Lot 239
"Oldest Inhabitant on Line of Union Pacific" - Original
"Oldest Inhabitant on Line of Union Pacific" - Original
Starting Bid: $1,300
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"Oldest Inhabitant on Line of Union Pacific" photogravure, after 1879 to ca. 1910. Published by Union Pacific Railroad. Titled at lower center. Original frame with brass plaque. A historically evocative photogravure titled "Oldest Inhabitant on Line of Union Pacific," depicting the American bison in striking profile. Rendered in rich sepia tones, the image captures the animal's massive, muscular frame and thick, curling coat with remarkable textural detail. The bison's head is turned toward the viewer, its dark, intelligent eye set beneath a prominent brow, the beard and mane suggesting both age and resilience. The caption beneath the image, "The Oldest Inhabitant on line of Union Pacific," ties the subject to the western frontier and the expansion of the Union Pacific Railroad during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Size of print: 23.5" W x 19.5" H (59.7 cm x 49.5 cm); of frame: 29.5" W x 25.5" H (74.9 cm x 64.8 cm)
This was a period when the bison, once numbering in the millions, had been hunted to near extinction - transforming the species into a powerful emblem of both the Old West and the consequences of industrial progress. Such imagery served both as a nostalgic tribute and as a promotional symbol, aligning the romance of the untamed prairie with the modern rail line that now traversed it.
The photogravure is mounted in a period black wooden frame with a brass Union Pacific Railroad plaque reading "Oldest Inhabitant," reinforcing its use as a decorative and promotional object. Surviving examples of this print are rare, making it a desirable piece for collectors of Western Americana, railroad history, and early wildlife art.
Provenance: private Colorado, USA collection; Private collection of a Private Colorado Family
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#196657
- Condition: Mounted behind glass in original frame; has not been examined outside of glass. Chipping with small losses to edges. Miniscule areas of white pigment to lower center right and some possible fading to pigment. Minor areas of loss to lower left. Scuffs to frame; none of which affect print. Clear imagery with suspension wire on verso for display.
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| From: | To: | Increments: |
|---|---|---|
| $0 | $299 | $25 |
| $300 | $999 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $1,999 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $4,999 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $9,999 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $19,999 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $49,999 | $2,500 |
| $50,000 | $99,999 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $199,999 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 + | $20,000 |