Lot 584: Southern Railway Systems Tin Advertising Sign, High Bridge, Kentucky River

Southern Railway Systems color lithograph tin sign that depicts the High Bridge railroad trestle crossing the Kentucky River,with figures and small boats in the foreground. Metal is numbered “26” en verso and incorporated onto a wooden frame, with the name “Ernest B. Lowe” in cursive.25 1/2 in H x 38 in. W.Circa first quarter of 20th century. Note: Originally distributed by the Southern Railway System, this image depicts a passenger train crossing the High Bridge, an engineering marvel that still spans the Kentucky River between Jessamine and Mercer Counties, KY.Originally designed to be a cantilever bridge in 1877, by renowned suspension bridge engineer John Augustus Roebling (Brooklyn Bridge), this image was created after the bridge’s reconstruction in 1911. A newspaper article from the Advocate Messenger (Danville, KY) dated June 29, 1917 identifies the original oil painting as the work of Charles Austin. The process for creating each lithograph employed 6-8 people over a span of 6 months. Copy of article is in the photo sequence and available as a PDF to the winning bidder.

PROVENANCE: The collection of Marty and David Black, Rockford, TN.

CONDITION: Overall good condition, some rust and age spots. Back is missing the original paper label fact sheet (PDF photocopy is available to the winning bidder). Back of the frame has a break to the center wooden stretcher, with an old tin repair at the top.