"Every Week" Magazine Cover, Vol. I No. 17: Woman with Tennis Racket
Print, periodical illustration on newsprint/paper • George Wolfe Plank (signed 'GWPLANK' in lower right of image field)
Style & Movement
Golden Age of American Illustration; early Art Deco influence with Arts and Crafts borders
Medium & Technique
Color lithography or offset mechanical printing process; originally an illustration likely rendered in oil or gouache for reproduction
Creation Period
August 23, 1915
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 11 x 14 inches (standard magazine size of the era); vertical portrait format
Subject Description
A portrait of a young woman in an orange garment wearing a fashionable wide-brimmed hat (cloche-style), holding a wooden tennis racket over her shoulder. The image serves as the cover art for a 3-cent weekly periodical, featuring the headline 'Some Strange Marriages I Have Performed.'
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Fair to Poor. The paper shows significant foxing (brown spotting), staining, and acidic yellowing.
Estimated Market Value
$20 - $50 USD
Auction Estimate
$15 - $35 USD
Provenance History
Mass-produced commercial periodical published by Every Week Corporation, New York. Likely acquired via estate sale or ephemera collection; currently housed in a contemporary frame with broken glass.
Art Historical Significance
George Wolfe Plank was a major American illustrator best known for his long-standing work with Vogue. This piece represents the transitional period of American commercial art where mass-market magazines utilized high-quality illustration to attract the burgeoning middle-class consumer.
Notable Features
Includes the original masthead and price marker (3 cents), and the distinct stylized signature of George Wolfe Plank. The typography and layout are characteristic of pre-WWI American publishing aesthetics.
Condition Issues
Severe foxing throughout the margins and image; moisture staining on the left and right edges; possible light-burn from non-UV glass; original paper is likely brittle due to high acid content in early 20th-century newsprint. The frame glass is cracked across the image.
Conservation Recommendations
Remove immediately from the frame with broken glass to prevent surface scratches. Consult a paper conservator for deacidification and foxing treatment if the piece holds sentimental value. Use UV-protective glass and acid-free matting for re-framing.