STEEL ENGRAVING – “THE TOMB OF GRACE DARLING” from the painting by C. W. Nicholls, engraved by J. Godfrey, printed in 1883.  This engraving is in very good condition.  The engraving measures 6 7/8” x 9 5/8”, and is matted to 12” x 16” for easy framing.

Grace was one of several children of William Darling, keeper of the lighthouse at the small island of Longstone, on the Northumbrian coast.  Of a retiring and reserved disposition, by no means of a masculine appearance, but benevolent and gentle, how comes it that her remains rest under a monument almost a well known as that of Abelard and Heloise?  The story is as simple as it well can be.  The Forfarshire steamer, bound from Hull to Dundee, having on board as passengers and crew sixty-three persons, was overtaken by a fearful gale of wind, became unmanageable, and drifting among the rocks in the vicinity of Longstone was broken in two pieces: many of those on board perished, several left the wreck in a boat and were subsequently picked up, while nine who had betaken themselves to the forepart of the vessel were descried there at daybreak the following morning from the lighthouse by the Darlings, about a mile distant.  Nothing daunted by the fury of the storm still raging, and the dangers of any attempt at rescue amid such dangerous navigation, Grace urged her father to launch their boat, each took an oar, the wreck was reached with much difficulty, and its occupants safely conveyed to the hospitable shelter of the lighthouse.

This history is one which deserves to live in the minds of men and women, and Mr. Nicholls has done good service in perpetuating it by a work treated with so much poetic feeling.  The quiet churchyard of Bamborough lies almost within stone-throw of the beach, and in death her remains are reverenced by the waves she did not fear in life.  There it is said to them, as it was said in the hour of her trial, “Thus far shalt thou go and no further.”

IMPORTANT TO NOTE

Antique prints, engravings, and lithographs are printing processes, which use steel, copper, stone or wood blocks or plates to produce a picture on paper.

Most antique prints and engravings, which are seen on the internet today, are bookplates.  Because they are pages from a book, there are multiple copies in existence.  This does not, however, mean that they are "reproductions" that have been printed recently.  Because they were, at some point, part of books, some have been preserved in excellent condition, while others show signs of age, as yellow spots or darkness on the edge of the page from being handled.

Engravings, and lithographs are high quality pieces of art, as it took a highly trained artist many hours of work to produce one.  Although there may be multiple copies still in existence, the date of the item should be stated, thus giving the buyer an idea of its age.