Kappa Kappa Gamma Michigan Sorority House Signed Etching 3/40 Framed
Art > Art Prints
Best secondary/category alternative if eBay permits:
Collectibles > Historical Memorabilia > Fraternal Organizations > Sororities
Pre-Owned / Excellent Vintage Condition
Beautiful vintage signed and numbered limited-edition architectural print depicting the Kappa Kappa Gamma house at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. The print is pencil-numbered 3/40, pencil-titled “Kappa,” and pencil-signed by the artist at lower right. Artwork presents very well behind glass. Original/vintage wood frame shows age-related surface wear, scratches and small marks consistent with display and storage. Matting and backing show normal age. Please review all photographs carefully, including close-ups of the signature, edition number, title, frame and reverse, as they are part of the condition description.
Why I am comfortable starting higher:
List: $249.99
Fill in as many of these as eBay gives you.
Artist: Signed — artist name not conclusively identified
Title: Kappa
Type: Print
Subject: Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority House
Theme: Architecture / University / Sorority / Greek Life / Collegiate
Style: Architectural
Production Technique: Appears to be etching/intaglio print
Original/Licensed Reprint: Original limited-edition print
Edition: 3/40
Signed: Yes
Signed By: Artist — signature present but not conclusively identified
Signature Location: Lower right
Inscribed: Yes
Inscription: “Kappa”
Numbered: Yes, 3/40
Framed: Yes
Matting: Yes
Orientation: Landscape
Color: Sepia / Brown / Cream
Framing: Wood frame with glass
Region of Origin: United States — if eBay allows "Unknown," use Unknown unless further documented
Country/Region of Manufacture: Unknown
Handmade: Unknown
Year of Production: Unknown
Time Period Produced: Unknown
Unit of Sale: Single Piece
Quantity: 1
Personalize: No
Features: Signed, Limited Edition, Numbered, Framed, Matted
Culture: American / Collegiate
Subject Organization: Kappa Kappa Gamma
Chapter: Beta Delta
University: University of Michigan
Location Depicted: 1204 Hill Street, Ann Arbor, Michigan
UPC: Does Not Apply
From your photograph, the framed width appears to be approximately 13½ inches.
Because I don't have a clean measurement of the vertical dimension in the photos, I would not invent the height.
Put:
Framed width: approximately 13.5"
Then add the height once you measure it.
A wonderful piece of University of Michigan and Kappa Kappa Gamma history.
This framed architectural print depicts the Kappa Kappa Gamma Beta Delta Chapter house in Ann Arbor, Michigan, located at 1204 Hill Street.
The University of Michigan identifies Kappa Kappa Gamma's Michigan chapter as Beta Delta, locally founded in 1890, with its chapter house at 1204 Hill Street. Historical archival records also document Kappa Kappa Gamma at this address.
What makes this example particularly interesting is that it is not a mass-market modern reproduction.
The print is individually:
The image shows the recognizable columned façade, front stairway, grounds and architecture of the historic Kappa house.
The lower-left margin is clearly handwritten:
3/40
This indicates this example is number 3 in a limited edition of 40 impressions.
The center is pencil titled:
“Kappa”
The lower-right corner contains the artist's handwritten pencil signature.
I have photographed the signature closely. Although the signature is clearly present, I have not conclusively identified the artist, so the listing intentionally does not attribute the work to a specific artist without documentation.
Kappa Kappa Gamma's Beta Delta Chapter at the University of Michigan was founded in 1890. Its chapter house is located at 1204 Hill Street in Ann Arbor.
The address has a long documented history with the organization. University/archive records identify the Kappa Kappa Gamma house at 1204 Hill Street in historical material dating back decades.
That provenance gives this print considerably more interest than a generic sorority-themed decorative picture.
Organization: Kappa Kappa Gamma
Chapter: Beta Delta
University: University of Michigan
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan
House: 1204 Hill Street
Title: “Kappa”
Edition: 3/40
Signed: Yes, in pencil
Numbered: Yes, in pencil
Medium: Appears to be an original etching/intaglio-style architectural print
Presentation: Matted and framed behind glass
Frame: Wood
Approx. framed width: 13.5"
The artwork itself presents beautifully and retains strong architectural detail.
The frame is vintage/pre-owned and shows visible signs of age and use including scratches, edge wear and miscellaneous surface marks.
The reverse has older paper backing and a hanging bracket. The back also retains a Frames ’N Things, Lawrencewood Center, Niles, Illinois framing label.
There may be minor age-related toning or spotting to the print/paper consistent with an older framed work.
No attempt has been made to remove the artwork from its frame, clean the paper, alter the mat, or disturb the original presentation.
Please enlarge and examine all photographs carefully. The photographs are an important part of the description and show the exact piece being offered.
This piece crosses several collecting areas:
Kappa Kappa Gamma memorabilia
University of Michigan memorabilia
Ann Arbor history
Greek-life and sorority history
Architectural prints
Signed limited-edition artwork
The 3/40 numbering is especially attractive. An edition of only 40 is dramatically smaller than the hundreds or thousands of copies normally associated with commercial university décor.
It could be an excellent gift for:
Q: Is this an original print or a poster?
A: It appears to be an original limited-edition print rather than a modern photographic poster. It is individually pencil numbered 3/40, pencil titled and pencil signed.
Q: Is it really limited to 40?
A: The lower-left margin is handwritten 3/40, conventionally indicating impression number 3 from an edition of 40.
Q: Is it signed?
A: Yes. There is a handwritten pencil signature in the lower-right margin.
Q: Who is the artist?
A: The artist's signature is visible and photographed, but the name has not been conclusively identified. Rather than make an unsupported attribution, the piece is being sold as artist signed, artist unidentified.
Q: What does “Kappa” mean underneath the picture?
A: “Kappa” is the handwritten title of the print and refers to the Kappa Kappa Gamma house depicted.
Q: Is this the University of Michigan Kappa Kappa Gamma house?
A: Yes. The building corresponds to Kappa Kappa Gamma's Beta Delta Chapter house at 1204 Hill Street in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The University of Michigan lists the chapter at that address.
Q: Is the frame original?
A: It is an older framing and has a Frames ’N Things label on the reverse. I cannot establish whether it was the very first frame used for the artwork.
Q: Is the artwork damaged?
A: The artwork presents very well behind glass. Some age-related toning/spotting may be present. The wood frame has visible surface wear and scratches. Please examine the detailed photographs.
Q: Has it been removed from the frame?
A: No. It is being left in its existing framed presentation to avoid disturbing the print.