E. Whitefield's Views of Chicago

Chicago: E. Whitefield, 1860. Remarkable and rare grouping of five color lithographs from Edwin Whitefield's series of seven downtown Chicago scenes, lithographed and printed by Charles Shober in Chicago. The prints each measure about 10¼" X 18¼", and all are uniformly matted and framed to 26½" X 20½". In order of issuance: "View of Illinois and Michigan Central Depot & c. From the Corner of Madison St. and Michigan Avenue" (1860). "View of Clark & Wells St. Bridges From the Foot of River St." (1861). "View of Michigan Avenue & c. From Sturges & Buckingham's Elevator" (1861). "View of Rush St. Bridge & c. From Nortons Block River St." (1861). "Michigan Terrace Michigan Avenue Looking towards the Central Depot" (1863). Overall very good. The coloring on all are bright and delicate, with mild to moderate age toning evident. Framing is adequate -- basic and edgeworn, but since this is how Governor Stevenson framed them they are part of the story and remain as is. These rare individual prints seldom come on the market, and a near complete set of five of the seven together is extraordinarily unusual. Many were of course lost in the Chicago Fire of 1871. In addition, this rare grouping has an exceptional provenance in that they come from the collection of Adlai E. Stevenson III (1930-2021), former United States senator from Illinois -- who in turn inherited them from his father, Adlai E. Stevenson II (1900-65), two-term Illinois governor and two-time candidate for U.S. president. Their precise history within the family is not recorded, but it seems likely that Governor Stevenson may have displayed them in his offices while a practicing attorney in Chicago in the late 1930s. It's not recorded whether they were handed down to him, but if so they came from his father, Illinois secretary of state Lewis G. Stevenson (1868-1929) or his grandfather, U.S. vice president Adlai E. Stevenson I (1835-1914); it's also possible they were handed down from the governor's other grandfather, Abraham Lincoln's friend and supporter Jesse W. Fell (1808-87). While the frames are rather worn and could easily be replaced, they appear to date from Governor Stevenson's time and therefore represent an integral part of this rare grouping's history.