain lodge, or Ralph Lauren-inspired interior. Its generous scale, rich hand coloring, and iconic American subject make it equally compelling as a collector's piece and as sophisticated decorative art. See less