1860 Bennett (3 results)

Paperback. Condition: New. New copy - Usually dispatched within 4 working days.

Condition: Very Good-. Hand-coloured litho plates (30) by Charles H. Bennett (1829-1867). Octavo (14x21cm) green blind-stamped cloth spine gilt (slightly rubbed/tips worn) All Edges Gilt, [4] +232pp., all plates with their tissue guards here present, clean & infoxed throughout. *A satire with caricatures of Victorian society. Excellent quality colour illustrations, showing a shadow of each character intended to portray its true nature. An amusing Introduction explains how the illustrator and author of the text worked together, giving "some account of our Magic Lantern and of the eidolographic process." 1 volume. Hardcover.

Very good. Light toning. Closed margin tear professionally repaired on verso. Size 17.25 x 22 Inches. This is a scarce c. 1860 Currier and Ives view of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, based on an earlier painting by William James Bennett. A Closer Look This view is oriented towards the west, looking at the U.S. Military Academy from Philipstown (spelled here with two 'l's), just across the Hudson River. The bucolic scene presents the Academy set amidst mountains and forests overlooking the teeming Hudson River, flush with boats (including a paddle steamer). The buildings seen on the flat land ('the Plain') atop the hill towards the left would have mostly been constructed after the American Revolutionary War (1775 - 1783). However, some structures from the original fort of that era remained. (The Fort was originally named Fort Arnold after Benedict Arnold, and then Fort Clinton after the general's failed attempt to surrender the fort to the British). The land jutting out into the bend in the Hudson River towards the right is Constitution Island, which was also the site of a fort during the Revolutionary War and is the only part of the U.S. Military Academy Reservation on the east shore of the Hudson River. At this time, the campus largely consisted of a North and South Barracks and an academic building known simply as 'the Academy.' These buildings and most of the records of the Academy's early history were lost in a fire in 1838. However, the main building depicted here is most likely the West Point Hotel, which housed alums, visiting dignitaries, and cadets' families, among others. Being built in 1829, it would have been very recently constructed when Bennett made his painting (demolished 1932). U.S. Military Academy at West Point The United States Military Academy at West Point has a storied history as one of the world's most prestigious institutions for military education. Proposed by Alexander Hamilton during the Quasi War (1798 - 1800) and established in 1802 by President Thomas Jefferson, West Point was envisioned as a center for training gentleman officers for the fledgling United States Army. The early years of the Academy were tumultuous, and there were few standards with regard to the age of cadets or their length of study. The War of 1812 convinced Congress to develop the Academy along more formalized lines to train a professional officer corps. Colonel Sylvanus Thayer (1785-1872), himself a graduate of the Academy, became superintendent in 1817 and undertook a series of reforms, including a standardized and rigorous four-year curriculum with an emphasis on engineering, admission based on merit, strict discipline, and a strong ethical code. The results were dramatic, and by the time Thayer ended his tenure as superintendent in 1833, the Academy thrived on excellence in leadership, academics, and military training. Many of the cadets trained during Thayer's tenure were leading officers during the Mexican-American War (1846-1848) and the American Civil War (1861-1865). Over its storied history, West Point has played a pivotal role in shaping the course of American history, producing distinguished leaders such as Ulysses S. Grant, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and Douglas MacArthur. Its rigorous curriculum blends academic study with military training, fostering a culture of discipline, integrity, and service. Today, West Point stands as a testament to the enduring commitment of the United States to educate and inspire the next generation of military leaders. Publication History and Census This view was printed by Currier and Ives in New York, c. 1860. It is based on an earlier aquatint print, published in 1831 by Parker and Clover, itself based on a painting by William James Bennett. Currier and Ives acquired the plate and issued one of their rare copperplate engraved prints, as opposed to their typical lithographs (the faint text 'Coloured by Hill' can be seen at bottom-left, a holdover from the original en.