Harper’s Weekly – August 20, 1887 – Illinois Railroad Disaster, Cotton Picking in the South, Great Northern Views, Pears Soap Ad & More

✨ Description

HARPER’S WEEKLY, New York, August 20, 1887
A complete, richly illustrated 16-page issue capturing one of the major news events of the summer of 1887 — the Illinois Railroad Disaster — along with Southern agricultural scenes, Northern scenic engravings, portraits, and collectible advertising.

This issue contains multiple frame-ready prints, from dramatic disaster scenes to serene Southern landscapes.


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🌟 Highlights in This Issue

🚂 Full Front Page: “The Illinois Railroad Disaster—Views of the Wreck and the Broken Bridge”

A powerful two-part front-page engraving showing:

1. Side view of the collapsed bridge and forward sleeper


2. Rescue efforts among twisted debris and survivors



One of the more dramatic Harper’s Weekly disaster covers — very displayable and historically significant.


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🖼 Multiple Interior Views of the Disaster

Your photos confirm at least three additional engravings showing:

The ruined sleeper car

On-site recovery efforts

Survivors and rescuers in action

The collapsed trestle and wreckage


An exceptional grouping for railroad collectors.


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🌾 Full-Page Engraving: “Cotton Picking in the South”

A beautifully detailed full-page showing African American field workers picking cotton with wagons, baskets, and rural scenery.

Highly desirable for collectors of:

Southern history

19th-century agricultural art

African American studies

Americana wall décor


This is one of the most displayable prints in the issue.


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🛶 Great Northern / Canadian Scenes (full page & montage)

Your photos show:

Canoeing scenes

River views

Fishing camps

Logging and waterway activity

Winter cabins & shoreline imagery


These long horizontal and montage engravings are ideal for large-format framing.


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🖋 Portraits & Editorial Content

This issue includes:

A large engraved portrait of a statesman/administrator

Several smaller engraved portraits of contemporary figures

Rich columns of Gilded Age commentary, political news, and literary material



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🧼 Highly Collectible Advertising

Rear pages include excellent period ads such as:

Pears’ Soap (large illustrated advertisement)

Cashmere Bouquet Toilet Soap

Crosse & Blackwell’s Jams

Gillott’s Steel Pens

Opium Cure Ads

W.L. Douglas shoes

Numerous Victorian medical & household products


Great for lovers of antique advertising.


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🖼 Archival Framing Available

I offer museum-quality framing for any image in this issue, including:

Front-page railroad disaster

Cotton-picking full page

Northern scenic montage

Pears’ Soap ad


Includes:
✔ Acid-free mat
✔ UV-protective acrylic
✔ Archival backing
✔ Professional-grade finish


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📏 Condition

VG overall

Light age toning

Clean impressions

From a bound volume (binding marks present)

No major tears or losses visible

Strong contrasts on engravings



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📦 Shipping

Ships flat in archival materials — never rolled.

Rigid protective packaging

Archival board

Moisture barrier

Tracking included



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🎁 Ideal For Collectors Of:

Railroad history

Disaster & rescue engravings

Southern agricultural history

African American historic imagery

Maritime & wilderness art

Antique advertising

Harper’s Weekly originals

Frameable 19th-century prints