National Anthropological Archives

Guide to MS 7413 John Walter Osborne lithographs of scenes in China, March 1870

Summary

Collection ID:
NAA.MS7413
Creators:
American Photo-Lithographic Company
Osborne, J. W. (John Walter), 1828-1902
Dates:
March 1870
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
8 Lithographs
black-and-white
11 x 7 inches
Repository:

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
The collection consists of eight (8) lithographs of scenes in China printed on thick white paper. Each print bears a stamp "American Photo-Lithographic Co. Osborne's Process. New York" and the date.
Please note that the contents of the collection and the language and terminology used reflect the context and culture of the time of its creation. As an historical document, its contents may be at odds with contemporary views and terminology and considered offensive today. The information within this collection does not reflect the views of the Smithsonian Institution or National Anthropological Archives, but is available in its original form to facilitate research.

Biographical Note

Biographical Note
John Walter Osborne (1828-1902) was a professional photographer, lithographer, and inventor, who developed the world's first commercially viable photolithographic process. He was born in Ireland and emigrated to Australia in 1852. In 1859, while employed by the Surveyor General of Victoria in Melbourne, he developed and patented a photolithographic transfer method suitable for copying maps. In 1864 Osborne emigrated to the United States. He set up the American Photo-Lithographic Company in Brooklyn, New York, and was contracted to print the official U.S. patent drawings between 1871 and 1874. His work also appeared in trade journals and advertising. Later he lived in Washington DC, where he served as a printing consultant and patent expert.

Administration

Custodial History
The collection was donated to the Smithsonian Institution by J. W. Osborne in 1890. The accesion record states that the collection contained 17 lithographs and 2 photographs. Eight lithographs and one photograph were transferred from the object collections of the Department of Anthropology to the National Anthropological Archives by Chang-su Houchins in July 1986. The location of the remaining photograph and nine lithographs is unknown.
Separated Materials
The National Anthropological Archives holds a photograph (Group Wearing Blankets and Fur Robes, Some with Baskets) donated with the lithographs in Photo Lot 97.
Processing Information
Some description based on research by Emily Hoover, summer volunteer, Department of Anthropology. Titles supplied by the archivist are in square brackets [].

Using the Collection

Preferred Citation
MS 7413 John Walter Osborne lithographs of scenes in China, National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution

Related Materials
The National Museum of American History holds a large collection of photomechanical prints created and collected by J. W. Osborne and donated to the Smithsonian Institution in 1888 (Accession 23155).

More Information

Local Numbers

Local Numbers
NAA MS 7413
USNM Accession Number 23775
USNM Catalog Number 151643


Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Lithographs Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Works of art Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
East Asia Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
China Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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