What am I actually buying?
A new giclée print of a restored antique plate — not an original, and not a reproduction of someone else's reproduction. We work from the highest-resolution scan the holding library or archive publishes, and every source is listed on our Credits & Sources page.
What is it printed on?
Enhanced matte paper, 189 gsm, 10.3 mil — a heavy, uncoated archival stock with no sheen. Giclée printed in the United States.
What sizes and prices?
12×18 is $29, 18×24 is $39, and 24×36 is $59. A few plates are offered only at 12×18 and 18×24; where that's the case, the product page says so and explains why. The originals for those six don't carry enough detail to print honestly at the largest size, and we would rather lose the sale than sell you a soft print.
How long does it take?
Prints are made after you order them, so allow 4–7 days from the U.S. Shipping is free on every order, with no minimum.
It arrived rolled and it won't lie flat.
It will. Unroll it and re-roll it gently the other way — a loose reverse curl, held for thirty seconds or so — then lay it under something flat and heavy overnight. A couple of books on top of a clean sheet of paper is plenty. Don't crease it, and don't try to iron it.
It arrived damaged, or it's printed wrong.
Tell us and we'll reprint it, free, no return needed. Send a photo to hello@blackswampprints.com and we'll take care of it.
Can I return one because I changed my mind?
Every print is made to order, so we can't take back a change of mind. If you're unsure about a size, the 18×24 is the one most people are happiest with — it's substantial without needing a wall built around it.
Do these need to be framed?
No, but they reward it. All three sizes are standard, so off-the-shelf frames fit without custom work. A plain wood frame and a white mat suits them; the cream ground is doing the softening already, so there's no need for a warm mat on top of it.
Where do the images come from, and is any of this AI?
None of it. Every plate is a scan of a physical object held by a library or archive — the Library of Congress, the National Agricultural Library, the Biodiversity Heritage Library, the Boston Public Library, the Oak Spring Garden Foundation. All of it is public domain, all of it is credited by name on our Credits & Sources page, and none of it is generated.
Do you take custom requests?
Sometimes. If there's an Ohio or Great Lakes plate you've been looking for, write to hello@blackswampprints.com. No promises — it has to exist, and it has to be public domain — but it's a good way to find out what should be in the collection next.