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Vintage Brown & Bigelow “Dogs Playing Poker” Set (8) – Framed Coolidge - $1,999
condition:
excellent
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Description: If you know Americana, you know these dogs.
Offered here is a complete matched 8-piece vintage set of the legendary Dogs Playing Poker series by Cassius Marcellus Coolidge, originally painted between 1903–1906 and later published by Brown & Bigelow (St. Paul, MN) — America’s premier art publisher of the early to mid-20th century.
This is not a random mix of prints — it’s a complete, uniform series, all in original matching walnut-finish wood frames, each one stamped and signed in-plate “C.M. Coolidge” and marked B.&B., St. Paul.
These framed lithographs are from Brown & Bigelow’s mid-century collector’s edition (circa 1940s–early 1950s) — a high-quality reissue run known for rich color fidelity, heavier paper stock, and beautiful period framing.
Perfectly suited for a collector, game room, bar, den, or Americana-themed interior — and rarely found as a full preserved set.
Included Works:
1️⃣ A Bold Bluff (1903) : The Saint Bernard bets big on a bluff as his companions look on — a quiet moment of canine confidence.
2️⃣ Waterloo (1906) : The sequel to A Bold Bluff — the same Saint Bernard reveals his hand, stunning his rivals.
3️⃣ Pinched With Four Aces (1903) : Police raid the poker den mid-hand — chaos and comedy collide in this Coolidge classic.
4️⃣ A Friend in Need (1903) : The most famous painting in the series — one loyal dog secretly passes an ace under the table.
5️⃣ His Station and Four Aces (1903) : A refined poker game aboard a train car; one proud player reveals his unbeatable hand.
6️⃣ Sitting Up With a Sick Friend (1905) : Loyalty and humor meet in a quieter scene of camaraderie and late-night watch.
7️⃣ Poker Sympathy (1903) : Three ladies console a defeated player — charming, humorous, and full of anthropomorphic wit.
8️⃣ One to Tie, Two to Win (1903) : The room bursts into laughter as a final hand ends in jubilant chaos — pure Americana joy.
Details:
Artist: Cassius Marcellus Coolidge (1844–1934)
Publisher: Brown & Bigelow, St. Paul, MN
Medium: Lithographs on paper (signed in plate)
Edition: Mid-century collector’s series (1940s–50s)
Frames: Original matching hardwood (approx. 13” x 16”)
Condition: Excellent vintage condition — vibrant color, minimal wear; one without glass
Provenance markers: “B.&B., St. Paul” publisher line, Coolidge signature visible on each piece
Display ready: All have original back paper seals and hangers intact
Rarity & Collector Value:
Sets like this — all eight major Coolidge poker scenes, matched and intact — are seldom found together.
Individual prints often appear online, but a full 8-piece vintage Brown & Bigelow set in consistent frames is museum-display-worthy and increasingly scarce.
Coolidge’s work has been exhibited at major galleries and referenced in countless pop culture tributes. Original oil paintings have sold for over $600,000 at Sotheby’s — and even licensed lithographs like these have strong collector followings.
Price: $1999 (Complete set)
Will consider offers near asking for serious collectors only.
(Similar individual framed lithographs have sold for $400–500 each; complete sets are rare.)
Not in a rush to sell — looking for the right home where these can be appreciated as a true American art conversation piece.
Pickup / Viewing: Local pickup or private showing available in Orange County (Irvine, Costa Mesa, or Huntington Beach area).
Cash or verified electronic payment accepted.
Collectible Art