Vintage Washington at Valley Forge Bookends by Hubley, Circa 1925

Offered is a vintage set of Washington at Valley Forge bookends. The bookends were made by the American maker Hubley Manufacturing Co. in 1925. The bookends are in the style of the famous oil painting by William B. T. Trego. The March to Valley Forge, December 19, 1777 is one of the most iconic paintings of the Revolutionary War. Painted by Philadelphia artist Trego in 1883, the scene shows Washington and the Continental Army limping into their winter encampment at Valley Forge.

Trego painted General Washington at the center of the scene. Trego’s inspiration was a passage from Washington Irving’s Life of Washington: "Sad and dreary was the march to Valley Forge, uncheered by the recollection of any recent triumph. . . Hungry and cold were the poor fellows who had so long been keeping the field . . . provisions were scant, clothing was worn out, and so badly were they off for shoes, that the footsteps of many might be tracked in blood." When the Continental Army arrived at Valley Forge, Washington repeatedly shared his army’s dire situation with the Continental Congress. He particularly noted how the army desperately needed food, otherwise his troops may “starve—dissolve—or disperse, in order to obtain subsistence in the best manner they can.” 

These bookends were made by Hubley Manufacturing Co. Hubley was founded in 1894 in Lancaster, PA and specialized in the manufacture of cast-iron toys and toy banks. In the early 1920s, the company expanded their line to include decorative sand-cast bookends, which were made until World War II.  

CONDITION:

Good condition, especially considering age and use. Some scuffs and light tarnish. Sturdy and heavy enough to hold a large set of books. Dimensions: 5 3/4" H x 5 1/2" W x 2" D.