Antique 1867 Steel Engraving — "Alexander Hamilton" — Engraved by W.G. Jackman after L.W. Gibbs — Published by D. Appleton & Co., N.Y. — Facsimile Signature — Copyright 1867
You are looking at an original 1867 steel engraving of Alexander Hamilton, the first Secretary of the Treasury of the United States, co-author of the Federalist Papers, founder of the U.S. financial system, and one of the most consequential Founding Fathers in American history.
The portrait is engraved by W.G. Jackman after the portrait by L.W. Gibbs — confirmed by the Massachusetts Historical Society as one of the definitive 19th-century engravings of Hamilton. W.G. Jackman was one of the most prolific portrait engravers working for D. Appleton & Co., and the stipple technique used for the face — visible as a fine pattern of dots creating subtle tonal gradations — is a hallmark of premium portrait engraving of the period. Published by D. Appleton & Company of New York, one of the most important and prestigious American publishers of the 19th century. The copyright line reads: "Entered according to act of Congress in the year 1867 by D. Appleton & Co. in the clerk's office of the district court of the United States for the southern district of New York." The bold facsimile signature "A. Hamilton" in flowing script anchors the bottom of the piece.
Alexander Hamilton (1755–1804) was the first Secretary of the Treasury under President Washington, the primary author of the Federalist Papers, the founder of the U.S. financial system and the first national bank, and the founder of the U.S. Coast Guard. He was killed in a duel with Vice President Aaron Burr in 1804. His face appears on the $10 bill. The Broadway musical Hamilton has made him one of the most recognized and sought-after Founding Fathers among a new generation of collectors.
Sheet size: 5.25" x 9" — fits in a standard 5x7 or 8x10 frame with a mat.
Condition: Good antique condition. The portrait is clean, crisp, and fully intact with excellent contrast and detail. Small binding stub remnants are visible at the top edge — extra paper from the original spine attachment of the bound volume, not damage to the print. The back shows the engraved image bleeding through from the front, which is completely normal for antique steel engravings on period paper and confirms this is a genuine antique print. Please review all photos carefully.
What you receive: The original antique engraving only. Not framed. Ships flat in a protective sleeve between rigid cardboard.