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Unique 1851 Heidelberg, Germany Fire Brigade ("Deutsche Feuerwehr") Lithograph Promotes New Fire Pump Truck of Carl Metz and Is Signed by Metz
This print pictures Carl Metz commander of the Heidelberg fire-brigade and his crew in triumph after putting out a fire in downtown Heidelberg. Metz was the Ben Franklin of European volunteer firefighters and founder of Metz fire apparatus company in 1842. Metz’s first mass-produced manual pump apparatus is pictured in the lithograph to the left with Metz holding onto it with his right hand. The company founded by Carl Metz is still a leading international fire equipment company. Carl Metz autographs this print and dates it 1851 in Heidelberg. The print may have been used to promote the Metz company’s new pump truck by showing its capability of putting out a fire on the roof of a four story building which is pictured in the background of the print. Below is a more detailed view of the heroic pose of Metz and his fire brigade in triumph in the middle of the street after extinguishing the fire with smoke still wafting in the background.
Below is a picture from the Metz fire equipment company web site of Metz a little older and with a mustache but in similar uniform and pose as that pictured in our lithograph.
Below is some of the detail of the writing on the bottom of the print showing its origin in Heidelberg and Metz's signature. The writing under the print names engravers and artists Hermann Eichens and H. Jacobi and Paris as the location where it was either produced or published.
The image area of the print is 14 1/2 x 17 inches and the print as matted and framed is 23 1/2 inches by 28 inches. There is a repaired tear down the center of the print that is barely noticeable at normal viewing distance and normal age discoloration.
This wonderful historic print of early firefighters in a heroic pose comes matted and framed and ready to hang with pride on your wall or give as a gift to your favorite firefighter. A very rare print, the only other one we could find was for sale by a German book dealer for $1,770, unframed. Price: $1,250 Pay securely with credit card through PayPal by clicking the button below
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