Items Similar to Set of 4 Tobacco Industry Photogravures – Sumatra’s O.K., C.J. Kleingrothe, 1910
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 10
Set of 4 Tobacco Industry Photogravures – Sumatra’s O.K., C.J. Kleingrothe, 1910
$888.66per set
£658.19per set
€740per set
CA$1,215.65per set
A$1,323per set
CHF 701.32per set
MX$15,916.68per set
NOK 8,894.99per set
SEK 8,138.29per set
DKK 5,638.93per set
About the Item
Set of 4 Tobacco Industry Photogravures – Sumatra’s O.K., C.J. Kleingrothe, ca. 1910
A highly desirable set of four original photogravures documenting key stages of the Deli tobacco industry in East Sumatra during the colonial era. Created by the renowned Medan-based photographer C.J. Kleingrothe and printed by J.B. Obernetter in Munich, these plates were issued as part of the important portfolio “Sumatra’s O.K.” around 1910. Together, they present one of the most complete visual summaries of the cultivation, processing, and transportation of the world-famous Sumatra wrapper leaf.
The first plate shows terraced tobacco fields on hillside terrain, illustrating how planters adapted cultivation techniques to steep land while ensuring proper sun exposure and drainage. The second plate captures everyday work on a plantation road, with ox-drawn carts transporting goods between the fields and estate buildings — a classic scene of labor and logistics in the plantation belt.
The third plate is a botanical study presented as three panels: the tobacco plant at varying stages of growth, and a detailed large leaf. Such images supported international sales by highlighting the superior characteristics of Deli leaf used in premium cigars. The fourth plate depicts tobacco barns and workers near drying shelters, essential for the curing process that defined the value of exported leaf.
Printed in rich warm tones on their original card mounts, each image features captions in German, Dutch, and English — a clear indication that these views were intended for global industrial promotion. Tobacco was the economic backbone of East Sumatra in the early 20th century, and historical visual documentation of this quality has become increasingly scarce.
This set offers an exceptional opportunity for collectors of Southeast Asian industrial history, colonial agriculture, and historic plantation photography. Displayed together, these plates form a cohesive and striking wall ensemble.
Condition report: Very good throughout. All four plates show light, scattered foxing and mild age toning restricted to the mounts. Images remain clean, strong in detail, and free of tears or creases. Verso clean.
Framing tips: For visual unity, frame as a group using matching warm-wood (teak or walnut) or matte-black frames with off-white archival mats. Museum-grade UV glazing recommended.
Technique: Photogravure on original card mounts
Maker: C.J. Kleingrothe, Medan, circa 1910
Printer: J.B. Obernetter, München
Keywords: Deli tobacco, plantation history, Dutch East Indies, Medan economy, agricultural labor, cigar wrapper leaf, Southeast Asia industrial heritage, Sumatra colonial photography
- Dimensions:Height: 17.72 in (45 cm)Width: 13.39 in (34 cm)Depth: 0.01 in (0.2 mm)
- Sold As:Set of 4
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:circa 1910
- Condition:Condition report: Very good throughout. All four plates show light, scattered foxing and mild age toning restricted to the mounts. Images remain clean, strong in detail, and free of tears or creases. Verso clean.
- Seller Location:Langweer, NL
- Reference Number:Seller: BG-05079-11, -13, -14, -161stDibs: LU3054347661392
About the Seller
5.0
Recognized Seller
These prestigious sellers are industry leaders and represent the highest echelon for item quality and design.
Platinum Seller
Premium sellers with a 4.7+ rating and 24-hour response times
Established in 2009
1stDibs seller since 2017
2,816 sales on 1stDibs
Typical response time: 1 hour
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Shipping from: Langweer, Netherlands
- Return Policy
More From This Seller
View AllPepper Plantation
Timber, Sumatra — Antique Kleingrothe Photogravure c.1900
Located in Langweer, NL
Pepper Plantation & Timber, Sumatra — Antique Kleingrothe Photogravure c.1900
This original photogravure by C.J. Kleingrothe offers a rare documentar...
Category
Early 20th Century Dutch Maps
Materials
Paper
Sumatra Tobacco Cultivation
Drying Barns — Deli Estates Photographic Pair 1910
Located in Langweer, NL
Sumatra Tobacco Cultivation & Drying Barns — Deli Estates Photographic Pair, c.1910
Description:
This historically rich pair of original early 20th-century plantation photographs do...
Category
Early 20th Century Dutch Maps
Materials
Paper
Set of 3 Antique Photogravures of Sumatra Plantations — Deli, Medan Region, 1900
Located in Langweer, NL
Set of 3 Antique Photogravures of Sumatra Plantations — Deli, Medan Region (c.1900)
A fine set of three original photogravures documenting planta...
Category
Early 20th Century Dutch Maps
Materials
Paper
Sorting Tobacco in Lengths and Colors, Sumatra — Kleingrothe Photogravure c.1900
Located in Langweer, NL
Sorting Tobacco in Lengths and Colors, Sumatra — Kleingrothe Photogravure c.1900
This original early 20th-century photogravure captures tobacco workers inside a large sorting facili...
Category
Early 20th Century Dutch Maps
Materials
Paper
Antique Print of the Coffee Beans production on Sumatra by M.T.H. Perelaer, 1888
Located in Langweer, NL
Antique print of the coffee beans production in compound Solok on Sumatra, Indonesia. This print originates from 'Het Kamerlid van Berkestein in Nederlandsch-Indie.', (translation: v...
Category
Antique Late 19th Century Prints
Materials
Paper
Soengei Serpa, Sumatra — Antique Photogravure by C.J. Kleingrothe, c.1900
Located in Langweer, NL
Soengei Serpa, Sumatra — Antique Photogravure by C.J. Kleingrothe, c.1900
Description:
A striking original photogravure by renowned photographer C.J....
Category
Early 20th Century Dutch Maps
Materials
Paper
You May Also Like
Two Gelatin Silver Prints of India by Johnston
Hoffmann One With Blind Stamp
Located in valatie, NY
Two Gelatin Silver Prints of India by Johnston & Hoffmann, one with blind stamp depicting bathers at the Hoogly, the other of a backlit wooden boat on the Ganges. Both prints have pe...
Category
Antique Late 19th Century Photography
Materials
Paper
Antique Engravings From La Cuisine Classique, a Set of 4
Located in New York, NY
A set of 4 black-and-white engravings from the book La Cuisine Classique by chefs Émile Bernard and Urbain Dubois. Published in the 19th Century, the illust...
Category
Antique Late 19th Century Prints
Materials
Glass, Wood, Paper
Set of Two Rare Botanical Engravings by D’Orbigny — 1849
Located in Fukuoka, JP
Set of Two Rare Botanical Engravings by D’Orbigny — Dictionnaire Universel d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, 1849
An exquisite pair of original hand-colored botanical engravings from the...
Category
Antique 19th Century French Prints
Materials
Paper
Set of Six English 19th Century Botanical Engravings, England, C.1880
Located in London, GB
A set of six English 19th century Botanical Engravings, England C.1880.
Mounted, ready to be framed.
Fine examples, in excellent condition commensurate of age.
Category
Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Prints
Materials
Paper
Antique Copper Engraving Print with Popular Bavarian Scene ca. 1900
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Copper Engraving Print with Popular Bavarian Scene ca. 1900
A lovely copperplate engraving print depicting a folksy Bavarian scenery in a mountain hut. Two hunters impress a...
Category
Early 20th Century German Country Prints
Materials
Glass, Wood
Bignonia venusta – Antique Botanical Chromolithograph, 1880s
Located in Fukuoka, JP
A striking original botanical print from the 1880s, featuring Bignonia venusta, also known as flame vine or orange trumpet vine. This brilliantly colored illustration captures the dr...
Category
Antique 19th Century French Prints
Materials
Paper
