River City Publishing Corvette Prints

[Robert R.]

Back in 1975 there was a company called River City Publishing that offered sketch prints of Corvettes for sale. They were done by an artist named Leonard Kik. The images of these sketches also appeared in early "Corvette Black Books" as well.
I do have a couple and was looking to find one more, the '73 Convertible.

At the time, I bought mine through Mid America.
Does anyone know of how or where they might still be available?
Have checked the web but no luck on the company name, and ebay was no go either.

Any help would be appreciated.

Bob

[Dave S.]

Re: River City Publishing Corvette Prints

Back in 1975 there was a company called River City Publishing that offered sketch prints of Corvettes for sale. They were done by an artist named Leonard Kik. The images of these sketches also appeared in early "Corvette Black Books" as well.
I do have a couple and was looking to find one more, the '73 Convertible.

At the time, I bought mine through Mid America.
Does anyone know of how or where they might still be available?
Have checked the web but no luck on the company name, and ebay was no go either.

Any help would be appreciated.

Bob

Bob,
Are they the black and white hand sketched prints. ??? If memory serves me right there may have been 6 or 8 of them and they may have been 11" X 17" or so.

I know they were advertised in the early restorer insert pages (1976-1979 era).

To answer your question I never see them for sale and don't know where to send you.

[Dave S.]

Re: River City Publishing Corvette Prints

Bob,
Are they the black and white hand sketched prints. ??? If memory serves me right there may have been 6 or 8 of them and they may have been 11" X 17" or so.

I know they were advertised in the early restorer insert pages (1976-1979 era).

To answer your question I never see them for sale and don't know where to send you.

Bob,
I found my signed and dated 1959 Print which I guess I bought back in the early 90's. Nicely done.
Along with it I found and order form to purchase the other prints. I don't see a 1973 print listed. In addition to the C-1 and C-2 prints there were prints for 1968, 1970, 1972, 1977 and others up to 1985. Looks like there were 19 total.

[Robert R.]

Re: River City Publishing Corvette Prints

Dave,
Found the Black Book from 1984 and there was a whole section that had all the sketches from 1953 to 1978 that were made. And in the back of the book was an order coupon from Mid America for the "outragous" cost of $15 per print; brushed chrome framed for an additional $9.95. Plus you got to pick your color Mat for the print.

For the Solid Axle and '76 through '78 cars only one sketch per year, but from '63 through '75 both coupe and convertible were pictured.

Mid America must have been the sole distributor on these.
I guess I'll just have to keep eyes peeled for someone wanting to sell off theirs.
Bob

[Dave S.]

Re: River City Publishing Corvette Prints

Dave,
Found the Black Book from 1984 and there was a whole section that had all the sketches from 1953 to 1978 that were made. And in the back of the book was an order coupon from Mid America for the "outragous" cost of $15 per print; brushed chrome framed for an additional $9.95. Plus you got to pick your color Mat for the print.

For the Solid Axle and '76 through '78 cars only one sketch per year, but from '63 through '75 both coupe and convertible were pictured.

Mid America must have been the sole distributor on these.
I guess I'll just have to keep eyes peeled for someone wanting to sell off theirs.
Bob

Bob,
I bought my River City 1959 print in around 1992 as I had a 59 at that time. With the print came an order sheet. It was fron Lee R. Buschhoff of Jersey City , NJ. They were $10 each and 4 or more prints were $8 ea. Large quantity buyers could do better. He claimed the regular retail was $35 unframed and $125 framed. There were 2000 prints of each year and were individually signed by the artist. Obviously they were not selling very well as this gentleman and Mid America ( and maybe others) were tying to sell them. The list on my order sheet did not list all years so I guess some years sold better than others and not all years were available at the time this list was printed.

[Harry S.]

Re: River City Publishing Corvette Prints

When they first came out, 1975, you could buy a book, engraved with your name, that contained all of the prints. The book included 1953 to 1962, then two each of 1963 to 1975. One coupe and one convertible. He also did one 1976, 1977 and two 1978's (he added the silver addition). I have set 11 of 2000. There is cover page that has a small print of each year. These were all by Leonard Kik.

They were available from the River City Publishing Company of Louisville, KY.

In 1985 Diane Davidson added to the collection (very similar work) by sketching 1979 through 1985.

I saw some for sale at Carlisle this year as I am alway looking to add to the prints, but it appears that the 1985 sketched by Diane is the last one.

Let me know if you find others.

[Robert R.]

Re: River City Publishing Corvette Prints

What you said makes sense because both my '62 and '67 Coupe prints are dated 1975. Still have the '62 print in the cardboard shipper from Mid America.
It's good to know that you have seen them at meets, will be sure to keep looking. When you saw them, was there a similar price range or were certain years comanding higher prices?

One interesting point I noticed as looking at the Black Book. The artist must not have liked Big Blocks.
Every sketch for the years that a BB hood was available was done with the Small block hood.

[Harry S.]

Re: River City Publishing Corvette Prints

I did not ask the price, I just looked at the prints and noted that I had them all.

[Don G.]

Re: River City Publishing Corvette Prints

I have the signed print of a 1974 convertible dated '75 but I don't remember where or when I bought it.

[Glenn D.]

Re: River City Publishing Corvette Prints

Bob :

I have #436 of 2000 dated and signed in 1975. It is a 74" convertible. I am sure I purchased it from Mid America Corvette , but have not seen them in years.

[Robert R.]

Re: River City Publishing Corvette Prints

The prints did have the "__ / 2000" printed with the specific number of yours in pencil.
I'm sure that if one did get the whole set that most likely all were of the same number of the 2000 each made.

And for some reason, my recollection was that Mid America had the bulk of the prints to sell once the full sets were committed.

Either way, if anyone sees a '73 convertible of these, I'd be interested to locate one.

Thanks,
Bob