GENERAL SCHENCK - BLUE COAT BOYS 1872 Horace Harral VICTORIAN ENGRAVING

Original 11 3/4 inch x 9 inch Engraving titled GENERAL SCHENCK INSPECTING THE BLUE COAT BOYS AT CHRIST’S HOSPITAL.

In 1872, a newly established boys band at Christ’s Hospital played in public for the first time, in front of the American Ambassador General Robert Schenck who was visiting the boys’ school then at Newgate Street in the City of London. As the band performed, boys paraded in groups with flag bearers out in front.

Engraving by Horace Harral (1817 - 1905). Harral was a prominent London wood engraver and etcher, who, with his brother, Alfred Harral, engraved numerous cuts for the “Illustrated London News” and “The Graphic”.

From The Graphic May 11th, 1872
The Graphic was a British weekly illustrated newspaper, first published on 4 December 1869 by William Luson Thomas's company Illustrated Newspapers Limited. It continued to be published weekly under this title until 23 April 1932 and then changed title to The National Graphic between 28 April and 14 July 1932; it then ceased publication, after 3,266 issues.

Page size 15 1/2 inch x 11 1/2 inch

The engraving is in very good condition. Printed text on the reverse.