New Orleans

Daniel Appleton

PANE073.13

Picturesque America  published by D. Appleton and Company of New York in 1872.
Steel-engraved views of American cities, Picturesque America was one of the most significant and influential American illustrated books of the 19th Century. Edited by William Cullen Bryant,  showing scenery, city views, architectural landmarks, national monuments, and much more. Many of the engravings were created from original paintings by famous artists of the day, including Harry Fenn and James David Smillie.

Published: 1872

Steel Plate Engraving

Paper Size: 12 1/2" x 9 1/4"

Condition: A

  • Price: $150.00 { What determines value? }

    Many factors go into pricing a print; rarity, desirability, artist, condition, age, and the history of former sales prices.


    “Weeds & Roses” A good analogy for how the pricing of a print is determined from desirability is my description of "Weeds and Roses". It actually works with a number of publications from Audubons to Atlases. 

    O.K., let's take a complete first edition set of Audubon's Birds of America- 435 Plates, printed by Robert Havell. The Wild Turkey & The Flamingo will be the “Roses”, they are the major plates. These images are usually more desirable making them the most expensive, in upwards of $200,000.

    The Song Birds or "Tweety" birds are the minor plates, or "Weeds". These images are usually less desirable making them less expensive, as low as $2,000.

    However, not everyone prefers roses over weeds. Just because one is more expensive does not mean it is more beautiful to you. Art is a personal preference and you should always go with what stands out to you :)