“The Spirit Daughter”
Original c.1882 American Spiritualist Steel Engraving
Engraver: Abraham (Alex) Demarest (Signed "A. Demarest, Sc. N.Y." in the plate)
Publisher/Copyright: Commissioned by Mr. & Mrs. A.L. Hatch, Astoria, Long Island, N.Y. (Registered Feb 1, 1882)
Frame: Original 1880s Victorian Silver Gilt Wood Frame (Included)
Historical Overview: Offered here is an extraordinarily rare piece of 19th-century American religious and occult history. Published at the height of the post-Civil War Spiritualism movement, "The Spirit Daughter" was heavily advertised in prominent Spiritualist periodicals of 1882, including The Banner of Light.
The poignant engraving depicts a classic spectral manifestation scene: a ghostly young spirit bride tenderly embracing her grieving, forlorn mother who is seated at a piano. At the bottom, the copperplate script reads the hauntingly comforting Spiritualist doctrine:
“Mine is the real Life, Mamma! Your's is but the Shadow!!”
While cheap lithographs from this era occasionally surface, fine steel engravings of large-scale Spiritualist subjects are vanishingly rare, as they were expensive luxury items intended for affluent parlor displays.
Condition Report
Please review the photos carefully to evaluate the condition of this 140+ year-old survivor:
• The Print: Fully intact with full upper and lower lettering perfectly legible. The sheet displays uniform antique toning (ambering) and visible wavy buckling from historical humidity.
• Water Stain: There is a distinct, old water tide-mark tracking along the top edge, dipping slightly into the dark background of the upper right corner (does not touch the central figures or the main text).
• The Frame: Housed in a gorgeous, highly desirable original 1880s Victorian silver gilt wood frame. The frame features authentic age tarnishing to the silvering and beautifully preserved ornate molding. The frame is structurally sound and perfectly complements the "haunted parlor" aesthetic of the piece.
Dimensions
• Frame Size: Approx. 16.5” x 13.5” x 5/8”
• Visible Print Size: Approx. 12” x 9”
Shipping & Handling:
Due to the age, original glass, and fragile nature of the 1880s wood frame, this item will be double-boxed and packed with extreme care using professional bubble wrapping. Fully insured shipping with tracking.
Perfect for collectors of Victorian Memento Mori, Mourning Art, Oddities & Curiosities, and Early American Occultism.
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