- 22
Bowdich, Sarah
Estimate
16,000 - 20,000 GBP
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Description
- The Fresh-Water Fishes of Great Britain. London: printed for the authoress and R. Ackermann, 1828-[1836]
- PAPER
FIRST EDITION, [ONE OF 50 COPIES], 11 parts in one volume, large 4to (390 x 283mm.), 44 original watercolour drawings on a pencil base, captioned in manuscript and signed by the artist, many heightened with gold and silver, duplicate watercolour of a pike loosely inserted, 3 small outline pencil sketches mounted to size with brief letterpress descriptions bound at end, contemporary maroon morocco gilt, uncut
Provenance
John George Perry, armorial bookplate; sale Sotheby's (Hodgson's), 21 November 1946, lot 242; Henry Rogers Broughton, 2nd Baron Fairhaven, bookplate; sale Christie's, 12 May 1993, lot 6
Literature
Nissen ZBI 517; Westwood & Satchell 39
Condition
Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
Catalogue Note
Bowdich's Fishes is the rarest of all ichthyology books and belongs to that tiny class of natural history works whose entire editions are illustrated by original watercolours.
In the preface, Mrs Bowdich explains her method of working: "Every Drawing has been taken from the living Fish immediately it came from the water it inhabited; so that no tint has been lost or deadened, either by changing the quality of that element, or by exposure to the atmosphere."