Very Fine Old 1880s or 1890s Large Print of Madame Tussaud & Sons’ London

Exhibition Building on White Silk, Framed under Glass

This is a beautiful piece of early British advertising or fancy souvenir work for the famous Madame Tussaud and Sons’ wax museum on Marylebone Road in London, England from 1884 until 1925. It is a splendid illustration printed in black ink on white silk fabric material with an inscription bearing the dates of 1784, 1802 and 1834.

The framed piece of silk measures about 9 x 17 inches, is beautifully printed in black ink and is in fine condition. It is framed under its original glass in a very old 16 x 23-1/2 inch gilded frame 1 inch thick, that has protected it for well over a century. The glass is original to the frame with several typical manufacturing defects in the glass surface.

The plaster ornamentation at the left end of the gilt frame has deteriorated over the decades but the silk has not. The frame has never been opened since the illustration of Madame Tussaud & Sons’ silk illustration was put in it, and most of the original paper on the back side of the frame is still intact.

It is likely that this piece was purchased in Europe in the 1880s or 1890s (certainly before the era of cars) and brought back to America as a treasure or a souvenir. A label on the back shows that the silk illustration was framed by The Bowman Art Company in Denver, Colorado. The style of framing suggests it was probably framed well over 100 years ago. The framer’s label is visible in our last picture and two of the pieces of the label are loose from the back side of the frame, but included in a separate plastic bag.

We bought this framed piece of history just exactly as you see it in our pictures in Deadwood, South Dakota decades ago and we suspect it hung in a saloon in that rip-roaring gold town or in the residence of Deadwood’s many “Soiled Doves” who were born in England or traveled there near end of the 19th century to spend the fortunes they made in America’s Wild West.

We have done a relatively comprehensive search of another Tussaud illustration on silk such as this one but have been unable to locate another example of this rare piece anywhere at any price.

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CONDITION: exactly as shown.

QUESTIONS: we do not accept returns so if you have any questions about this old Madame Tussaud souvenir, be sure to ask before you click the Buy It Now button, NOT after you have purchased the item. You are responsible for reading the full item description, including shipping costs and accepted payment methods.

SHIPPING: this lot will be shipped in a sturdy package and we are happy to combine shipping of multiple purchases.  We do not charge a handling fee and will refund overpayment of postage as soon as a combined order has been shipped.

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