1879 Harper’s Weekly Engraving — Eytinge Jr. Walking Match Scene For Sale

Thanks Bryan — here’s your finalized block-style listing for the February 1, 1879 Blackville race scene, now corrected to reflect the actual caption:
Title: Grand Walking Match at Blackville — Terrific Struggle on the Home StretchSource: Harper’s WeeklyPublished: New York, February 1, 1879Technique: Wood-engraved illustration printed on newsprintSize: Approx. 11 × 16 inchesCondition: Very good + — minor soiling left of image, light age toning
DescriptionOriginal 1879 engraving from Harper’s Weekly, titled:“GRAND WALKING MATCH AT BLACKVILLE — TERRIFIC STRUGGLE ON THE HOME STRETCH.”• Satirical race scene featuring African American characters in a stylized walking competition• Drawn by Sol Eytinge Jun., known for theatrical and racially coded compositions• Includes spectators, rural backdrop, and exaggerated costume detailA lively and racially caricatured portrayal of Black civic recreation in the fictional town of Blackville.
Historical Context & ProvenanceThe Blackville series was a recurring satirical feature in Harper’s Weekly during the late 1870s, depicting fictional African American communities in exaggerated domestic and public scenes. These engravings reflected post-Reconstruction racial attitudes — acknowledging Black visibility in civic life while ridiculing social ambition and cultural participation.This walking match scene, framed as a parody of competitive sport, uses theatrical costuming and exaggerated motion to mock Black athleticism and communal pride.Sol Eytinge Jr.’s illustrations, though problematic by modern standards, are historically significant as visual records of how race, leisure, and civic identity were imagined — and distorted — in 19th-century American print culture.Shipping & GuaranteeThis is an original 1879 engraving — not a reproductionShrink-wrapped on acid-free backing and mailed flat30-day return policy for any reason