11: A VERY RARE 1861 LITHO OF WAR AND UNION BY J. BIEN

Julius Bien.
Untitled. White-headed eagle with allegories of the American Civil War. (Circa 1861.)
A very rare and desirable chromolithograph about which very little is known. The mystery begins with the eagle which has been exacted from the John James Audubon image titled White Headed Eagle that Julius Bien, the lithographer of this image, was commissioned to print in 1858. Instead of a large catfish, the eagle stands upon allegories of America, War, Slavery, The American Revolution, Hope, Peace, Federal Government and Unity. Published in 1861, the year America's Civil war began, lettering below the image: Entered according to act of Congress in the year 1861 by Jacob Penx, in the clerk's office of the district court of the United States for the Southern District of New York. Lith of J. Bien, 180 Broadway, New York. Record of only two other examples at auction could be found: Julius Bien White headed eagle, Chromolithograph, 1861, Butterfields: Lot 2012, May 8, 2001, $8,225 USD. Julius Bien White headed eagle, Chromolithograph, 1861, Sotheby's Lot 615A, New York: Thursday, January 28, 1988, $4400.
Sight size measures 24 x 36 with a frame of 32.75 x 42.75 inches.
Good condition, the complete sheet, not laid down, toning overall, shadow toning from previous wood backing, no damage or repair, complete with margins.
Provenance: The estate of an Illinois collector.
$3,000 - $5,000