Joseph Addenbrooke

Joseph Addenbrooke was a graphic artist active during the first half of the nineteenth century, with documented works spanning the period 1801 to 1850. His known artistic output focuses entirely on printed ephemera, specializing in elaborate paper valentines popular during the early Victorian era. This specialization places his work within the burgeoning commercial print and engraving trade of the time, reflecting the growing demand for sentimental, mass-produced visual culture.

A total of twelve of Joseph Addenbrooke’s designs are represented in museum collections, confirming the artist’s contribution to early nineteenth-century graphic arts. These include five specifically identified works: True Love's Fond Token, Love Me or I Die, Say Shall I Conquer, Thou Art the Star that Guides Me, and Wilt Thou Be Mine Love?. Examples of his work are held in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.

The survival of these delicate period pieces in such collections establishes the historical and artistic credibility of Joseph Addenbrooke prints. As historical artifacts reflecting social customs and graphic design trends of the 1800s, many of these works are now considered public domain material. The preservation efforts ensure that museum-quality reproductions are available, allowing scholars and collectors access to high-quality prints of his characteristic designs.