Clay, Hugh De Musgrove (sold)
Hugh De Musgrove Clay (August 27, 1834 - October 14, 1904), also known as Hugh M. Clay, was an English-American artist and chromolithographer based in Buffalo, New York. Clay arrived in the United States with his family when he was just 2. His earliest recorded work in Buffalo dates to 1854, when he was employed with the firm of Compton and Gibson. When Sage and Sons bought out Compton in 1856, they inherited Clay, who worked with them for several years. Starting in 1864, Clay partnered with Julius Herman Cosack (1826 - 1892), a fellow engraver for Sage, to found 'Clay and Cosack.' The partnership lasted until about 1877, when Clay left the firm. He subsequently partnered with Henry A. Richmond under the imprint of 'Clay and Richmond'. This firm lasted until 1886, when Clay retired and Richmond acquired the remaining stock, operating subsequently as 'Richmond Lithographing Company'. In 1896, Richmond Lithographing was bought out by Horace Reed and Hugo R. Munro, who renamed it the 'Niagara Lithograph Company', which operated well into the 20th century. Clay relocated to Manhattan, New York City in 1902, where he died in 1904.
The ephemeral 'Fast Mail', America's first true 'Express Mail Service'.
The Flight of the Fast Mail on the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Ry. The Popular Passenger Route between East and West. Union Depots No Ferry Transfers. No Delays.
sold
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A spectacular 1875 5-color chromolithograph advertising broadside promoting the 'Fast Mail' route of the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway - this was the first major use of railroads to institute a national 'Express Mail' service. The view contrasts the horse-based mail carrier of 1775 (or literally 1 year prior) to the steam-railroad 'Fast Mail' service. Fast Mail was an ephemeral U.S. postal initiative that utilized the New York Central and Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway lines to run an exclusive mail service line capable of moving tons of mail between New York and Chicago - halfway across the country - in just 24 hours. At the time, a ground-breaking achievement. Here, the 'Fast-Mail,' propelled by an impressively rendered steam locomotive, passes through town, hardly slowing as outbound mail is grabbed from a 'mail post' while inbound mail is tossed off the train to a waiting postal worker. (more details)