His father Jonas Louis Prang was a textile manufacturer and of French Huguenot origin; his mother, Rosina Silverman, was German.

[2] Because of health problems as a boy, Prang was unable to receive much standard schooling and became an apprentice to his father, learning engraving, calico dyeing and printing.

In the early 1840s, Prang travelled around Bohemia working in textiles, as well in Hagen, Westphalia studying the chemistry of printing.

Pursued by the Prussian government, he went to Switzerland and in 1850 emigrated to the United States, settling in Boston, Massachusetts.

Between his use of materials, particular methodology and significant time commitment to his work, he was able to deliver an unprecedented level of quality, which resulted in the firm's ultimate success.

[5] Prang's success producing war maps allowed him to amass the necessary funds to return to Europe and learn about new developments in German lithography in 1864.

[2] Returning the next year, he began to create high-quality reproductions of major artworks to promote education in the arts.

[7] Prang also began creating series of popular album cards, advertised to be collected in scrapbooks, showing natural scenes and patriotic symbols.

[9] However, Prang aimed at a more modern and individual treatment, as opposed to the panoramic style of Kurz and Allison, and before them, Currier and Ives.

Gerber assisted Prang in his movement from wood engravings to high quality book illustrations.