Collection: Chromolithograph scrapbook

Collection Statement

The document case contains one chromolithograph scrapbook of unknown origin. It has many pages of colorful die-cut images pasted on the acidic and brittle scrapbook pages.

Dates

Circa 1880

Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

Usage Restrictions

Historical Sketch

Chromolithography is a chemical process. The process is based on the rejection of grease by water. The image is applied to stone, grained zinc or aluminium surfaces, with a grease-based crayon or ink. Chromolithographs became prominent after the Civil War because of their low production costs and ability to be mass-produced, and because the methods allowed pictures to look more like hand-painted oil paintings. A chromolithograph scrapbook is characterized by the heavy use of colorful pieces of die-cut images of various people, animals, and scenes of which this scrapbook is an excellent example.