This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 12/1/2011.
This is the original 1897 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show catalog cover painting. The show was held at Madison Square Garden, the same as it is today. Note that the words “MADISON SQUARE GARDEN” are painted on the lower left. This is the original illustration from which the program was printed. The work is complete with numerous instructions that the artist wrote to the engraver. The illustration board measures 15.75" x 20.25" and the image area, indicated by the crop marks, measures 12.5 x 18' which was the size of the guide as printed. The illustration board is brittle due to age and has damage in all four corners, with staining and discoloration towards the edges of the board. The image area is in EX overall condition with no damage other than some overall yellowing to the entire board. This image of a stylishly dressed lady holding a French bulldog can be found on many web sites throughout the world. It is arguably one of the world’s most famous French bulldog paintings. The President of the French Bulldog Club of America, Jan Grebe, informed the consigner that the dog in the painting appears to be painted from a picture of a little French bulldog named Ninette, born in France and imported by a man named G. N. Phelps in 1896. The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show originated in 1877 as a show for sporting gun dogs, primarily Setters and Pointers. When the show first began there was a great all around champion Pointer named Sensation. His image has been used on the catalog cover beginning in 1877 through today, with the exception of the years 1897-1902. In other words the 1897 cover was the first catalog cover with a dog other than Sensation. Also note, except for the date and the background colors, the 1900 catalog cover was identical to the 1897 cover. All things considered, you do not have to be a dog lover to appreciate this rare and historic 19th century one-of-a-kind painting. Accompanied by two books, “WESTMINSTER KENNEL CLUB 1877-1976 ONE HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY BOOK” and THE DOG SHOW 125 YEARS OF THE WESTMINSTER”.