Natural history watercolours.

Folio (sheet size 465 x 320mm.), including 79 original watercolour drawings by J.W. Lewin, John Abbott, Thomas Davies, Sydenham Edwards, and others, of plants, fish, butterflies and caterpillars, beetles and birds, later half calf over contemporary boards

John Francillon (1744-1816), engraved armorial bookplate; Easton Neston Library, book label

For details on John Francillon, see Elsa G. Allen, "A Third Set of Abbot Drawings", The Auk, 59 (October 1942), 563-571, and Robert Percy Dow, "John Abbot of Georgia", Journal of the New York Entomological Society, 22 (March 1914), 65-72

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."

A wonderful survey of natural history art from the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, featuring work by many prominent artists.

Thomas Davies's (c.1739-1812) contribution is the greatest in the collection, including numerous fine studies of flowers, fish and birds. Davies was an "English soldier, naturalist and artist who was a Lieutenant General, and Fellow of the Royal Society... He served for a considerable period in North America and other parts of the world with the Royal Regiment of Artillery and used his spare time to draw birds. His work was of such merit that John Latham [see lot 36] frequently quoted him and based some of his illustrations on Davies's drawings" (Christine Jackson, Dictionary of Bird Artists of the World). Collections of his work are held at Knowsley Hall, and the Natural History Museum.

Other notable artists represented are John Abbot (1751-1840?), author of Natural History of the Rarer Lepidopterous Insects of Georgia (1797), Sydenham Edwards (bap. 1768-1819), best known as a botanical artist (see lot 32), but here drawing butterflies and insects with equal talent, and J.W. Lewin (1770-1819), author of Prodromus Entomology. Natural History of Lepidopterous Insects of New South Wales (1822).

The collection was assembled by John Francillon, a well-known silversmith in The Strand; he was also an avid entomologist, and one of the leading collectors of insect specimens of his day. As well as selling his duplicate specimens, he also frequently sold drawings of the specimens, especially examples from the state of Georgia, North America, drawn by British-born artist John Abbott, whose work is represented in this collection. Abbot "supported himself almost entirely by providing specimens and watercolour drawings of insects, spiders, and birds to buyers in America and to his correspondents in Britain and Europe" (ODNB).