Bidspirit auction | 1870 J.C. Buttre Steel Engraving

1870 J.C. Buttre Steel Engraving after A.L. Sawyer, The Empty Sleeve - This 1870 steel engraving with tonal mezzotint elements is titled The Empty Sleeve. The work is based on an original drawing by Miss A.L. Sawyer and was engraved and published by J.C. Buttre at 48 Franklin Street, New York. The sentimental Victorian-era subject depicts a veteran in a dark military tunic, his left sleeve pinned empty, holding a young curly-haired child while seated before a window that overlooks a river landscape. Below the main title is the sub-caption: What a tell tale thing is an empty sleeve. The lower margin contains the following inscriptions: Drawn by Miss A.L. Sawyer at the left, Engraved by J.C. Buttre at the right, and a central copyright line reading Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1870 by J.C. Buttre in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the Southern District of New York. The print displays a visible plate mark and is a period impression with soft tonal gradations characteristic of the combined engraving and mezzotint technique. It is housed in a period rustic carved wooden frame featuring cross-corner joints and applied foliate leaf motifs. Frame: 27 x 17 inches. The print is in poor to fair condition, showing significant age-related wear. There is a prominent water damage tideline across the bottom margin that extends into the title and caption area. Widespread foxing and overall paper toning are present throughout the composition. The period frame is in stable condition with typical surface wear, minor scuffs, and dust accumulation consistent with age. The backing paper is torn and fragile.