William Hermes' Systematic Drawing-School. American Edition, nos. 284, 285, 286 (3 volumes)

K. & E. [Keuffel & Esser?] NY. Oblong 8vo, stapled wraps, each with 6 lithograph plates of portraits for copying. Notoriously fragile wrappers that are age toned and readily chipping around the edges. Plates printed on superior paper stock; soil and light foxing to outer plates, otherwise bright and crisp. Frost & Adams, Boston artist supplier sticker inside rear wraps. Rear cover of no. 285 detached; faint tidemark to upper corner of 286; else Good with usual chipping and toning.

 "Awarded at the International Exhibitions London, Philadelphia etc." printed on covers above stamped series numbers. Stamped series differ from numbers printed on plates--Hermes produced hundreds of the "Systematic Drawing-School" pamphlets, cheaply compiled groups of lithographs for copying. These examples all offer portraits. No. 284: Plates labeled 327.1-327.6.; No. 285 has plates 328.1-328.6; No. 286: 329.1-329.6. Advertised in contemporary trade magazine as being in 250 numbers, this item Part XI. Human Figures "Heads, light shaded."

"These lithographed drawings were packaged in parts of five to seven plates and issued by several American publishers, including those that follow. All the cards are distinguished by the uniformly high-quality images of landscapes, buildings, flowers, animals, and other subjects. Little is known of Hermes himself or the path by which the beautiful lithographs that bear his name began to appear in this country. All examples of Hermes's drawing plates are scarce." (Anderson/Ellis Collection catalogue, 21)