Set of three original antique 1880s Catholic bishop engravings from the late Victorian era, depicting prominent American clergy including John J. Maes, and Henry P. These authentic 19th-century religious prints were issued for presentation portfolios within the United States Catholic Church and are sought after by collectors of Catholic history, ecclesiastical art, and antique engravings. Bishop of Richmond, Virginia. Bishop of Covington, Kentucky. Bishop of Charleston, South Carolina. Each engraving is printed on heavy wove paper and retains its original translucent tissue guard, printed in red and violet ink with the bishop’s name, ecclesiastical title, and diocesan seal. These tissue guards are rare survivors, as they were commonly discarded or lost over time. The engravings exhibit crisp plate impressions, deep tonal range, and refined cross-hatching typical of high-quality ecclesiastical print production from Boston and New York publishers of the period, such as A. Or the Catholic Publication Society. These folio engravings were produced for presentation portfolios distributed to American parishes, seminaries, and diocesan institutions during the late Victorian era. Many complete sets were later dismantled, framed individually, or lost, making matched examples retaining their printed tissue guards increasingly scarce. Clean and untrimmed with full margins. Light edge wear and minor creasing to the tissue guards consistent with age. No foxing, staining, or tears to the engraved image areas. Excellent overall preservation for works over 130 years old. Each sheet approximately 12 x 17 inches (30.5 x 43 cm). Printed image area approximately 7 x 9 inches (18 x 23 cm). These portraits document an important period in American Catholic history, reflecting the post-Civil War expansion of diocesan leadership and the growing institutional presence of the Church across the United States. Suitable for archival framing, religious history collections, seminaries, church offices, or collectors of fine 19th-century paper and ecclesiastical art.
