Nov 2 1878 Harpers Weekly, National Academy of Design, NYC Decorative Art, Afgha For Sale

This November 2, 1878 issue of Harper’s Weekly is a cultural and historical powerhouse, featuring a massive tribute to the Gilded Ages \"Decorative Art\" movement in New York and frontline visual reportage from the rugged mountain passes of Afghanistan.
​Title: Nov 2 1878 Harpers Weekly, National Academy of Design, NYC Decorative Art, Afghanistan Khyber Pass, Japanese Navy
​Main Issue Highlights
​🏛️ National Academy of Design Centerfold: A spectacular double-page centerfold titled \"Decorative Art—The Loan Exhibition at the National Academy of Design, New York.\" This sprawling illustration documents the landmark exhibition that helped define American taste in the late 19th century. It features a dense array of ceramics, textiles, and fine art, making it an essential piece for historians of NYC art and interior design.
​⚔️ Afghanistan & The Khyber Pass: A significant concentration of imagery regarding the Second Anglo-Afghan War:
​Full-Page: \"Afghanistan—In the Khyber Pass\", a dramatic landscape showing the treacherous terrain and military strategic points.
​Half-Page: \"The City of Candahar\" (Kandahar), providing a rare Victorian-era view of the historic city.
​Portrait: A 1/3 page portrait of Shere Ali, Ameer of Cabool (Kabul), the central figure of the conflict.
​🗳️ Thomas Nast’s \"Cipher Mumm(er)y\": A full-page Nast political cartoon addressing the Cipher Telegrams scandal, a major political controversy involving the disputed election of 1876 that was still rocking the nation in 1878.
​🎨 \"Old and Weary\": The front page features a poignant, high-quality engraving titled \"Old and Weary,\" showcasing the sentimental narrative style that made Harpers the premiere magazine of its day.
​The Supplement: The Japanese Navy & Maritime Drama
​The included original supplement contains two distinct and highly collectible features:
​⚓ The Japanese Navy: A significant 2/3 page feature containing many smaller illustrations of the burgeoning Imperial Japanese Navy. Published during the Meiji Restoration, this is a rare primary source showing Japan’s rapid modernization and naval westernization.
​🌊 \"To the Rescue\" Centerfold: A second double-page supplement centerfold titled \"To the Rescue—A Wreck on the Scroby Sands.\" This intense maritime scene depicts a heroic lifeboat rescue during a storm off the English coast—a masterpiece of 19th-century action illustration.
​🔍 Condition
​I have provided high-resolution photos of every page. This 147-year-old issue is complete in 16 pages plus the illustrated supplement. The woodblock engravings, particularly the Decorative Art exhibition and the Khyber Pass landscape, are dark and crisp. Authentic, light age-toning is present, confirming its 1878 origin.
​📦 Shipping & 🖼️ Archival Framing
​Professional Shipping: Your history will arrive flat, secure, and tracked. We use heavy-duty archival boards to ensure these delicate documents never roll or fold during transit. 🚫🗞️
​Archival Framing Available: The National Academy of Design centerfold and the Khyber Pass illustration are museum-quality candidates for display. I offer Custom Archival Framing upon request, using UV-protected glass and acid-free matting. 🏛️
​💎 Why It’s Collectible
​NYC Art History: The National Academy of Design centerfold is one of the most comprehensive visual records of 19th-century American \"curiosity\" and loan exhibitions.
​Military Frontier History: Views of Kandahar and the Khyber Pass from 1878 are cornerstone items for collectors of British Empire and Central Asian history.
​Meiji-Era Japan: Early Western depictions of the Japanese Navy are increasingly rare and sought after by naval and international historians.
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​1878 Harpers Weekly, National Academy of Design New York, Decorative Art Exhibition, Khyber Pass Afghanistan, Kandahar City View, Shere Ali Kabul, Imperial Japanese Navy, Thomas Nast Cipher Telegrams, Scroby Sands Wreck, Antique Wood Engraving.
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