No. 5088 Waterlily Victoria Regia
William Sharp is credited with introducing color lithography to American in 1840. He purchased property on Dexter Street (then named Howard Street) in Washington Village, Dorchester, in 1849. Washington Village (Andrew Square) was part of Dorchester until 1855 when it was annexed to the City and became part of South Boston.
William Sharp was the printer of The Fruits of America by Charles Mason Hovey published in Boston by Little and Brown and Hove, 1851-1856. This is the first high-quality chromolithographic book published in America. Its ninety-six plates contain subtle gradations in tone and complex overprinting that were the equal of the best work being done England at that time. He was the printer for the book Victoria Regia; or The Great Waterlily of America by John Allen Foote published in Boston by Dutton and Wentworth in 1854.