Heidelberg Castle Hand-Colored Etching

🖼️ Item Overview

• Title: Heidelberg Castle
• Medium: Original hand-colored copperplate etching on wove paper
• Dimensions: Plate size approx. 2.8" x 3.8"; glass cover 9.9" x 7.9"
• Signature: Lower left: “Heidelberg”; Lower right: “R. Heidelberg” (not a personal artist signature, but likely a location/title indicator)
• Condition: Very good; clean lines, color well-preserved, mounted under glass
• Frame: Not framed, but protected by a pressed board and glass clip frame

🔍 Authentication & Attribution

This style of etching—with fine architectural detail, linear cross-hatching, and delicate hand-coloring—was very common in Germany and Austria from the late 19th century through the 1930s. The work closely resembles pieces by artists such as:

• Ernst Geissendorfer (1886–1962): A known German printmaker who created similar hand-colored etchings of German towns, castles, and bridges
• R. Geyling, F. Reich, or Richard H. Heidelberg (the latter may be a pseudonym or location-based identifier rather than a personal artist name)

The marking “R. Heidelberg” appears to act as a title extension, not a true signature. This was a common practice for small souvenir etchings, often produced in multiples by print studios in Germany.

The “R.H.” initials in the plate (lower left corner) do suggest a monogram. This might link to a lesser-known German etcher working in the Munich or Nuremberg region, but not conclusively to Ernst Geissendorfer unless confirmed by comparison to known signed works.

Conclusion:

While visually similar to Geissendorfer’s works, this etching cannot be confidently attributed to him without a signature. It appears to be a hand-colored, studio-produced copperplate etching from ca. 1920s–30s, likely made for the tourist trade.

🧾 Estimated Value (2025 Market)

Condition

Unframed Value

Framed Value

Excellent

$30–$60 USD

$50–$100 USD

Canadian Market (CAD)

~$40–$80 CAD

~$65–$120 CAD

These charming small etchings are modestly collectible, especially:

• When depicting well-known landmarks like Heidelberg Castle
• When hand-colored and matted
• When in clean condition and protected under glass

🛍️ Where and How to Sell

• Etsy (tagged as “vintage German etching,” “hand-colored copperplate,” “Heidelberg Castle art”)
• eBay (auction or BIN format, international interest possible)
• Local antique stores or vintage art dealers
• In-person art or history-themed markets near German heritage communities

Suggested Listing Title:

"Vintage Hand-Colored Etching of Heidelberg Castle – German Copperplate Print ca. 1930s"

Suggested Tags:
Heidelberg, German Etching, Vintage Travel Art, Hand Colored, Antique Print, Castle Art, Geissendorfer style

📌 Summary

Feature

Details

Artist

Unknown (possibly studio print, not signed)

Medium

Copperplate etching, hand-colored

Subject

Heidelberg Castle & Bridge

Era

Circa 1920s–30s

Dimensions

2.8" x 3.8" image; 9.9" x 7.9" with glass

Condition

Very good; bright color, clean mount

Estimated Value

$30–$60 USD unframed; up to $100 framed

✅ Recommendation

No need for a formal appraisal unless it's part of a larger collection. However, this is a fine decorative and historical piece with strong resale potential for tourists, collectors of German art, or admirers of historic architecture.