"The Coaching Season in Blackville - The Grand Start"
Edward West Merrill, Concord, New Hampshire (1841-1910)
Circa 1880
Birch Bark and Watercolor on Black Paper with Watercolor and Ink
 BIOGRAPHY: Edward West Merrill was born August 1, 1841 in Conway, New Hampshire. His father, Rufus Merrill (1803-1891), was a well-established publisher and book seller in Concord, New Hampshire. His mother was Sophia Barker West (1811-1895). Merrill married Sarah E. Kendell on April 27, 1865 and died in Salisbury, New Hampshire on July 20, 1910.
OCCUPATIONS . . . Civil War Draft Registration Records, 1863-1865: Bookbinder (his father's business); 1870 Census: Pocketbook Maker; 1880 and 1900 Census: Birch Bark Artist and listed on his Death Certificate: Artist.
THE PICTURE: Presented here is a wonderful, example of Black Americana Artwork by Edward West Merrill (1841-1910) of Concord, New Hampshire. Merrill, an artist known for creating extraordinary art collages of cut paper, cut birch bark, ink, and watercolor mounted on black construction weight paper, fashioned this particular piece, after Solomon Eytinge, Jr, depicting the fictional Blackville Series for Harper's Weekly in the 1870s. A satire, a social commentary, or merely a bit of fun . . . By the way, Solomon Eytinge, Jr's. (1833-1905) lithography was considered to be the finest in his field, illustrating works by Charles Dickins, Louisa Mae Allcot and others. What Merrill did is take it to another level, more tactile and in another medium. Presented in its original Oak Frame, in excellent condition.
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