Custom Puzzle Craft's ~ K. Chin
Mass Produced Lithographs
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K. Chin Navigation Table
Mass Produced
Lithos

K. Chin Mass Produced Lithographs
The most comprehensive collection of K. Chin mass produced images anywhere!

In the early 1970's, K. Chin was prolific, producing quite a few sets of prints which were mass produced by several companies:

Donald Art Co. Inc.
Bernard Picture Co., Inc.

Arthur A. Kaplan, Co., Inc
Art Show

Gateway Home Decorations
C.H. Stuart, Inc.
A.C. Inc.

If you have any information about the publishing history, name changes, ultimate disposition or any other information about these companies, please contact me.

The mass produced prints were usually 12" x 9" or 8" x 10" and published in sets of four or five. Most of these mass produced prints were first produced on borderless paper and were not hand signed. Some of these prints were later available from K. Chin's Carmel by the Sea gallery in a premium edition - they had white borders, were frequently hand signed, and less frequently were stamped with a red Chinese lettering chop mark and sometimes had the words "Carmel by the Sea" hand written along the bottom. All of these premium prints retained the original publishing date and were copyrighted by the original publisher. There is no indication that the premium prints were limited editions.

The earliest mass produced prints I know about are dated 1972 and the last set 1978. The vast majority were done in 1972, 1973 and 1974. 1980 was a transition year when K. Chin started publishing under his own copyright and by 1981 exclusively under his own copyright as far as I can tell. 1981 was the first year that his red Chinese lettering chop mark and "Carmel by the Sea" appeared on prints copyrighted by K. Chin. I suspect the premium editions of the mass produced prints were signed and marked by K. Chin sometime after 1980 although they may have been printed well before then. As far as I know, no K. Chin prints printed after 1978 were mass produced, and many of them were expressly published as limited editions ranging from 250 to 5000 copies.

All attempts to locate the original publishers have failed, they apparently have all gone out of business or changed their names before the Internet became a widespread phenomenon.

If you have a K. Chin print not shown here, please contact me!

Note: Almost all of the images on this page were created by me from prints in my possession. A few images were derived by me from images obtained from correspondence or elsewhere on the web ; some - particularly those on eBay - were of very poor quality or resolution and required considerable Photoshop work to make presentable here. For those prints with borders, only the interior portions are shown in most cases. Finally, there several series I know about that are not shown here due to lack of imagery.

Note to eBay sellers:
If you use a copy of an image here in your auction (I know some of you do),
I would appreciate an acknowledgment to this website! John

K. Chin images published by Donald Art Co., Inc.
Images presented chronologically by copyright year

The Enchanted Forest series
Copyright 1972 Donald Art Co., Inc. Distributed by American Consumer, Inc.
The set of five prints was available for just $1.00 plus 25 cents for postage and handling!
The brochure advertising these prints mentions just one title, Snowy the Bunny (far right) which was a bonus print if the first four were ordered!
Mass produced without borders. I have seen the raccoon print with a white border.
"First Edition Limited Run" printed in a bottom corner,
also with 1972 date; I have no information regarding number of First Edition prints printed.
All images 12x9; Snowy the Bunny also 8x6 with 1/2" white border

Granny / Grandpa Vendor Cart series
Copyright 1972 Donald Art Co., Inc.
I'm guessing these two prints belongs to a series of four or five as everything else I have by Donald Art is published in a series of that many
Both images in my collection have a fancy border like the Little Shop series (below). The first one signed and stamped
12x9 plus 1" border (borders not shown); I've seen an 8x10 on eBay with border

Little Shop series
Copyright 1972 Donald Art Co., Inc.
The first image is from eBay, the rest from collection
There may be a fifth print
These prints have a decorated 1" border
Cardboard jigsaw puzzles were made from this series
Image is 8x6 plus 1" decorated border all sides, shown here
At least the first image was available as a 9x12 with border, on cardboard (shown here)

The K. Chin Wise Owls series
Copyright 1973 Donald Art Co., Inc. Distributed by American Consumer, Inc.
The set of five prints was available for just $1.00 plus 25 cents for postage and handling!
The brochure advertising these prints mentions just one title, "Love Birds" (first image)
Some of these images appeared in cheaply made cardboard Warren Built Rite Puzzles by Warren Paper Products Co.
I have seen the 3rd, 4th and 5th images with a one inch border (all signed, two of these with K. Chin mark and "Carmel by the Sea")
I've seen much smaller prints (the first two) hand mounted on plaques on eBay.
I have also seen some of these sized 13x17" on eBay
Cardboard jigsaw puzzles were made from this series
I own the original oil painting of the owl with hourglass
All images 9x12

Cute Children with Hats and Bonnets
Copyright 1973 Donald Art Co. Inc.
The images are 8x10" with 1/2" white border and 9x12" without border
The larger images, with their taller aspect, have some of the side imagery cropped.
The first two images are 8x10" (one has a K. Chin Chinese letters chop mark within the image)
The last three 9x12"
These are the only prints that I know of which are marked K.C. instead of K. Chin
All images 8x10 or 9x12

There is a K. Chin "Little Folks" 200 piece jigsaw puzzle series, measuring 13 5/8x16". The first one was #4486-5. Saw one other on eBay - are there others?
The pictures are not the same and are signed "K. Chin". As far as I know, these were not released as prints.
little_folks little_folks

The Enchanted Jungles series
Copyright 1973 Donald Art Co., Inc.
Of the first 4, I have seen all but the lion print with a border
The fifth one might have been a bonus, like "Snowy the Bunny" of the Enchanted Forest series
However, the Turtle print may belong to some other series
Please contact me if you own the Turtle print!
First 4 images 12x9, 5th unknown

Morning Sun Series
Copyright 1973 Donald Art Co., Inc.
This series featured much bigger prints and the only square ones I know about
The images are 12x12" with 2" borders (16x16 total)
All are signed and stamped
Cardboard jigsaw puzzles were made from this series
All images 12x12

Lovable Friendly Pets
Copyright 1974 Donald Art Co., Inc.
Also published by Art Portfolio in the early 1980's
I have a set of four prints as shown in this row of images.
I have not see any of the prints with borders
All images 8x10

Friendly Jungle Pets
Copyright 1974 Donald Art Co., Inc.
Also published by Art Portfolio in the early 1980's
I have a set of four prints as shown in this row of images.
I have not see any of the prints with borders
All images 8x10

Tramp Clowns
Copyright 1974 Donald Art Co., Inc.
The images were produced in two sizes: 6x8 and 8x10
In the small size I have the complete set; in the larger size the second and third images.
I have not seen these images with borders
All images 6x8

Early Americana
These are DAC prints, do not have dates. The only set I know about which has six prints!
All six images were produced in 6x8, and the last two also in 4x5
early_am_2a early am2b
First 4 images here from 6x8's trimmed slightly along the bottom
The last two images from 4x5's trimmed slightly along the bottom

Poker Playing Dogs
Copyright 1974 Donald Art Co., Inc.
K. Chin painted his own set of cool Poker Playing Dogs!
The first image contains a picture of a Victorian house in the background - K. Chin did a Victorian house series
The second image contains a picture of a Steamboat in the background - K. Chin did a Steamboat series
The there image contains a picture of an Owl in the background - K. Chin did an Owl series
The fourth image contains a picture of an Old Car in the background - I have never seen an Old Car print by K. Chin - is there a series out there?
The images were produced in 12x9 without borders, and 14x11 with 1" white borders
All images 12x9

Kittens for C.H. Stuart Inc.
Copyright 1974 C.H. Stuart Inc. / Litho D.A.C.
These two images were mounted on heavy wood backing
I do not know if there are others
All images 8x6

Butterflies
Copyright 1975 Donald Art Co., Inc.
The first image is an Artist's Proof (see the K. Chin Paintings section for a picture of the Artist's Proof mark).
The second and third images are ©1975 Gateway Home Decorations
These two images are incredibly similar in style to the first one and I am taking the liberty to consider them as members of the same set
Internet search engines have nothing for Gateway Home Decorations
All images are 10x8

Delightful Playful Pets (Sports Playing Animals)
Copyright 1975 Donald Art Co., Inc.
Also published by Art Portfolio in the early 1980's
All images without borders
All images 8x10

Flowers with White Wooden Lattice and Green Background Border Series
Copyright 1975 Donald Art Co., Inc.
These published in a very large format 24" x 18"
There are at least three in the set - the only K. Chin set I know of in which the images are not all in the same orientation
I have the first one
24x18 / 18x24
Interior art about 18x12 / 12x18

Magical, Mystical Unicorns
After a gap of a few years, the Unicorn series was printed
Copyright 1978 Donald Art Co., Inc.
1 - In the Beginning There were Unicorns
2 - The Captive Unicorn (Not Really)
3 - There's a Unicorn in My Garden
4 - Animals Can See a Unicorn
Also published by Art Portfolio in the early 1980's
All of these prints were also printed with 1/2" white borders and were signed
All images 8x10

K. Chin images published by Bernard Picture Co. Inc.
None of the Bernard Picture Co. K. Chin prints have copyright dates on them
No evidence any were ever filed with the U.S. Copyright office

The K. Chin Kitten series
Copyright Bernard Picture Co., Inc.
I have seen all but the black cat image with a border
Also available as 3.75 x 4.75 images mounted on plaques with beveled edges
The prints show up all the time!
All images 9x12. Images with borders smaller 8x10, 9x11 including border

The K. Chin Puppy Dog series
Copyright Bernard Picture Co., Inc.
Also available as 3.75 x 4.75 images mounted on plaques with beveled edges
The prints show up all the time!
All images 9x12. Images with borders smaller 5x7, 6x8 including border

Baby Bear series
Copyright Bernard Picture Co., Inc.
These prints were also printed with 1" white borders
I saw a 3.75 x 4.75 image (the 3rd one) mounted on top of a small jewelry box on eBay
One auction has some "2 1/2 by 3" prints on plaques
The fifth bear image (a koala) Copyright A. C. Inc
Included here as it apparently was a "bonus" print if the set of the other four was purchased
The koala print occasionally appears with the other four on eBay
I know of no other K. Chin prints published by A. C. Inc.
These prints show up all the time!
All images 9x12
The Koala bear print was also printed as a huge poster by Personality Posters in 1967, 24x30, by far the earliest date for a K. Chin print that I know about!
There is a tiny owl hidden in the Koala Bear's hair!

Butterflies
Copyright Bernard Picture Co., Inc.
The first two from my collection with 1/2" white borders and are signed and stamped within the image area
Second two from 3.75 x 4.75 images mounted on plaques with beveled edges
These prints occasionally show up
First two images 8x10, second two 3.75x4.75

Clowns With Small Pets
Copyright Bernard Picture Co., Inc.
A very popular series.
The first two from my collection - these have a 1" white border and are hand signed and stamped with K. Chin's red mark
The second two derived from eBay images - no border, not hand signed
The first and third prints (8x10 slightly trimmed to 7.5 x 9.5) have appeared on plaques with beveled edges.
These prints show up all the time!
Images 8x10; also published in 4x5 size

This series was also done in engraved plastic with some hand painting
Plastic Clown Images 7 7/8x9 3/4
At least some of these were sold, by Robert Sills Gallery, Inc., N. Hollywood CA.
Some other frames indicate "DC-NY 0703/C9"
The items are made of whitish very hard resin (referred to as "cultured ivory") with black filled etching and then hand painted in spots
Copies may have different coloring.
I'm almost certain that the etching was done via an automated process or mold
I have the complete set
The first image is titled "Poco & Pal"
The title for the second image is currently unknown to me
The third image is titled "Happy & Sam"
The last image is titled "Mr. Chips & Puffin"
It is not clear that K. Chin did the coloration on the plastic, the ear coloration on the first cat is not in the K. Chin style.
I have seen one of the etchings without any color paint on it!
I do not know of any other plastic series

Steamboat Paddle Ship series
Copyright Bernard Picture Co., Inc.
My prints have 1" white borders and are signed, don't know if they were published without borders
The prints were also done in a much smaller size, around 5" x 4"; (6" x 4.75" including border)
At least one of the prints (Natchez) was done is 18" x 14" size according to an eBay auction.


Also have report of Mark Twain & Belle in 16" x 12"
All images 10 x 8: Natchez, Belle, Mark Twain and New Orleans

Small Panoramic Owl prints with giant borders
Copyright Bernard Picture Co., Inc.
First of at least three sets of small prints with big borders making the prints 14"x11"
All of the images in these series appear to be derived from watercolors with much less brush strokes than usual
The ones I have are signed and stamped, not dated
Probably another image exists in this series
These prints are extremely hard to find!
All images 7.75-7.94x4

Small Panoramic Seashell prints with giant borders
Copyright Bernard Picture Co., Inc.
Second of at least three sets of small prints with big borders making the prints 14"x11"
The first print is in my collection and has a "DEC 72" date in the lower left corner
The second print is derived from correspondence and has a "1970" date in the lower left corner
The third print is derived from correspondence and has a "DEC 1971" date in the lower left corner (and outer size of 14"x10")
No other Bernard Picture K. Chin prints have dates on them that I know about
These prints are extremely hard to find!
All images 8x4

Small Panoramic Mushroom prints with giant borders
Copyright Bernard Picture Co., Inc.
Third of at least three sets of small prints with big borders making the prints 14"x11"
These prints show up on eBay from time to time although the white borders may be of different size (cropped?)
All images 8x4

K. Chin images published by Arthur A. Kaplan Co., Inc.
None of the Arthur A. Kaplan Co. K. Chin prints have copyright dates on them
No evidence any were ever filed with the U.S. Copyright office

Adorable Kittens and Puppies
Copyright Arthur A. Kaplan Co., Inc.
Also published by Art Portfolio in the early 1980's
All images 8x10

Victorian Houses
Copyright Arthur A. Kaplan Co., Inc.
I've been told that these images are of real houses in the Carmel by the Sea area
These images were popular and produced in several sizes.
5x4 with 1 inch borders, my set shown here 8x6, at least one in 14x11, there may be a larger version
Also sold as "Elevation Art" with reeds, balsa wood, stain, dried flowers, second print being titled "Farmhouse".
All images 8x6
Details hard to see here, from left to right: Running boy, Girl on swing, Boy with ball, Girl on porch

Oriental Flower Arrangements
Copyright Arthur A. Kaplan Co., Inc.
The prints were published in four sizes! 5x7", 6x8", 11x14" and a giant 18x24" size
All four sizes were printed with 1" borders
From left to right: Camellias Orientale, Chrysanthemums Orientale, Peonies Orientale, Tulips Orientale
I have the complete set in the giant size - the prints are impressive, and a few in the other sizes

Jungle Animals
Copyright Arthur A. Kaplan Co., Inc.
In May 2011 I finally located a second one in this series, the Zebra; however it is on cardboard with fake paint ridges
aak_zebra
Image 10x8

Big Eyed Animals
Copyright Arthur A. Kaplan Co., Inc. - published for Art Tree Treasures Inc.
These prints were published on cardboard and were unusually sized: 7x14" ("Published for Art Treasures, Inc.")
At least the Big Eyed Tiger and Fawn prints were also printed in 8x10" on cardboard and cropped ("Published for Art Treasures, Inc.")"
At least the Big Eyed Tiger print was also printed in a giant 16x20" size, also on cardboard, with the top and bottom cropped,
Finally, I've heard that these prints were published as plaques 6x12"

The first two images are from cardboard prints I have, the other two from low rez eBay images
The first three images have small owls in the background, the fourth, a being a picture of an owl, doesn't.
All images 7x14

France Series
Copyright Arthur A. Kaplan Co., Inc.
At least two cardboard prints were published based on early K. Chin painting
See K. Chin Paintings for details

K. Chin images published by Art Show
These prints are obscure - not necessarily rare - rather they are hard to locate
None of the Art Show K. Chin prints have copyright dates on them
No evidence any were ever filed with the U.S. Copyright office

I have three images © Art Show
AS-1003 - "Three Wise Owls" - 12x9, with 1" white border, hand signed and marked
AS-1005 - "The Inquisitive Owl" 8.7x11.5 with about a 1.5" border, not hand signed nor marked
This image also printed on higher quality paper, not cropped, slightly larger in a Limited Edition
AS-1006 - "Kitten with Puff Pull" 11.5x8.7 with about a 1.5" border, not hand signed nor marked
I have also included the Three Wise Owls within the K. Chin Mostly Limited Editions section as the image is similar to others there
AS-1001 ?, AS-1002 ?, AS-1004 ?

Gateway Home Decorations
Gate published two of the butterfly images included in the 1975 Donald Butterfly set, above.

They also did a least two large "flower plaques" in 1975 measuring 6" x 15"
GHD flower1 GHD flower2
All images 6x15

ART ET CULTURE
In 2014 I finally obtained a print of this Koala.
The print measures about 9" x 12" with a white boarder which was trimmed to about 1" to fit a picture frame
Underneath the image:
ART ET CULTURE - 37, rue de Fourqueux - 78102 ST GERMAIN EN LAYE (FRANCE) - PANODÉCOR Nº 7897 (Réf. 7897) - Koala.
The Koala is nearly identical to the Koala shown under K. Chin Cards, although the background is different
I have found no other K. Chin prints from "ART ET CULTURE"

koala
About 9" x 12"

Deeper into the Unknown

Series or images I know about but have no or very poor quality pictures
Patriotic Picture Series
Rooster 17x14" ?
Frankfurters Vendor 16.5x19" ?

© John S. Stokes III - Webmaster & Puzzle Crafter

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