217: A FINE HAND-COLORED GEORGE CALEB BINGHAM MEZZOTINT

Martial Law (1872)
The hand colored mezzotint with full, wide margins is complete with copious printed letterpress below the image that includes the title of 'Martial Law', the date of 1872, publisher information of Geo. C. Bingham & Co. Columbia & Kansas City Missouri, dedication of 'Dedicated to the Friends of Civil Liberty by the Publishers.' engraved by John Sartain and text that reproduces the original text of General Order No. 11 August 25, 1863.

After 150 years, intact examples of this print in fine condition are difficult to find. Hand colored examples are scarcer yet. Hand colored examples with the amount of bright, clean color saturation seen here in this state of preservation are very rare.

Also known as Order No. 11, this composition is based on the original painting by George Caleb Bingham, now in the collection of the State Historical Society of Missouri.

Order No. 11 was a Union army directive issued in 1863 during the Civil War throughout rural areas of Missouri forcing the evacuation of residents regardless of sympathies.
Image size 21.5 x 30.5, frame measures 37.5 x 47.25 inches.
Very, very good condition, exceptional color, the full untrimmed sheet, not laid down, no damage, puncture or repair. There are minor limited areas of subtle toning visible without the mat in place.
$3,000 - $5,000