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Lot Essay
THE SECOND PRINT ENGRAVED AND PRINTED IN CANADA.
‘In August of 1792 a new monthly, the Quebec Magazine, appeared. It was printed at Quebec by Samuel Neilson (1771-93), publisher of the Quebec Gazette and the Quebec Almanack. The introduction of illustration was also new and was mentioned in the prospectus: “With the first number will be given an elegant engraving, being a view of the City of Quebec from the opposite side of the St. Lawrence: And others will be added occasionally.” This handsome offer to subscribers was possibly for a separately issued print. The print is four times the size of the magazine’s 210 x 130 page; however, all impressions examined here have been folded both horizontally and vertically. Although engraved in a dry, linear style, the view of the city is both descriptive and forceful, and is suitable for framing. The engraver, J.G. Hochstetter, was active in Quebec by 1791 … Although the artist’s name, J. Painter, sounds like a pseudonym, there was a John Painter in Quebec in the 1790s who was a merchant and a fairly prominent member of the community.’ (M. Allodi, loc.cit.)
‘In August of 1792 a new monthly, the Quebec Magazine, appeared. It was printed at Quebec by Samuel Neilson (1771-93), publisher of the Quebec Gazette and the Quebec Almanack. The introduction of illustration was also new and was mentioned in the prospectus: “With the first number will be given an elegant engraving, being a view of the City of Quebec from the opposite side of the St. Lawrence: And others will be added occasionally.” This handsome offer to subscribers was possibly for a separately issued print. The print is four times the size of the magazine’s 210 x 130 page; however, all impressions examined here have been folded both horizontally and vertically. Although engraved in a dry, linear style, the view of the city is both descriptive and forceful, and is suitable for framing. The engraver, J.G. Hochstetter, was active in Quebec by 1791 … Although the artist’s name, J. Painter, sounds like a pseudonym, there was a John Painter in Quebec in the 1790s who was a merchant and a fairly prominent member of the community.’ (M. Allodi, loc.cit.)