Religion · 19th century
€ 215
One of a kind: this is the sheet in the photographs. Ships from Langweer, the Netherlands.
Good condition, with light overall toning and some scattered age-related spotting in the margins. Plate mark visible. The image itself remains clean, with strong contrast and fine engraved detail.
Antique Wheeling Virginia View, Suspension Bridge, Ohio River, Meyer c.1850
This finely engraved mid-19th-century view depicts Wheeling in Virginia (now West Virginia), one of the most important transportation and industrial centers of early America. Published in Germany as part of the renowned Meyer’s Universum series, this composition captures the city at a pivotal moment of expansion, when river trade, road infrastructure, and early industry combined to fuel rapid growth along the Ohio River.
The scene is dominated by the impressive Wheeling Suspension Bridge, completed in 1849 and celebrated at the time as the longest suspension bridge in the world. Its elegant span stretches across the Ohio River, symbolizing technological progress and the westward expansion of the United States. Beneath and around it, steamboats navigate the river while the town unfolds along the riverbanks, with tightly clustered buildings, rising smoke from early industry, and a lively sense of movement and commerce.
In the foreground, the artist frames the view with wooded elements, adding depth and a picturesque quality typical of European interpretations of American landscapes. Small figures, horse-drawn carriages, and daily activity animate the composition, offering a vivid impression of life in a frontier city that had already become a key hub. Wheeling was also the western terminus of the National Road, the first federally funded highway in the United States, linking the eastern seaboard with the expanding interior.
This engraving holds particular historical interest as it depicts Wheeling before the formation of West Virginia during the Civil War, when it still formed part of Virginia. It appeals strongly to collectors of early American topography, transportation history, and industrial heritage.
This example is an original antique engraving printed in 1850. It is not a modern reproduction. Any images showing the print framed are for visual inspiration only. The print is supplied unframed.
Condition report: Good condition, with light overall toning and some scattered age-related spotting in the margins. Plate mark visible. The image itself remains clean, with strong contrast and fine engraved detail.
Framing tips: This print lends itself beautifully to a classic presentation. A dark walnut or ebonized frame with a generous warm ivory mat will enhance the tonal depth and give the piece a refined, museum-quality appearance. Ideal for study, library, or office interiors.
Technique: Steel engraving
Maker: Bibliographisches Institut (after Hermann Meyer), Hildburghausen, Germany, circa 1850
