New York Monthly by Anonymous American artist

New York Monthly by Anonymous American artist

C. 1868

Hand Colored Lithograph

This 1868 fashion plate lithograph, titled "The New York Monthly," depicts a gathering of six figures showcasing premium Victorian menswear and formal attire. Published by S.B. West at 615 Broadway, New York, this hand-colored print is precisely dated January 1868. The composition centers around five gentlemen and one elegantly dressed woman posed outdoors beneath a tasseled fabric awning. The scene acts as a catalog of contemporary formal choices, highlighting double-breasted lounge jackets, tailored morning coats in rich brown and charcoal hues, striped or patterned trousers, and towering silk top hats. Positioned prominently at the center is a gentleman modeled in a classic black evening tailcoat with satin lapels, standing beside a lady in an elaborate off-the-shoulder gown accented by pink drapery and floral garlands.

Fashion plates of this caliber from the late 1860s offer invaluable insight into the highly structured social hierarchy and ballroom etiquette of post-Civil War America. During this era of rapid economic expansion, monthly fashion periodicals served a vital commercial function, bridging the gap between New York textile distributors and regional tailors to standardize elite style across the nation. The publisher, S.B. West, strategically repositioned operations along Broadway, a legendary retail corridor that evolved into the epicenter of Manhattan mass media and luxury trade during the mid-19th century. Featuring vivid hand-applied watercolor washes that distinguish it from standard black and white print productions, this work stands as an exceptional artifact of early American commercial publishing. It captures the aesthetic shift toward romanticized, formal elegance while serving as an important primary reference for the evolution of American consumerism, mass entertainment, and sartorial craftsmanship.

Dimensions: H 11 5/16” x 14 ¾” W

Condition: Slight discoloration from adhesive on front and back