Antique Equestrian Print: Dead Heat Between Liddesdale & Wood-Wind

This item is an antique hand-colored equestrian engraving or lithograph titled 'Dead Heat Between Liddesdale & Wood-Wind,' depicting a dramatic finish of a horse race. The artwork shows two dark bay horses surging over a grassy course, with their jockeys wearing distinct colors—one in a pink and white jacket and the other in yellow. The print is housed in a contemporary red paper mat, which appears to be wrapped in protective plastic. Below the main image, the title is printed in a serif font, accompanied by a small publisher line that appears to reference London. The scene captures the high-velocity 'rocking horse' gallop typical of 19th-century British sporting art. The paper shows mild age-related toning and some slight creasing, though the colors of the hand-tinting remain relatively vibrant. A gold sticker in the bottom right corner of the mat states 'THIS ARTICLE IS GUARANTEED TO BE OVER 100 YEARS OLD,' suggesting a manufacturing date in the mid-to-late 19th century. There are additional inventory stickers on the top right corner with the numbers '64' and '+15'. The engraving demonstrates fine linework and delicate shading in the sky and turf, indicative of quality Victorian-era commercial printing for sporting enthusiasts.

I have carefully examined the imaging for the hand-colored equestrian engraving 'Dead Heat Between Liddesdale & Wood-Wind.' This piece is a classic example of 19th-century British sporting art, depicting a competitive finish in the traditional 'flying gallop' style popular during the Victorian era. The print exhibits characteristic fine-line engraving and early hand-tinting, particularly evident in the jockeys' silks. Based on the typography and the 'guaranteed over 100 years old' label, I date this to approximately 1860–1880. The condition appears fair to good for its age, though there is visible minor foxing and undulation in the paper, suggesting it has not been housed in a museum-grade climate-controlled environment. The vibrant colors suggest limited UV exposure. Such prints were produced in relatively high volume for the sporting gentry, making this a decorative antique rather than a rare singular masterpiece. Market demand for traditional equestrian art remains steady among specialized collectors and decorators, though prices have softened from early-2000s peaks. Comparables for common Victorian horse racing prints of this size and condition typically realize between $150 and $250 at regional auctions. Note: This appraisal is based on digital images alone. A definitive assessment requires an in-person physical inspection to confirm the presence of a plate mark, verify the paper's watermark and GSM, and check for hidden acidic damage behind the mat. I cannot rule out that this is a high-quality mid-20th-century restrike without seeing the ink saturation and paper fibers under magnification. To confirm authenticity, provenance or a bill of sale from a recognized print dealer would be required.