Granville Perkins (1830-1895).  “The Centennial–Boating On The Wissahickon.”  From Harper’s Weekly.  October 7, 1876.  9 1/8 x 13 1/2.  Wood-engraving.  Very good condition.

During the Civil War, illustrated newspapers like Harper’s Weekly provided the American public with current and accurate pictures of the war.  These newspapers continued to document the events, scenes, and personages of the following years, with great popularity.  Many of the illustrations were by important artists such as Winslow Homer, Thomas Nast, and A.B. Frost.   Harper’s continued to document events such as the Centennial Exhibition, during which this print was issued.  It depicts boating on the Wissahickon, which was a very popular tourist destination for visitors.  The sight of a 19th-century boaters is a lovely image to have of the Philadelphia of 100 years ago, and it is an historical record of the kind of scene that provided impetus for developing Fairmount Park and preserving Wissahickon Valley for scenic and recreational purposes.