Currier & Ives: American Farm Scenes 1-4, Hand-Colored Lithographs, c. 1850s

WHO / WHAT / WHEN / WHERE (for the first lines of the description): • Publisher: Currier & Ives (large folio) • Series: “American Farm Scenes,” Nos. 1-4 (complete) • Medium: Hand-colored lithographs on wove paper • Date: c. 1853 • Presentation: Matching period deep-profile frames with original gilt liners and old glass DESCRIPTION (paste to Etsy): Offered here is the **complete set of four** Currier & Ives large-folio prints, “American Farm Scenes” Nos. 1-4, in remarkably fine original color and housed in handsome period frames with their original gilded liners. Large-folio Currier & Ives sheets with this depth and subtlety of hand-coloring are scarce; encountering the entire series together is rarer still. Highlights: • Complete suite of the celebrated farm views (No. 1, 2, 3, 4) • Handsome, saturated hand-coloring with fresh skies and greens; not the flat later coloring often encountered • Period frames of the mid/late-19th century with original gilt liners—presentation reads as a unified set • The Winter view (No. IV) appears on both Currier & Ives “Best 50” lists, long admired by serious collectors Condition (concise, honest, and stable): • One sheet shows a **loss to the upper-left corner** (outside the main image field); displays well in frame • Two sheets show **professionally repaired tears/creases** that are visible on close inspection but stable • Expected age toning, scattered specks, and minor mat lines commensurate with 19th-century prints • Frames show scattered wear and small touch-ups typical of period molding; gilt liners please the eye Overall, the set retains excellent wall impact—the color and completeness easily outweigh the noted issues. Size: • Sight (each): approximately **18 × 27 in** (46 × 69 cm) — the standard Currier & Ives **large folio** format • Frames: vary slightly, each approx. **28 × 35 in** (71 × 89 cm). Exact sizes forthcoming. Notes for collectors: Currier & Ives large folios with superior early color continue to lead the category. Sets command a premium over individual sheets, particularly when presentation is unified and the Winter plate (Best 50) is included. A fine candidate for a farmhouse wall, Americana collection, or institutional display. Framing & shipping: Glazed and ready to hang. Due to size and glass, **professional packing/crated freight** is required. Please message for an exact shipping quote to your location. We will cover the first 1000 USD in shipping to Continental USA.