Description
19th Century Pictorial Wrapping Paper with Allegorical American Eagle and Shield
A rare survival, this patriotic American eagle and shield wood engraving is printed on 19th century wrapping paper - likely originally intended to wrap freshly printed newspapers or some other form of ephemeral printing. Most examples of this pictorial wrapping paper were undoubtedly discarded soon after use.
The classic American symbol, an eagle atop a shield about to take flight, with one talon grasping an olive branch, and the other talon holding arrows.
Rarity
Examples of such decorative ephemeral printing are rare. By definition such productions were never intended to survive beyond their immediate intended use.
Condition Description
Printed wrapping paper sheet. Illustrated with wood engraving of American bald eagle and shield. Vertical fold mark through center of sheet. Some soiling and minor edge nicks. Older tape rapair (on verso of sheet) to one-inch tear in lower right part of sheet (printed image unaffected). Given the ephemeral nature of the item, overall condition is quite good.