When did Nathaniel Currier die and who took over the business?
Nathaniel Currier died in 1888 leaving James Merritt Ives to run the business until his own death in 1895. Both men's sons continued operations before liquidation occurred in 1907.
Questions about Currier and Ives
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What was the price range for small and large Currier and Ives prints?
Small works sold between five and twenty cents while large ones cost one to three dollars. The company distributed through pushcart vendors, peddlers, bookstores, mail orders, and international agents.
How many different lithographs did Currier and Ives publish during their operation?
Over seventy-two years the firm published at least 7,500 different lithographs. Artists created two to three new images weekly for sixty-four years between 1834 and 1895.
Why were Darktown Comics considered controversial by modern standards?
More than half of approximately 500 comic prints produced were known as Darktown Comics depicting African Americans in demeaning ways intended to mock them for white audiences. They represent one of the most controversial aspects of the company's extensive output.
Where did Currier and Ives operate their printing presses and colorists from 1866 onward?
From 1866 onward they occupied three floors at 33 Spruce Street in New York with presses below artists above and colorists highest. Their London office managed international distribution through European agents.