The Lithographic Works of the Kellogg Brothers

James Alton Bechand is a Huntington, New York, professional who founded the marketing firm Mesh Creative Group and the printing company Aris Graphics. Passionate about printmaking, James Alton Bechand has a particular affinity for old prints, including those created during the 19th century.

While many art lovers may be familiar with the works of Currier & Ives in New York, similar prints made by the Kellogg Brothers in Hartford, Connecticut, are not as well known. From 1830 to 1880, the company produced commercial work that covered major events of the era, with depictions of the Mexican-American War and the U.S. Civil War rendered from first-hand descriptions by correspondents. The subjects of the company’s prints also included historical events, daily life, religious scenes, sports, animals, and noteworthy figures such as U.S. presidents.

Currier & Ives and the Kellogg Brothers were in heated competition for decades, with teams of lithographers at each company sometimes copying their competitors’ original works. One example is the popular "Household Pets” print that featured a mother, child, dog, and cat, which Kellog is reputed to have copied from Currier & Ives.

With interest in the lithographic medium waning in the 1870s, Kellogg moved its focus to handbills, business cards, and other commercial projects. It ultimately became part of Connecticut Printers, a firm that operated until 1990.