M. B. Parkinson Cupid Asleep Value Guide

M. B. Parkinson's 'Cupid Asleep' is a quintessential Victorian-era lithograph featuring Josephine Anderson in a serene, resting pose. Copyrighted in 1897, this piece and its counterpart 'Cupid Awake' became iconic American household decorations during the turn of the century.

What affects the value of M. B. Parkinson Cupid Asleep?

• Condition of the lithograph paper, specifically looking for water damage, foxing, or fading of the sepia tones.
• The integrity of the original tin or wood-grain finished frame and the presence of the original curved glass.
• Market demand for the matching 'Cupid Awake' companion piece, as pairs often command a premium over single prints.
• Authenticity of the 1897-1910 era materials versus modern mass-produced reproductions.

How to Identify M. B. Parkinson Cupid Asleep?

• Look for the 1897 copyright date and M. B. Parkinson's signature typically printed within the lithograph image.
• Verify the presence of the original oval-shaped frame, often made of tin with a distinctive wood-grain finish.
• Check for the specific sepia-toned photographic style characteristic of Parkinson's late 19th-century portraiture.
• Confirm the subject is a young child posed as a sleeping cupid, which was the specific model Josephine Anderson.

History of M. B. Parkinson Cupid Asleep

Morris Burke Parkinson was a prominent American photographer active in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His most famous works, 'Cupid Awake' and 'Cupid Asleep', were copyrighted in 1897 and featured Josephine Anderson, the daughter of a family friend. These images became wildly popular Victorian household decorations and were reproduced in various formats, including prints in metal and wood-grain finished tin frames.