Title |
Kennedy & Lucas |
Date |
fl. 1828-1833 |
Description |
Kennedy & Lucas, the first commercial lithographic establishment in Philadelphia, established by looking glass and print store
proprietors David Kennedy and William B. Lucas at 90 South Third Street, was active 1828-1833. Started as "Lucas's Lithography"
by Lucas in the spring of 1828, early prints of the firm included "Cowell as Crack in the Turnpike Gate" and "The Pagoda and
Labyrinth Garden" printed after the designs of British artist and lithographer Hugh Bridport. Officially established as a
commercial firm in December 1828, Kennedy & Lucas announced "their Press at No. 90 South Third, where specimens can be seen"
in the "National Gazette" on December 9 and 10, 1828.
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The firm printed book illustrations, city views, genre prints, sheet music covers, and advertisements, often delineated by
artist W. L. Breton. The pairing issued a noted series of church views, including "Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church";
the cityscape illustrations for Watson's Annals of Philadelphia, and the advertisement "Philadelphia Baths, Corner of George
and Seventh Sts., near Chestnut Street" as well as plates for Earle's Treatise on Railroads (1830) and The Floral Magazine
and Botanical Repository (1832-1834). Following the death of Lucas in 1833, the firm ceased operations and on March 1, 1834,
"The United States Gazette" advertised the executor's sale of the lithographic establishment. Equipment and tools sold included
"3 presses of different sizes, one standing do., rollers and ink stones, with every requisite for the above business. Also,
8000 lbs. of first quality lithographic stones, assorted sizes, from 34 inches by 23 inches, down to 8 by 10 inches,..."
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Kennedy, a well-established carver, gilder, and glass and picture store owner in Philadelphia before partnering with Lucas,
operated from 109 Walnut Street and also managed a tavern at Ninth and Walnut Streets in the 1820s. Lucas's background before
operating the lithograph firm is unclear; his will dated 1833 listed him as a gilder and lithographer.
|
Is part of |
Philadelphia on Stone Biographical Dictionary of Lithographers |
References |
See Breton, W. L. and Bridport, Hugh |
Call number |
Philadelphia on Stone Biographical Dictionary of Lithographers |
Bibliographic citation |
Census 1810, 1820, 1830 |
|
Groce & Wallace, 365 |
|
Last, 199 |
|
Library Company of Philadelphia research file |
|
National Gazette, December 9-10, 1828 |
|
Peters, 249 |
|
Philadelphia Business & City Directories, 1811-1831 (intermittently) |
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Wainwright, 9-10 |
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WWWAA, 1824 |