President John Quincy Adams, in a 1931 Facsimile Reissue of the 1844 Silhouette Lithograph, by William Henry Brown

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On offer is an exceptional facsimile reissue of a 1844 silhouette lithograph of John Quincy Adams, the sixth President of … Read more On offer is an exceptional facsimile reissue of a 1844 silhouette lithograph of John Quincy Adams, the sixth President of the United States. The original was created in 1844 for the landmark publication “Portrait Gallery of Distinguished American Citizens.”
However, nearly the entire original first edition of Brown's Portrait Gallery book was tragically destroyed in a massive bindery fire shortly after production. Because very few original folios survived intact, true 1844 first-edition sheets are incredibly scarce and highly prized by institutions like the Library of Congress and the Brooklyn Museum.
Due to the fire's devastation, G.A. Baker & Co. published a highly accurate, high-quality facsimile reissue in 1931 using a collotype reproduction method. These 1931 prints retain the exact 1844 copyright text from the originals.
The former President is captured in a strict profile silhouette, showcasing his distinct posture, high collar, and tailcoat. He stands inside an elegant 1840s interior, positioned in front of a multi-pane glass window. Heavy, tasseled drapery frames the window, casting a subtle play of light and shadow on the pattern-carpeted floor. An ornate empire-style armchair sits tucked to the left side.
The lower-left margin reads "From life by Wm. H. Brown". William Henry Brown (1808–1883) was a famous American traveling master silhouette artist. He cut the silhouettes of famous statesmen entirely freehand from black paper. For the original project Brown pioneered a method where his stark, solid-black paper cutouts were placed against finely detailed, illustrated lithographic backgrounds. The combined compositions were then printed together on stone presses.
The lower-right margin states "Lith. of E.B. & E.C. Kellogg". Based in Hartford, Connecticut, the Kellogg brothers were the second-largest publishers of popular decorative prints in 19th-century America, right behind Currier & Ives.
The bottom edge bears the formal copyright line: "JOHN QUINCY ADAMS. Entered according to act of Congress, in the year 1844, by E.B. & E.C. Kellogg, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Connecticut."
Signature/Maker’s Mark: Imprinted (photos #5,6,7 ). Image dimensions:13.25 inches high x 10 inches wide. See less