Biography:

John T. Bowen, the preeminent Philadelphia lithographer and the most important mid 19th-century American publisher of publication plates, was born in England ca. 1801. Immigrating to the United States in 1834, he worked as a colorist and lithographer in New York before relocating to Philadelphia (probably with collaborator and lithographic artist Alfred Hoffy) in 1838. In Philadelphia to assume the publication of the seminal McKenney and Hall's "History of the Indian Tribes," he also took over the establishment of Wild & Chevalier (94 Walnut Street), including the rights to their "Views of Philadelphia." He reissued the third edition of the series at the end of the year, and the hand-colored fourth edition in 1848.

From 1838 to the early 1840s, Bowen's general and book-plate work was widely praised in the local press. Promoted as "an ornament to the city" and with "one of the most extensive establishments in the country, he gained a reputation as one of the premier general lithographers, especially of hand-colored works, of the city. During this period, he published the "Architect's Magazine" (1839); was honored by and offered membership to the Franklin Institute (1840); and printed plates for Audubon's "Quadrupeds" (1845-1848) and octavo edition of "Birds of America" (1839-1844) in addition to McKenney & Hall (1837-1844). Although plate work became the specialty of Bowen's firm after 1844 and his relocation to 12 South Broad Street, he also issued maps, genre prints, including "Log Cabin Politicians" (1841), political cartoons, praised frameable views of Fairmount, and drawing books, such as "My Own Sketch Book" (ca. 1840).

Despite these numerous projects, in 1842 Bowen petitioned for bankruptcy. The compounded expenditures for McKenney & Hall in conjunction with the work on "Birds" could not offset the income received from the latter commission of which over 1400 copies of the first number were ordered. The bankruptcy, however, did not prove a major detriment to his business, and after 1844, Bowen predominately collaborated with Audubon and his sons on reissues and completion of their natural history volumes. He also worked with Philadelphia ornithologist John Cassin. Following the printing of the plates for his "Illustrations of the Birds of California,...," Cassin associated with Bowen's firm as a business manager and artist. By the time of Bowen's death in the summer of 1856, he served as one of the appraisers of his estate of about $5,500 that included presses worth $250 and lithographic stone worth $30. Before 1838, Bowen married Lavinia, a colorist, with whom he had a son John (b. ca. 1838). From 1839 through the 1840s, Bowen lived in Center City at 61 South Fifth Street and later 96 Walnut Street and by 1855, resided at 674 Green Street above Spring Garden Street. Following his death, Lavinia assumed operations of the Bowen firm and engaged John Cassin as partner in 1858. The firm Bowen & Co. was active until ca. 1870.