19th Century Etching, Sir Joshua Reynolds "The Ladies Waldegrave".

Ok, got this today and I've been doing a little research on this.

There's printing on the bottom:

Ch Courtny
Imp A. Salmon
L'Art

If I've read correctly, Alfred Salmon was the printer and a very well printer at that.

I've searched for this etching, and I've found a couple but none that had color like mine. It appears that this painting by Renoylds is also very collectible.

 

This etching was published in the French journal L'Art in the 19th C. It is a reproductive interpretation of the Reynolds painting...basically a fine magazine illustration.

Salmon specialized in printing such etchings, Courtry being a well-known reproductive etcher who worked for him and other publishers.

Sometimes, as in this case, not much care was taken in the printing and many copies were issued. Both Salmon and Courtry did finer work too.

The etching was issued in black ink only. Sometimes buyers would hand color their copies to enhance them.

 

Penny plain and twopence coloured.

 

Speak clearer please..

 

He means it's not worth much B&W...and colored ...not much more.

& you have to say it with a British accent.....

 

Great old British expression, which I think is rooted in the late 18th Century print trade.

Although, as respects antique prints on the market these days, it may be said "Tuppence plain, ha'penny coloured!" (Old DIY colouring can devalue prints).

 

Speak clearer please..

I think he's saying the equivalent of "taint worth a plugged nickel" the way they say it in the Land of Limes, Biscuits, and Tea.

 

OP, the original Reynolds painting is in the National Gallery of Scotland. Not sure what you mean about it being "very collectible".

 

Oh shucks, I thought this was the original....thanks for letting me know this Sherlock, I was about to post this, original and all

 

A

 

You know I'm kidding about the whole Sherlock thing? I was referring to the subject of the print being collectible.

 

When we want to be polite, we say "decorative value only." But I hasten to add that sometimes that "decorative value" can mean more money than "collectible value."