Italy, Piazza di Solofra, at Salerno antique print c1858.

by The Illustrated London News

Salerno antique print. Piazza di Solofra and Cathedral - "one of the principal portions of Salerno". "The cathedral alone remains to mark the importance of Salerno in the middle ages."

Original wood engraving published in The Illustrated London News in January 1858, after the Salerno earthquake - "this awful visitation" "which has visited the greater part of the kingdom of Naples".

This is an engraving that appeared within the text of The Illustrated London News, one of the most important illustrated periodicals of the 19th century.  Young printer and newsagent, Herbert Ingram noticed that newspaper sales increased when they included illustrations. Ingram moved from Nottingham to London and set up The Illustrated London News in 1842. His chief advisor was his friend, Mark Lemon, the editor of Punch magazine. The illustrations have been collected, coloured and treasured, ever since the day they were published.

This engraving measures 17 x 24cm (6.75 x 9.5 inches)