Mathews, Alfred E. | Pencil Sketches of Montana — the best Montana views of the nineteenth century

Mathews, Alfred E.

Pencil Sketches of Montana. New York: Published by the Author, 1868

Folio (333 x 255 mm). 31 tinted lithograph plates, four of which folding; occasional creasing and spotting, minor instances of offsetting not affecting plates, some primarily marginal staining. Original green publishers cloth, cover stamped in gilt and blind, yellow endpapers; some wear and staining.

First edition. The best Montana views of the nineteenth century. "One of the most sought after items of Western Americana" — Taft.

This rare and significant visual document of the American West was captured during a pivotal time of expansion and settlement, illustrating the early development of Montana's frontier towns, the burgeoning mining industry, and the striking natural landscapes that defined the region.

Mathews brought a unique precision to his work, making his visual accounts both artistically and historically accurate. Sketches of Montana. Today, he is celebrated for his ability to balance aesthetic representation with documentary accuracy, placing him among the ranks of notable Western American illustrators like Bodmer and Catlin

Scarce.

REFERENCES

Howes M414; Streeter sale 4:2230; Graff 2710; Smith 6603; Taft Artists and Illustrators, p. 79