Alphonse Bigot, T. Sinclair & Co. Lithographers Philadelphia (Philadelphia:  T. Sinclair’s lith., ca. 1858) Chromolithograph. Courtesy of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania.

 

Thomas Sinclair (1807-1881) started his lithographic career in Philadelphia when he worked with lithographer John Collins in the late 1830s. In 1840 he took over the establishment. A Franklin Institute award winner in 1849 for chromolithography, Sinclair printed lithographs for the government and for scientific and medical publications in addition to sheet music, advertisements, certificates, and church views. Although a “fair” proprietor, Sinclair’s shop was described as “gloomy” during the early 1840s by one of his lithographers, who was paid $2 to $6 per drawing. Sinclair partnered with his son William (b. ca. 1828) in T. Sinclair & Co. between 1854 and 1859 and later with his son John C. (b. ca. 1842) in T. Sinclair & Son in 1870.  In 1872, the firm claimed to operate the largest steam press in Philadelphia.  Sinclair continued as proprietor of one of the premier establishments of the city until his death, leaving a personal estate worth $30,000.

 

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