Harness Racing Print (likely featuring a champion horse such as Dan Patch or similar)
Print (Lithograph or Chromolithograph) on paper • Currier & Ives, Louis Maurer, or similar American lithography firms specializing in sporting subjects.
Style & Movement
Victorian Realism / American Sporting Art
Medium & Technique
Color lithography/chromolithography; a method of making multi-colored prints through stone or plate layering.
Creation Period
Late 19th to early 20th century (c. 1880–1910)
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 12 x 18 inches (image); Landscape orientation.
Subject Description
A high-speed harness racing scene featuring a bay horse pulling a lightweight high-wheel sulky and driver. The composition captures the animal in a full trot, utilizing a dusty background to emphasize speed and motion characteristic of Gilded Age equestrian prints.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Fair to Good; shows visible signs of age including minor foxing and potential fading from light exposure.
Estimated Market Value
$50 - $150 USD
Auction Estimate
$30 - $100 USD
Provenance History
Unknown; likely part of a private collection of equestrian memorabilia, now offered via an online auction platform (Kleinfelters).
Art Historical Significance
Representational of the rise of harness racing as a popular American pastime in the late 19th century. These prints served as mass-produced commercial art that celebrated agricultural success and sporting prowess.
Notable Features
Features a classic high-wheel sulky design which predates the bicycle-wheel sulkies introduced in 1892, helping to date the original image style.
Condition Issues
Visible foxing (brown spots), possible moisture damage along edges, and acidic mat burn from the current framing materials.
Conservation Recommendations
Re-matting with acid-free museum-grade materials and UV-protective glass; professional cleaning by a paper conservator if foxing is significant.