STEEL ENGRAVING - "THE GRAVE-DIGGERS" from the painting by L. Liversegge, engraved by E. Hobart, published in 1865. This engraving is in excellent condition. The picture measures 5 7/8” x 4 ¾”, and is matted to 11" x 14" for easy framing.

L. Liversegge was born in London, 1803, and died in the year 1832.

                                    Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Act V., Scene I.

            “1^ST Clown   What is he, that builds stronger than either the mason, the shipwright, or the carpenter?

            “2d Clown.   The gallows maker; for that frame outlives a thousand tenants.

            “1^st Clown.    I like thy wit well, in good faith; the gallows does well, but how does it well? It does well to those that do ill; now thou dost ill, to say that the gallows is built stronger that the church; argal, the gallows may do well to thee. To’t again; come!

            “2d Clown.   Who builds stronger than a mason, a shipwright, or a carpenter?

            “1^st Clown.   Ay, tell me that and unyoke.

            “2d Clown.   Marry, now I can tell.

            “1^st Clown.   To’t.

            “2d Clown.   Mass, I cannot tell.

            “1^st Clown.   Cudgel thy brains no more about it, for your dull ass will not mend his pace with beating; and, when you are asked this question next, say, a grave-digger.  The houses that he makes last till doomsday.”

IMPORTANT NOTE

Antique prints, etchings, engravings, and lithographs are printing processes, which use steel, copper, stone or wood blocks or plates to produce a picture on paper.

Most antique prints and engravings, which are seen on the internet today, are bookplates. Because they are pages from a book, there are multiple copies in existence. This does not, however, mean that they are "reproductions" that have been printed recently.

Because they were, at some point, part of books, some have been preserved in excellent condition, while others show signs of age, as yellow spots or darkness on the edge of the page from being handled.

Engravings, lithographs, etc., are high quality pieces of art, as it took a highly trained artist many hours of work to produce one. Although there may be multiple copies still in existence, the date of the item should be stated, thus giving the buyer an idea of its age.

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